The Detroit Lions were already in a tough spot with their secondary. Terrion Arnold had a disappointing and injury-riddled second year in the league, and now that he's gone, they're even thinner at the position.
Notably, that only puts more pressure on veterans like DJ Reed. Reed had a roller-coaster first season in Michigan, partly due to injuries, and this team's success -- or lack thereof -- will hinge heavily on his availability.
A former star with the New York Jets, Reed is facing a make-or-break season. From financial pressure to Father Time potentially catching up to him, this will most likely be his most crucial campaign as a pro.
The Detroit Lions need DJ Reed to step up
With Carlton Davis gone, the Lions trusted Reed with a three-year, $48 million contract. He looked like a star early on in the season, but a hamstring injury, which was initially believed to be season-ending, derailed the campaign.
While he didn't have to miss that much time, Reed has now missed at least two games in each of the last three seasons. He's reportedly working the extra mile this offseason to ensure his hamstring issues won't linger into the next campaign, but there are no guarantees at this point.
Reed clearly lacked some of his usual twitchiness and explosiveness after coming back from injury. He's entering his age-30 season, and players usually don't get healthier or faster as they grow older. With Arnold out, there's no plan B here.
All in all, Reed finished his first campaign in Kelvin Sheppard's defense with 46 total tackles, seven pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovered in 11 appearances (all starts). That's not necessarily bad, but not as good as advertised.
He now has to step up, knowing that there's a $13.6 million option bonus for the 2027 season. If he gets hurt again or plays as he did after his injury, there will be few incentives to keep him around for the final year of his contract.
As things stand now, the Lions will start Reed and rookie Keith Abney II in the boundary, with newcomer Roger McCreary in the slot. Still, given how thin they are at the position, they will also likely be active in free agency and the trade market.
Reed can be a star and a true difference-maker in Detroit. Likewise, relying solely on him without a backup plan could doom Dan Campbell's team's aspirations for a second consecutive season.
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