The Detroit Lions built their 53-man roster for 2025 with a deep run in the playoffs in mind. Nobody could blame the Lions if they prioritized depth one year after watching 16 players end the year on injured reserve. It was even more understandable that they would part with quarterback Hendon Hooker and fan favorite offensive lineman Dan Skipper to carry one more player at a critical position.
It resulted in a roster that has some areas that are deeper than others but remains a fluid situation heading into the season opener against the Green Bay Packers. One new addition that survived the cuts must now prove that he’s here to stay and it could be a matter of time before he either shows his worth or is shipped out for a replacement.
Lions S Rock Ya-Sin Needs to Prove His Preseason Wasn’t a Fluke
The Lions brought in Rock Ya-Sin on a one-year deal this offseason and many believed it was to bring depth to the cornerback room. While the former second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts also played special teams, he was one of the first players to be speculated as a cut candidate as the Lions arrived for training camp.
But what few saw coming was a transition to safety. Ya-Sin played 17 snaps at cornerback in the Hall of Fame Game but played the majority of his snaps as a free safety in each of the next two preseason games. He also spent 15 snaps as a box safety in the Lions’ preseason finale, perhaps as part of an experiment by defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
Regardless of the reason, the experiment seemed to work. Ya-Sin posted overall grades of 78.1 and 67.1 in preseason games against the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins according to Pro Football Focus. But his grade dropped to 42.9 in the preseason finale in the Houston Texans, possibly due to his use as a box safety. The move also masked the struggles of a player that has allowed a 98.6 passer rating during his career and helped him make the roster.
While Ya-Sin may have celebrated making the Lions roster, his challenge is to make sure he stays on it. Detroit kept only three safeties as part of their roster cuts with Ya-Sin backing up Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch and he could also go back to corner if Detroit has a similar rash of injuries that they had last season.
With three empty spots on the roster as of Wednesday afternoon, the Lions don’t have to sacrifice a player like Ya-Sin if they want to bring in someone to help the cause. But Ya-Sin will need to continue performing well at his new position if he doesn’t want to end up looking for a new team midway through the season.