Back to the Detroit Lions Newsfeed

Lions running back Zenner plans for life after football

Detroit — On a sunny Wednesday in late April, Zach Zenner guessed what his teammates were doing.

Golfing, likely because of the weather. Playing video games. Sleeping. Hanging out with family. Maybe a few were doing philanthropic work.

Zenner, though was on the seventh floor of Henry Ford Hospital on Detroit’s west side providing a simulation of the laboratory testing he’s been doing since March 21 — two weeks after his wedding.

A running back from South Dakota State, he doesn’t know how long his NFL career will last, so when he’s done practicing or working out, he drives to the hospital to continue testing how fructose — a sugar substitute — impacts hypertension levels in rats, a study that should boost his resume when he goes to medical school.