The Detroit Lions will place cornerback Jerry Jacobs on injured reserve, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Jacobs' season ends prior to the team's Wild Card playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Rams Sunday. He was listed as a non-participant in Thursday's practice with a lower body injury.
The decision leaves the Lions with an open roster spot, which could mean the return of linebacker James Houston.
The talented pass-rusher could be in action for the first time since Week 2, when he was placed on injured reserve with a fractured ankle. With eight sacks in nine career games, the second-year defender figures to be an impact player for Detroit's pass-rushing unit.
This offseason will be a pivotal one for Jacobs, as he is a pending restricted free agent. He began the season as the team's starting cornerback opposite Cam Sutton, starting 12 games.
However, he was relegated to a reserve and special teams role beginning in Week 15, as Khalil Dorsey started in his place. Kindle Vildor, meanwhile, has started each of the last two games opposite Sutton.
Without Jacobs, the Lions will have to evaluate their cornerback depth. Vildor and Sutton figure to be the starters, with Dorsey and Will Harris serving as backups.
Jacobs recorded three interceptions this season, along with 55 tackles and two tackles for loss. In 40 career games, he has four interceptions and a total of 131 tackles.
Jacobs joined the organization as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State in 2021, making the roster out of training camp. He started nine games as a rookie, before suffering a season-ending knee injury late in the season.
The following year, he played in 12 games, with eight starts, and recorded his first career interception.
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