Detroit Lions veteran defensive tackle Nick Fairley appears to have responded favorably to the team not picking up his fifth-year option.

The Lions want to see more consistency from Fairley.

“I kind of said it’s a good thing, kind of,” Fairley told the Detroit Free-Press. “It kind of will put me into a new contract earlier than guys coming out in my draft. They’re picking up guys’ fifth-year option, that gets me into a new contract. That’s the way I look at it.”

And Fairley, who underwent sleep apnea surgery, has lost weight in his attempt to prove worthy of a new deal.

Fairley is down to 295 pounds, 27 pounds lighter than last year.

Fairley was admitted out of shape last season.

“I eat a lot of Subway and that kind of gets me down to where I want to be,” Fairley said. “When I got away from eating Subway I got to eating back fast food and I got away from it, got back to like McDonald’s and fast food and that kind of put some weight back on me.

“For this year, I’m just going to stick through it throughout the whole year. I’m trying to stay away from fast food and fried stuff and trying to cut out all my soda. I kind of got lazy with it (last) year, I would say.”

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun