Despite leaving Ford Field with their third straight win and improving to 3-1 on the season on Sunday, the Detroit Lions weren't exactly in high spirits. Lions fans had begun to fear deja vu of another injury-ravaged season on the defensive side of the ball as D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold both left the game early. Reed was quickly ruled out for the next several games due to a hamstring injury, and Arnold's status going forward was in question.
Wednesday's practice shed more light on the situation. Fortunately for Lions fans, Arnold took the field in practice, per The Athletic's Colton Pouncy. Reed, Kerby Joseph, Taylor Decker, Sione Vaki, Khalil Dorsey, and Zach Cunningham, however, did not participate.
Terrion Arnold Will Likely Suit Up in Week 5 After Wednesday's Practice
While Reed's injury and Joseph's potential absence certainly complicate matters for the Lions, the fact that Arnold was able to practice is a very positive sign. Detroit was at risk of losing both of its starting cornerbacks, but it no longer seems like their first-round pick from a season ago will miss Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Arnold will now have a larger role on the secondary, potentially taking over as the CB1. He will likely be tasked with covering Ja'Marr Chase on Sunday, as difficult a challenge as they come in the NFL.
Amik Robertson will likely slide opposite Arnold as the CB2, as he was already in line for more defensive snaps with defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard having been impressed with his play in recent weeks. Robertson has gotten the majority of his snaps in the slot since arriving in Detroit. That opportunity will likely go to Avonte Maddox now, who has extensive experience playing there during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
This also means that Rock Ya-Sin and Khalil Dorsey will see increased opportunities as the backup corners. Neither player has seen the field much this season. In their limited opportunities, they haven't been able to make an impact, as demonstrated by their 46.6 and 53.3 coverage grades per Pro Football Focus, respectively.
If Joseph also ends up missing Week 5, things could really get complicated in the defensive backfield. In that case, we could see Maddox or Ya-Sin getting some time at safety. This could present an opportunity for Detroit's practice squad options, like Erick Hallett or undrafted rookie Tyson Russell.
The injury reports throughout the week will provide a better idea of how the Lions will line up against the Bengals on Sunday. For now, Detroit fans can take a big breath knowing that they will at least likely have one of their starting CBs back in action.