The mystery surround Chris Houston has been solved.

Houston’s contract was terminated, according to the Detroit Lions' web site. 

He had four years remaining on a five-year, $25 million deal signed in March 2013.

That termination gave the Lions enough salary cap space to sign first-round pick Eric Ebron.

Houston had not been with the team for several weeks following toe surgery including this week’s mandatory minicamp. 

Coach Jim Caldwell said this week that Houston had been excused.

The coach got a little prickly when asked if Houston was behind on learning the new defense. 

“He hasn’t been here, how does he keep up? He hasn’t been here,’’ Caldwell said. “We understand he hadn’t been here, he’s been excused. When he gets back or whatever happens, we’ll work it out at that time.’’

Houston was traded to the Lions in March 2010 from the Atlanta Falcons.

His best season in Detroit was in 2012. He struggled with consistency throughout the 2013 season.

It was expected he would start this season. 

Finding starting cornerbacks will be one of the battles in training camp with Darius Slay, Rashean Mathis and Cassisu Vaughn as the ones to watch.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)