The Detroit Lions might be without defensive back Christian Izien for their September 13 season opener against the New Orleans Saints, which is a real punch to the gut for their early season plans. Izien suffered what looked like a leg injury covering a punt in the second quarter of a game last week against the Washington Commanders, and coach Dan Campbell isn’t making any promises he’ll be ready for Week 1. “It’ll probably be a little bit here,” Campbell said on Wednesday. “I don’t know if we’ll have him for the opener or not. But we’ll have him. I mean, we’re going to get him here, if it’s not then, we’ll get him here early in the season at some point.” That’s not exactly reassuring news for fans counting down the days to kickoff.
The Slot Cornerback Race Just Got Intense
Izien wasn’t just some rotational guy either. He was right in the middle of a three-man competition for the starting slot cornerback job, battling it out with veteran Roger McCreary and rookie fifth-round pick Keith Abney II. This guy was also considered one of their top backups at safety, showing how critical his versatility is. In that Commanders game, he played 5 defensive snaps and 7 special teams snaps, starting in the nickel package. With Izien out, it was Abney who got the bulk of the first-team reps at slot cornerback in Tuesday’s practice. It looks like the rookie is getting a crash course right when it matters most.
More Defensive Concerns Emerge
The secondary isn’t the only spot taking hits. With Izien sidelined and Dan Jackson also out, cornerback Nick Whiteside had to step in at safety during practice. And then there’s linebacker Trevor Nowaske, who left Tuesday’s practice with a knee sprain. While Campbell said that injury isn’t considered serious , “So I think we’ll be OK here, let it calm down. So I’m not as worried about that,” he added , it still highlights a growing list of dings as the season approaches. The Lions need these guys healthy, and fast.
The Lions open against the Saints in just a few weeks. Every practice rep and every recovery day counts right now. All eyes will be on who steps up in that crucial nickel slot, and how quickly Izien can get back on the field to bolster that secondary depth.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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