Lions’ cornerback depth to be tested in coming weeks

The Detroit Lions’ defense played well once again in a 34-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, but one major injury could have big ramifications for the defense in the next few weeks.

Cornerback D.J. Reed went down with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win and did not return. Fellow starting corner Terrion Arnold also left the game with a shoulder injury, though Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the win that Arnold’s injury is not believed to be as serious as Reed’s.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday that Reed is a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, although the injury would not require surgery. Campbell appeared to echo the same sentiment shortly after.

“He’s going to be down for a while, but the good news is, it’s not a season-ender. We will get him back, it looks like. So that’s the good news.”

Reed was Detroit’s top free agency addition this offseason when he signed a three-year $48 million contract with the team. He was Detroit’s best cover corner to start 2025 and recorded his first interception as a Lion against Cleveland. 

It looks like for at least the next few weeks, Arnold will be Detroit’s top cover corner. His play has drawn criticism from fans this year for allowing some big plays through the air and being flagged for multiple penalties, but defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard defended Arnold after last week’s win over Baltimore.

Cornerback depth getting huge test ahead of Week 5

“Everybody can point the finger at (Arnold), but you know why we were able to knock out the run game? Because he was playing with no help behind him for probably 50 percent of that game,” Sheppard said. “Now, that’s no excuse. It’s just the job you signed up for. You signed that contract. As a corner in the NFL, you’re expected to do that. But let’s make no mistake about it— I told the D-line, ‘How would you like to go out there on an island while you guys are having fun here in the box knowing there’s nobody back there?’”

The Lions ask a lot of their corners because of how much they play in their base defense. They had already mentioned before Reed’s injury that they wanted to get nickel Amik Robertson more reps on the outside, and he definitely seems like the most likely candidate to take over opposite Arnold.

But if the Lions decide they want to keep Robertson at the nickel, then Khalil Dorsey, Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox seem like the next logical answers outside.

Dorsey played a good bit in relief for Reed and Arnold on Sunday, while Ya-Sin and Maddox were both offseason additions who the Lions tried at safety in the preseason. Maddox played some safety on Sunday when Kerby Joseph briefly went down and could also fill in for Robertson at nickel if the Lions move him outside.

READ MORE: Amik Robertson in line for more opportunities, but not how Lions fans imagined

Cornerback depth seemed to be a priority for the Lions this offseason after the defense was bit hard by the injury bug last season, including a broken jaw to stud outside corner Carlton Davis that ended his season in Week 15.

It also stings for Detroit that second-year former second round pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is out for the year with a shoulder injury. This would have been a great opportunity for a young player many viewed as raw throughout the pre-draft process to get some valuable reps.

And with all the backlash thrown Arnold’s way as of late, it’s worth remembering that his play was much improved by the end of 2024 and it’s reasonable to expect something similar in year two. 

But Detroit will have to figure out its cornerback situation fast. They travel to Cincinnati this week to face the league’s best wide receiver duo in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and even without quarterback Joe Burrow suiting up, those two pose all kinds of problems.

Beyond that, the Lions have the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Vikings coming up, all of whom have talent out wide. There’s optimism that Reed could be back after four games, but if he has to miss all of October then Detroit will need Arnold, Robertson and company to really step up. 

The Lions could add a veteran if they feel like they need even more depth, but it’s far more likely that they go with the guys they have now barring another major injury. If they can get Reed back in time without suffering a steep decline in cornerback play during his absence, Detroit’s Super Bowl pursuit can remain on schedule.