Lions add much needed depth at cornerback amid injuries to secondary group

After signing former Michigan Panthers cornerback D.J. Miller, the Detroit Lions have added even more depth to their secondary. The Lions signed veteran cornerback Luq Barcoo on Monday amid recent injuries to the group.

Barcoo has played in three career NFL games with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 season, where he recorded 10 total tackles and one pass breakup.

The Jaguars signed Barcoo as an UDFA and have also spent time with several other NFL teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dallas Cowboys.

Barcoo's most recent stop was with the Cowboys, where he was a player on the team's practice squad. The Cowboys eventually waived him on June 18. He now finds his way to Detroit and is hoping that this time his stay lasts and he sees playing time, like in Jacksonville.

Barcoo's success in the XFL and college

Barcoo has seen most of his success in professional football in the XFL. During the 2023 season, Barcoo was named to the All-XFL team with the San Antonio Brahmas. In the 2023 season, Barcoo recorded 31 total tackles, one sack, and one interception.

In two seasons with San Diego State from 2018 to 2019, Barcoo was arguably one of the best cornerbacks in the Mountain West Conference, recording 75 total tackles and 10 interceptions.

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Nine of those interceptions came during the 2019 season, when the Aztecs finished the year with a 10-3 record and a 48-11 win over Central Michigan in the New Mexico Bowl. Before San Diego State, Barcoo played two seasons at Grossmont, a junior college in California.

While his role in the Lions' secondary remains to be seen, Barcoo adds much-needed depth to a Lions secondary that has been battling injuries throughout training camp. Terrion Arnold is currently sidelined with a low-grade hamstring injury, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr is expected to be out will be out for a while with a shoulder injury, according to Lions head coach Dan Campbell.

Barcoo's time with the Lions could be short-lived depending on the injuries of their star corners, but he will get a chance to prove his talents throughout training camp and during game action in the preseason.

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