Detroit Lions Linebacker James Houston IV Says He Is 'Ready' To Return For His NFL Playoff Debut
Former Jackson State star linebacker James Houston IV could make his NFL playoff debut with the Detroit Lions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I'm ready to get out there," Houston said this week, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Houston had an impressive first season with the Detroit Lions, but in Week 2 versus Seattle, he broke his fibula on a special teams play.
Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston tackles Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant after a catch during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. Credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
Should Houston return in Sunday's NFC Divisional Playoff contest with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he will help Detroit pressure quarterback Baker Mayfield.
"We still got to gauge if we feel like he will be ready," Campbell told the media on Friday. "And I know this, he's better. He's a lot better this week than he was last week, and that's the progression of it, right, is every week he should start to get his legs back under him, feel good about it, and we got to decide if we really believe that if he goes, are we going to get the production relative to who we're sitting, for the rest of the team?"
Dan Campbell initially expected Houston to return from injured reserve in December but wasn't quite ready.
Aug 25, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) drops back under pressure from Detroit Lions linebacker James Houston (41) during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
As one of the NFL's rising young stars, he recorded 12 tackles, eight sacks, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in his rookie campaign.
The Lions drafted James Houston IV out of Jackson State University as the 217th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
In 2021, he led Jackson State's defense and was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year.
