Lions rookie running back Mikel Leshoure’s rookie season with the Lions has ended before it even got a chance to begin.

The Associated Press reports that Leshoure will miss the entire 2011 season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in practice on Monday.

“There’s no more tests that need to be done. He’ll have surgery very soon,” Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. “He’ll be back, but he won’t be back this year.”

The injury occurred during an 11-on-11 drill when he was cleanly thumped by defensive end Cliff Avril. Leshoure had to be carted off by trainers; obviously a bad omen for the injury-riddled Lions, who are already dealing with injuries to two other top picks — defensive tackle Nick Fairley and wide receiver Titus Young.

Leshoure, the Illinois alum, was drafted to provide a power presence to Detroit’s backfield. He wasn’t expected to unseat Jahvid Best for the starting job, but was in line to receive a good chunk of carries as the thunder to Best’s lightning.

Now the Lions will turn to other alternatives, such as Tiki Barber or Jerome Harrison, with fellow back Maurice Morris also out with a broken hand.

Leshoure will have a full year to rehab and recover, though this is one of the toughest injuries to come back from — especially for a running back. There’s a fair chance he may never regain some of the skills that made him such a highly-touted pick.

What’s alarming is this — by Adam Schefter’s count — the 10th player to rupture their Achilles tendons since training camps began. That’s a scary statistic that hopefully will not continue to rise.

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