Injuries stole DJ Reed’s first season in Detroit. Now healthy, he’s ready to show why the Lions made him their top free-agent cornerback.
With Detroit Lions training camp tickets going on sale tomorrow, July 21, at 10 a.m. ET, fans hoping to attend should be ready the moment they become available. The tickets are free, but they are expected to go quickly. Before training camp officially begins, my 2026 Lions player profile series continues with a look at the secondary, starting with veteran cornerback DJ Reed.
Reed’s first season in Detroit did not go as planned. After signing a three-year, $48 million contract to become the Lions’ top cornerback, his season was derailed by a Grade 3 hamstring injury suffered during Detroit’s Week 4 matchup. The injury forced him to miss six games, and when he returned, it was evident he was not playing at full strength.
This offseason, however, Reed appears to be a completely different player. During organized team activities, he told reporters that his “extra gear” has returned, a promising sign after battling through last season. Head coach Dan Campbell echoed those comments, saying Reed has looked outstanding while running at full speed and moving without limitations.
Reed even took an unconventional approach to his recovery. He traveled to Panama for advanced stem-cell treatment after hearing about the process from San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. While the treatment itself has drawn attention, the biggest takeaway is that Reed has returned healthy and confident heading into training camp.
Throughout OTAs, Reed was a full participant, building chemistry with Detroit’s revamped secondary alongside newcomers Roger McCreary, Chuck Clark and Christian Izien. With several new faces in the defensive backfield, those practice reps could prove valuable once the regular season begins.
Over his career with the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and Lions, Reed has established himself as one of the NFL’s more reliable cornerbacks. Across 81 career starts, he has totaled eight interceptions and 58 pass breakups. Despite appearing in only 11 games last season, Reed still managed two interceptions, matching his highest single-season total since 2021.
His overall production remained solid despite playing through the effects of the hamstring injury. Reed finished the season with 45 solo tackles, seven pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
According to Pro Football Focus, Reed earned a 65.2 overall defensive grade, ranking 47th among 114 qualifying cornerbacks. His 61.3 coverage grade ranked 62nd, while his 78.7 run-defense grade ranked 10th at the position. Opposing quarterbacks posted a 79.6 passer rating when targeting him, and he allowed 35 receptions throughout the season.
The pressure on Reed will be even greater in 2026. With Terrion Arnold no longer on the roster, Detroit enters the season with plenty of uncertainty at cornerback. Reed is now expected to be the veteran leader of the group and the shutdown corner the Lions envisioned when they signed him in free agency. A young and relatively thin cornerback room will lean heavily on his experience, consistency and ability to match up against opposing No. 1 receivers every week.
I expect Reed to have a bounce-back season now that he is fully healthy. Another two-interception campaign is certainly within reach, but more importantly, I believe he will emerge as Detroit’s clear-cut No. 1 cornerback and the best player in the Lions’ secondary. If Reed returns to the form he displayed before last year’s injury, he could become one of the biggest reasons Detroit’s defense takes a significant step forward in 2026.
