By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions may have handled business on the scoreboard with a 34-10 win over the Cleveland Browns, but one injury clouded the celebration. Cornerback D.J. Reed exited in the fourth quarter with a hamstring issue, and now the team — and its fans — are waiting anxiously for MRI results.
The Best-Case Scenario
Dr. Jimmy Liao, a medical analyst who often covers Lions injuries, explained what Reed’s diagnosis could look like.
The most optimistic outcome? A Grade 1 or Grade 2 hamstring strain, which would keep Reed sidelined but possibly return him within five weeks or less. “It really depends on where the strain occurs — whether in the muscle belly or closer to the tendon,” Liao noted.
That kind of recovery window would be a tough blow, but manageable for a Lions team with playoff aspirations.
The Worst-Case Scenario
The scenario nobody in Detroit wants to hear: a surgical rupture. While considered unlikely, it would end Reed’s season immediately. Liao pointed to players like Dak Prescott and Michael Badgley, who’ve suffered similar injuries in the past. For a Lions defense already thin in the secondary, that would be a nightmare.
What It Means for the Lions Secondary
With rookie Terrion Arnold also banged up, Detroit’s cornerback depth is under real stress just four weeks into the season. Head coach Dan Campbell admitted after the game that he doesn’t expect Reed to play next Sunday, leaving the Lions scrambling for answers.
The bottom line? For now, it’s all about the MRI results. Lions fans will be hoping Reed falls closer to the best-case timeline than the season-ending one.