Mikel Leshoure declined to blame his 2011 Achilles' tear for his slide down the depth chart.

"I feel good," Leshoure said. "I feel like I'm back to where I need to be and nothing as far as my Achilles is the issue here. I don't put anything on that." Simply put, Joique Bell is the better player and has won the backup job by outplaying Leshoure. Credit the former second-round pick for not making any excuses. He'll need a Bush injury to even be part of a committee this season.

Mikel Leshoure rushed for 32 yards on five carries in the Lions' third preseason game Thursday night.

He played behind Reggie Bush, Joique Bell, and even FB/RB Montell Owens, although Owens suffered a potentially severe knee injury. Leshoure is Detroit's third-string running back at best and may be inactive on game days to open the season because he doesn't contribute on special teams. Through three preseason games, Leshoure has 56 yards on 12 runs (4.67 YPC). Bell is averaging 6.50 YPC.

Mikel Leshoure was given just one carry in Thursday's preseason game.

That would suggest an injury, but Leshoure wasn't known to be hurt. It's the latest sign that Leshoure is buried behind Joique Bell on the depth chart, and perhaps even rookie Theo Riddick. Leshoure has zero fantasy upside.

According to DetroitLions.com, Mikel Leshoure still hasn't rediscovered his pre-injury form.

In-house reporter Tim Twentyman gave the opinion after being asked for his thoughts on Joique Bell and Leshoure. He added that Bell "is solid." It's certainly an indication that Bell is in the running for the Lions' No. 2 job behind Reggie Bush, as team-payroll "beat writers" aren't paid to make waves. Twentyman is also one of the best reporters covering the Lions. Outside of touchdown-only leagues, Leshoure's upside is extremely minimal.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz is looking for more week-to-week consistency from Mikel Leshoure.

"(You) can't be up one week, down another regardless of circumstances and things like that," Schwartz said. "I think that's probably his biggest challenge. It's something he's been working through this offseason and that's something he's going to have to put behind him as a player." Leshoure's reps were "managed" during the offseason program as he fought through a hamstring issue, but he was a full participant in last week's minicamp. Dogged by injuries since being the No. 57 overall pick of the 2011 draft, Leshoure's 2013 will be all about proving he can stay healthy.

Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) took part in team drills at Tuesday's minicamp session.

Leshoure doesn't expect to be full-go before for camp, but this is a positive sign for his recovery. Leshoure is doubtful to take part in team drills for all three days of minicamp.

Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) expects to be limited until training camp.

Leshoure returned to limited on practice on Monday, but won't be full-go for OTAs or minicamp. "(It's) offseason OTAs, it's no time to be out here trying to rush and do things," Leshoure said. "I'm not saying I haven't been trying to get back. That's been the plan. But we're just being a little bit smarter this year." On a micro scale, Leshoure's hamstring ailment isn't a concern, but on a macro scale, it's just his latest nagging leg injury. It's a pivotal season for the 2011 second-rounder's Lions future.

Speaking about Mikel Leshoure's hamstring injury Wednesday, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said it's taking "maybe a little bit longer than we would've thought."

Leshoure has thus far been sidelined at OTAs. "It's something that's been nagging him," Schwartz said. "We'll get him back there soon. He's working hard, he's just not working on the field." Leshoure missed time in last year's camp with a hamstring injury, and experienced calf, groin and ankle issues during the regular season. Leshoure could tumble farther down the depth chart if he can't shake his habit of leg injuries.

Mikel Leshoure (hamstring) remained absent from Lions OTAs on Wednesday

Leshoure has been doing individual work since OTAs opened, and there are no indications that the injury is serious, but it's troubling news for a player who's had trouble staying healthy since being drafted.

Mikel Leshoure is being held out of team drills at Lions OTAs with an undisclosed injury.

"He's battling some stuff," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He can do some individual stuff but he's not ready to do any team work." There are no indications that the injury is serious, but it's worrisome news for a player who's had trouble staying healthy since being the No. 57 overall pick of the 2011 draft. Leshoure can ill-afford any more leg ailments after plodding through 2012. For now, Leshoure remains penciled in as the Lions' short-yardage "specialist" despite his anemic 3.71 yards per carry last season.

