Lions Insider

Famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed knee surgery Tuesday on Lions defensive tackle Corey Williams, who was back in the locker room Friday on crutches trying to lend support to his teammates in advance of Sunday's matchup with the Vikings at Ford Field.

“He’s a good guy,” Williams said of Dr. Andrews. “He’s funny. He’s got jerseys and pictures signed from guys way back when. I saw a Bart Starr autographed picture in there.”

Williams said he was going to send down a signed jersey of his to add to the collection after Dr. Andrews took such good care of him this week.

The surgery ended any hopes Williams would play Sunday vs. the Vikings, which means Nick Fairley and Sammie Hill are going to have to pick up the slack.

“Them boys are ready,” Williams said of Fairley and Hill. “I know they are going to get out there and do a good job.

“Hopefully they’ll let me be down on the sideline so I can do what I can from the sideline. But I know them boys are ready and they’re going to step in there and do a great job.”

Williams has six tackles and two sacks in three games this season, which is more than Fairley and Hill have in either category this season, combined.

“You know, I’m going to miss Corey (Williams) personally, but I think it’s a good thing for (Nick) Fairley and Sammie Hill,” Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said.

“Sammie Hill, I mean, he has come on the last two or three weeks and yesterday he had one of the best practices I’ve seen him have. He’s excited about playing.

“Nick (Fairley) has to get on track. He’s made some plays but I think they’re inconsistent. But he’s come along fine. You know, it will be fun to watch those three guys (Ndamukong Suh included) play inside.”

GETTING A HANDLE ON HARVIN
The Vikings know they have a good thing in receiver Percy Harvin and have been finding ways to get the football into his hands early this season.

• • Through the first three games last season, Harvin had 24 total touches (12 receptions, eight rushes and four kick returns).
• • Through the first three games this season, Harvin has 43 touches (27 receptions, eight rushes and eight kick returns).

“He’s a tough competitor,” Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said. “He does a really good job returning kicks. He’s multidimensional on offense, he runs the ball in the backfield, he runs the ball from a wide receiver position, and he’s got 27 receptions so far.

“He’s really strong. He’s been that way his whole career. Even going back to the University of Florida, they used him in a similar role and that’s one of the reasons that they drafted him and one of the reasons he’s made a lot of plays for them.”

Harvin’s 27 receptions lead the NFL and he’s averaging 92.3 receiving yards per game on the season.

“I think he’s one of those guys like Titus Young or (Louis) Delmas," Cunningham said. "You know if they’re in baseball they’re pitchers. If they’re in basketball they’re a point guard. These guys need the ball in their hands, you know? They go crazy when they don’t get it.”