In his 12th NFL season, Haloti Ngata made his first trip to season-ending Injured Reserve.
He tore his biceps in the Lions’ fifth game last season and for the first time in the defensive tackle’s career he would play fewer than 12 games in a season. For some 33-year olds, especially one who has seemingly done it all, an extended break from football might be the nudge to finally retire.
For Ngata, who has won a Super Bowl, been to Pro Bowls and earned tens of millions of dollars, the time away only reinforced his desire to return for a 13th year.