Mikel Leshoure faced eight defenders in the box less often than any other running back last season.

Leshoure saw a stacked box just 6.05 percent of the time, yet still averaged a paltry 3.71 YPC. It's a scary number that reaffirms Leshoure's best role is as a short-yardage pounder. That's what he'll be this season as Reggie Bush was signed to jump-start the Lions' running game as the feature back.

Coach Jim Schwartz said he expects Mikel Leshoure to "make a big jump" in 2013.

"He flashed enough highs that gives us optimism that he can (be explosive), but he also had enough inconsistency to say that he's not there yet," said Schwartz. "We still have high hopes for him." Leshoure's 2012 season was essentially his rookie year after missing all of 2011 with a torn Achilles'. The team had just three runs of 20-plus yards last season, and Leshoure didn't have any of them.

The Lions haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2004.

That season, Kevin Jones gained 1,133 yards on the ground for a 6-10 team. New RBs coach Curtis Modkins, who oversaw the Bills' potent running game the past three seasons, believes he can get Detroit's run game out of the dumps. "I think (OC Scott Linehan) wants people to have to defend everything," Modkins said. "Whether we run it or pass it, I want a defense to have to defend the possibility of both and be afraid of both." The Lions have a pair of serviceable backs in Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell, but should make finding more of a home-run hitter in either the draft or free agency a priority.

Mikel Leshoure's longest run this season is 16 yards.

Leshoure has sustained fantasy value by rushing for nine touchdowns in 13 games, but he's shown very little burst. The power back is managing a mere 3.70 YPC on his 200 carries compared to a 5.10 YPC mark for backup Joique Bell. The Lions have turned this backfield into a timeshare of late, with Bell netting 12.2 touches per game over the last four weeks.

Mikel Leshoure rushed 15 times for 46 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's loss to the Falcons.

He added three catches for 20 yards. Leshoure fumbled after a Calvin Johnson 49-yard catch-and-run early in the first quarter, but was able to get in the end zone on a goal-line carry to put the Lions within a one-score game. He averaged just 3.1 yards-per-carry and ceded all passing-down snaps to Joique Bell. Leshoure hasn't hasn't topped 57 yards on the ground in five weeks and will be just a flex option for Week 17 against the Bears.

Although he remained limited in Friday's practice, Mikel Leshoure (calf) is officially probable for Saturday's game against the Falcons.

Leshoure will be ready to roll against the Falcons, and proved in Week 15 he remains locked-in as the Lions' goal-line back. He's the No. 21 runner in Rotoworld's Week 16 ranks.

Mikel Leshoure (calf) remained limited in Thursday's practice.

Leshoure rarely gets in full practices these days, but will be ready to go for Saturday night's tilt with the Falcons. He's the No. 21 back in Rotoworld's Week 16 ranks.

Mikel Leshoure (calf) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

The Lions have made a habit of limiting Leshoure's practice reps since he made his season debut in Week 3, but he's yet to come close to missing a game. Although back-up Joique Bell has seen a recent uptick in snaps, Leshoure should operate as the Lions' primary chain-mover and goal-line back against the Falcons.

Mikel Leshoure rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries in Week 15 versus the Cardinals.

Leshoure added two receptions for a meager four yards on three targets in the passing game. The bruising back returned to his goal-line duties by punching in a one-yard score to open up the game's scoring. No. 2 back Joique Bell played passing downs and generated 37 yards on nine touches. Leshoure hasn't topped 57 yards on the ground in four weeks and is merely just a flex option for Week 16 against the Falcons.

Mikel Leshoure rushed 14 times for 49 yards in Detroit's Week 14 loss to the Packers.

It was a troubling night for Leshoure, who ceded major playing time to Joique Bell. Bell touched the ball 17 times, rolling up 96 yards. However, the biggest development may have been Bell touching the ball twice inside the Packers' 10-yard line. Leshoure failed to convert a 3rd-and-1 from the Packers' four-yard line on the Lions' opening drive, and never got the ball in the red zone again. With Bell monopolizing passing-down snaps, Leshoure's fantasy value will be in a world of trouble if he's no longer the Lions' clear-cut goal-line back.