Allen Park, Mich. -Detroit Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew announced today that the team has placed QB Jon Kitna on the Reserve/Injured list.
"After extensive examination and consultation with the team medical staff, it became clear that placing Jon on injured/reserve was the right decision. Jon and I met today and discussed moving forward with respect to his rehabilitation which will be done in coordination with our medical staff."
"After extensive examination and consultation with the team medical staff, it became clear that placing Jon on injured/reserve was the right decision. Jon and I met today and discussed moving forward with respect to his rehabilitation which will be done in coordination with our medical staff."
Kitna (6-2, 220) had started in 36 consecutive games for Detroit before leaving the Week 5 contest against Chicago (10/5) with a back injury. Consequently, he missed his first game as the Lions starting quarterback the following week at Minnesota (10/12).
"Jon injured his back in the first half two weeks ago against Chicago," said Team Physician Dr. Kyle Anderson. "This represents an acute exacerbation of a chronic condition. Rather than risking further injury, it's the collective opinion of the medical staff that the best decision is to place Jon on the injured/reserve list allowing him to complete a rehabilitation program."
Kitna signed with Detroit prior to the 2006 season and has established himself as one of the best passers in team history. He has the Lions' highest career completion percentage (62.3) and highest single-season completion percentage (63.3) set in 2007. Kitna completed 70.0-percent or more of his passes in seven games since joining Detroit and threw for more than 200 yards in 30 of his 36 starts. His career quarterback rating with the Lions (79.6) is also the best in team history.
Kitna signed with Detroit prior to the 2006 season and has established himself as one of the best passers in team history. He has the Lions' highest career completion percentage (62.3) and highest single-season completion percentage (63.3) set in 2007. Kitna completed 70.0-percent or more of his passes in seven games since joining Detroit and threw for more than 200 yards in 30 of his 36 starts. His career quarterback rating with the Lions (79.6) is also the best in team history.
In 2007, Kitna became the first Lions' passer to throw for over 4,000 yards in consecutive seasons (4,208 in 2006 and 4,068 in 2007) and the only passer to throw for 4,000 yards twice. He joined an elite group of passers last season becoming one of nine passers in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards in back-to-back season. With 9,034 passing yards in two-plus seasons, Kitna is eighth on the franchise's all-time passing list.
