ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Mikel Leshoure knows that the Oakland Raiders are going to hit him hard Saturday night.
He can’t wait.
Sixteen months after being drafted by the Detroit Lions and almost two years after his last game, Leshoure is expected to take the field for the first time as a pro in Oakland. He missed his entire rookie season with the Lions after tearing his left Achilles tendon during training camp.
With Jahvid Best (concussion) expected to miss the start of the regular season, the Lions need Leshoure to step up and take some pressure off Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Detroit’s high-energy passing attack.
Leshoure missed the first two exhibition games with a hamstring problem, so the running game has consisted of Kevin Smith, Keiland Williams and Joique Bell.
