TE Eric Ebron carted off after suffering injury during practice

DETROIT -- Lions tight end Eric Ebron was carted off the field during the franchise's mock game Saturday with what may be a right Achilles injury, according to the NFL Network.

Ebron fell to the ground around the right hashmark and was clearly in pain as team doctors were checking his right knee and ankle. He was down for several minutes before a cart came out to take him off the field and back toward the locker room.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell had no comment on Ebron's injury after practice concluded. General manager Bob Quinn, when asked about Ebron's injury, said "injuries happen in football," but didn't elaborate further.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford said he has no idea what is wrong with Ebron. When asked what it would do to Detroit's offense if he were significantly hurt, Stafford said "I'm not going to talk about hypotheticals."

Ebron had been having a good training camp, looking much more comfortable catching the ball and he was in the midst of a good day during the Lions' mock game Saturday, including catching a 30-yard pass from Stafford down the seam.

If Ebron were to miss any time, it would be devastating to a Detroit Lions tight end group already without Brandon Pettigrew, who remains on PUP recovering from a torn ACL. The Lions have veteran Matthew Mulligan and undrafted rookie Cole Wick as the next two tight ends.

Orson Charles, who was signed earlier this summer, is a veteran who could see more time if Ebron were to be significantly injured.

"You never want to see somebody in your room go down, period, anybody in the organization," Charles said. "I'm definitely going to keep him in my prayers and go up there and check up on him. As a group we all have to step up and try to fill that void."

Ebron had said earlier this camp he felt this was a "make it or break it" year for him with the Lions. Quinn had previously said by the third season he typically knows what to expect out of a tight end.

Ebron missed some reps after being shaken up during Wednesday's practice and sat out Friday's practice with an undisclosed injury.