Detroit Lions fans: Be frustrated, not critical of Ezekiel Ansah

Detroit Lions‘ defensive end Ezekiel Ansah will miss yet another game early into the season. Though frustrating to fans, the criticism is unwarranted.

The latest news on Detroit Lions‘ defensive end Ezekiel Ansah is that the 29-year old pass rusher has officially been ruled out for their Week Four contest against the Dallas Cowboys. Ansah, who played just 19 snaps in the season opener against the New York Jets before suffering a shoulder injury, will miss his third consecutive game.

The shoulder injury is the latest in what has become a lengthy list of ailments in the short career of the sixth-year pro. In the last two seasons, Ansah suffered a myriad of injuries, costing him to miss seven total games. Even when Ansah took the field and played through injury, he was essentially absent, as his ailments rendered him ineffective.

This past offseason, the Lions were unable to lock Ansah into a long-term deal, as both sides were unable to reach an agreement. With a razor-thin free agent market for pass rushers, the team decided to franchise tag Ansah, paying him a fully guaranteed $17.5 million salary in 2018.

The prove-it or lose-it approach has yet to pay dividends for either party. Ansah will not get top dollar in the offseason – from the Lions or anyone else – if he is unable to stay healthy and produce. On the flip side, the team would like to see a return on their hefty investment and bolster their pass rush.

The case of Ezekiel Ansah is a frustrating one, without a doubt. The Lions and the fan base know that a healthy version of Ansah is a force to be reckoned with. Patience is understandably wearing thin.

To be frustrated with his inability to stay healthy is one thing, but to criticize him is another. Lions fans are justified for the former, and absolutely wrong for the latter. How do you think Ansah feels about the situation? Do you think he wants to be injured?

Like any true competitor, Ansah wants to take the field. As he said back in Week 2 to MLive.com, he wants to be there for his teammates.

"“I just like to be out there fighting with my brothers. It’s sad. It’s sad to be going through this and not being able to be out there helping them win.”"

Stop calling him “soft” or “selfish”. Stop with the notion that he is perfectly content with not practicing or playing in games because of his salary. Ansah is not stealing money from the Detroit Lions. He is not sitting back and swimming in a pool of dollar bills. His inability to stay healthy is costing him millions in future earnings.

Call it what it is: Ezekiel Ansah is an oft-injured pass rusher whose absences are unfortunate and deflating. Ziggy is also a fierce competitor who will give maximum effort if (and when) he is healthy enough to suit up on Sunday.

Frustration is fair. Criticism is cold. Be on the right side of this one.