"My thinking (on surgery) was just to make sure I was 100-percent healthy going into the off-season program and to be ready for March and so forth," said Lions DT Ndamukong Suh. "I truly wanted to play in the Pro Bowl, which is a great honor and opportunity.
"It came down to making a decision to play in the Pro Bowl or to have surgery as soon as possible and begin rehab in order to help my team next year achieve our goals of getting into the playoffs and competing for a championship. The organization and I opted to have the surgery now and not wait. I will always put my team first."
"I will still plan to attend the Pro Bowl and support my teammate
DT NDAMUKONG SUH 2010 HIGHLIGHTS
When the Detroit Lions drafted DT Ndamukong Suh with the second-overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the expectations were high. In 2010, Suh did not disappoint as he led the team, NFL rookies and all defensive tackles with 10.0 sacks and recorded 66 tackles (49 solo).
- Suh registered 1.0 sack in the team's season finale win vs. Minnesota and reached 10.0 sacks on the season. He became only the second rookie defensive tackle in the NFL (10.5 by 49ers Dana Stubblefield in 1993) to ever record 10.0 sacks.
- He moved into sole possession of third place among Lions defensive tackles for a single season (since 1982) and is just the third Lions defensive tackle to reach that mark. The top two spots are held by DT Doug English (13.0 in 1983) and DT Henry Thomas (10.5 in 1995).
- He also became the first Lions player to reach 10.0 sacks since DE James Hall registered 11.5 in 2004.
- Suh was the only rookie in the NFL to record a sack, an interception and a fumble return for a touchdown this season. Suh had 10.0 sacks, 1 interception and returned a fumble for a 17-yard touchdown.
- Suh was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for October, having 14 tackles, 4.5 sacks (29.5 yards lost), 1 interception, 1 pass defense and a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown through four games. He had more sacks (4.5) in October than any other rookie in the NFL had tallied up to that point in the season, and he had the most among defensive tackles in the League (Chicago DT Israel Idonije recorded 4.5 sacks but did so at LDE). Suh also became the first rookie defensive tackle to record 4.5 sacks in October since Jacksonville DT John Henderson had 5.0 in 2002 and became the first defensive tackle in the NFL to collect 4.5 sacks during October since Tampa Bay DT Warren Sapp had 5.0 in 2005.
DT NDAMUKONG SUH PRO BOWL NOTABLES
Lions DT Ndamukong Suh became the first Lions rookie to be named to the Pro Bowl since RB Barry Sanders was selected to the 1990 NFC Pro Bowl Squad. He also becomes the Lions first rookie defensive player to be named to the Pro Bowl since DE Al "Bubba" Baker in 1979.
- Among Lions defensive tackles, he is the sixth player at that position named to the Pro Bowl and the first ever to do so as a rookie.
- Suh is also the 10th rookie in team history named to the Pro Bowl and fourth Lions rookie defensive player.
- Among the four rookies voted to the 2011 Pro Bowl, Suh is the only starter and the only rookie who was selected on the NFC team.
