Jason

Hanson

Hanson is 41 but remains one of the best deep-ball kickers in the game. After winning the job with an impressive training camp, he’s already 4-for-4 on field goals and 9-for-9 on extra points through two games. Hanson is a fantasy kicker to target as part of the Lions’ explosive offense.

The Lions worked out two kickers Wednesday, so Hanson is far from a slam dunk to be active against the Bears. Look elsewhere at kicker.

Jason Hanson has an injured left knee. The Lions have not released the nature of the ailment, but it’s possible he had a minor procedure done during the bye week. Although Hanson was having a dynamite season (17-of-18, four field goals of 50-plus yards), fantasy owners now need to look elsewhere.

It looks like Hanson is testing out his injured plant leg in the hopes of suiting up Sunday. If the Lions don’t sign a new kicker by Saturday, we’ll know they are comfortable with his status for Sunday’s game against the Bears.

Hanson connected on 24-of-29 (82.8 percent) field goals as a top-10 fantasy kicker. The franchise’s all-time leading scorer (2,016 points) became only the sixth kicker in NFL history to reach 400 field goals and the first with 50 50-yarders in his career. Hanson is due $2.55 million in the last year of his contract.

Hanson’s plant knee required stitches after an accident playing with his kids during the bye week. The Lions have worked out a few kickers, but there’s been no signing as of yet.

Hanson’s knee did not appear to be an issue. He figures to score much better in a home game against the Panthers next week. The Lions passed on some short field goals yesterday due to the lopsided score.

Hanson hit 24-of-29 field goals in 2011, but will be 42 in June. He beat out Dave Rayner to retain the gig in last year’s training camp. “I think the days of not having competition are over, because I’m old and they’re probably always wondering when’s the day when he falls to the ground,” Hanson said.

The only “competition” Hanson has this summer is undrafted rookie Derek Dimke. He’ll once again ride the ideal conditions inside Ford Field and the Lions’ explosive offense to a strong fantasy finish. Over the last two seasons, Hanson has made 8-of-11 kicks from 50-plus yards out.

Undrafted rookie Derek Dimke was cut on Monday. Hanson is 42, but still has one of the most powerful legs in the game. He has gone 8-for-11 on field goals of 50-plus yards over the last two seasons and is aided by the Ford Field dome.