The Detroit Lions are officially in panic mode. With their 41-34 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions must win their remaining games to have a chance of making the playoffs. Currently, the Lions sit as the eighth seed with a 40% playoff probability, per NFL Next Gen Stats.
Ex-Lions and current Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford absolutely shredded the Lions’ secondary, throwing for 368 passing yards and two touchdowns. Before Week 12, the Lions hadn’t allowed over 300 passing yards in a game; however, they’ve now allowed an average of 328.8 passing yards in their last four outings, which includes three 300-yard passers.
One factor contributing to the secondary’s recent woes is cornerback D.J. Reed, who’s struggled mightily since returning from injury.
In his last three games, Reed has been tormented, allowing 17 receptions for 272 yards and one touchdown, while being flagged for four penalties. With the Lions’ defense already decimated by numerous injuries, Reed must snap out of his slump if they’re to have a chance of sneaking into the playoffs.
Lions Need DJ Reed to Snap Out of Slump
There was high anticipation amongst Lions’ fans when the team signed Reed in the offseason, as he was expected to complement 2024 first-round selection Terrion Arnold. Injuries to both Reed and Arnold, however, have limited the pair to just five games together.
In the games that Reed has played opposite of Arnold, he's done a solid job as the second corner, allowing just 11 receptions on 18 targets for 136 yards. Without Arnold, however, Reed has struggled to maintain the same level of play, allowing 13 receptions 227 for yards.
Reed has been tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best receiver in Arnold’s absence, and so far, the assignment has proven to be challenging for him. In the last two games against star receivers CeeDee Lamb and Puka Nacua, Reed was consistently getting burned.
Although he was going up against two of the best receivers in the league, it felt like he couldn’t stop to save his life. Reed has been a liability as the Lions’ top corner and needs him desperately to get out of his slump.
Lions Have No Other Options for CB1 Role
The Lions are already thin at depth in the secondary with four players on the injured reserve, and cannot afford Reed’s woes to continue. Outside of him, the team is relying on cornerbacks Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin to step it up. However, both players haven’t proven to be a better option than Reed. Robertson has arguably been worse than Reed, allowing 22 receptions on 33 targets in the previous three games, and while Ya-Sin has been solid at times, he has one pass break-up since Week 6.
Their backups, Avonte Maddox and Khalil Dorsey, haven’t been relied on much this season and haven’t had much production in their limited playing time. With pressure mounting on the Lions, they don’t have many options to choose from.
The Lions could take a risk tasking another player with guarding the opposing team’s top receivers, but that likely won’t do them any good, with the Lions’ secondary facing DK Metcalf, Justin Jefferson, and Rome Odunze in their upcoming games.
Instead, the Lions must hope Reed can snap out of his slump and give the Lions meaningful production in the ensuing games. Hopefully, the Lions' front seven can ease some of the pressure off the secondary by dominating the line of scrimmage and consistently getting to the quarterback.