“He’ll be out for a while.”
That’s what Dan Campbell said about starting cornerback Terrion Arnold and reserve corner Khalil Dorsey. The Lions are already without their top corner, D.J. Reed, who landed on Injured Reserve last week and won’t return until after the bye. That means the hungry and angry Kansas City Chiefs — led by Patrick Mahomes and still holding a grudge after Detroit spoiled their banner night a few years ago — will be taking aim at a depleted Lions secondary. Expect Mahomes to test corners like Amik Robertson, Avonte Maddox, and Rock Ya-Sin early and often.
The “next man up” mantra isn’t new in Detroit. Last season, a wave of injuries hit early and never stopped. By the time the playoffs rolled around, the Lions had nearly two dozen players on IR. It felt like the injury bug couldn’t get any worse — yet here we are again, entering the second quarter of the season with another round of tough breaks.
Now down three cornerbacks, Detroit will live and die with the guys still standing.
Amik Robertson has already proven he can be a lockdown corner. His “Can't bury what comes from the dirt” postgame quote last year remains one of the best Lions victory speeches ever. He went toe-to-toe with Justin Jefferson — his old high school rival — and held his own. He played well again last week against the Bengals and will now take on each opponent’s top receiver. That likely means guarding Xavier Worthy next week and Emeka Egbuka in Week 7. Robertson will look to tighten things up statistically, as he’s allowed 17.8 yards per catch on six receptions — ranking 103rd among all corners.
The Lions will lean on two veterans next: Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin.
Maddox will mostly work the nickel, matching up against JuJu Smith-Schuster next week and possibly Chris Godwin the following one. He’s already made his mark on special teams and brings veteran savvy to the defense. Think of him as a gritty, reliable presence — much like Al-Quadin Muhammad last year.
Then there’s Rock Ya-Sin — easily one of the coolest names in football. And yes, he’ll “rock ya” like a hurricane if given the chance. He flashed strong coverage skills during the preseason — tight, physical, but not grabby — even if it was against roster hopefuls. Lining up opposite Hollywood Brown will be a much bigger challenge, but both Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell believe in him. And so do I.
Unfortunately, those three are the only healthy corners on the active roster.
Help could come from the practice squad, where three corners are waiting for the call:
- Tre Flowers, a veteran with 44 career starts and four interceptions. He hasn’t started a game or recorded a stat other than a tackle in the past two seasons.
- Eric Hallett, a 2023 sixth-round pick by Jacksonville, still waiting to make his NFL debut.
- Nick Whiteside, a preseason standout who just rejoined the team. He appeared in two games for Washington in 2023 and was among the final roster cuts in Detroit this year.
One or more of them will likely be promoted this week to provide depth — and relief — for the starters.
It’s a tall order for this group of six corners. The Chiefs are angry and desperate for a bounce-back win, a dangerous combination for any defense. But challenges like this are exactly what Dan Campbell’s Lions are built for. Expect Detroit to come prepared, physical, and ready to fight for a Prime Time statement win.