Detroit Lions undecided on resigning Nick Fairley

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Detroit Lions are still weighing whether to resign former Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

Detroit declined to exercise the fifth-year club option in Fairley's contract and he was having a good start to the season prior to injury, with 14 tackles in eight games.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said there has not been a decision as to resign Fairley, as the club is still trying to reach a long-term deal with fellow defensive tackle NdamukongSuh, which affects the "vast majority" of the club's decision making at the position.

"We'll discuss Nick's situation," Mayhew said. "There's a lot of guys like that in free agency right now; we're in dialogue with about all those guys. It's a matter of setting some priorities and understanding there's some tradeoffs that have to happen. …

"A lot of it revolves around Suh. I could see a scenario however where we have Suh and Nick back, but I can also see a scenario where we have neither one of them."

Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austintold the team's website he felt Fairley "turned a corner" this season.