By Blessing 
Lions May Be Regretting Their Secondary Depth Ahead of Week 5
Detroit’s front office might be wishing for a do-over on one offseason move.
The Detroit Lions are being tested once again on defense as injuries pile up heading into Week 5. Just like last season, the team’s depth is being pushed to its limits. This week, against the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit’s defense will have to lean on its backups to keep their winning streak alive.
The secondary, in particular, has become a growing concern. DJ Reed has been placed on injured reserve, while safety Kerby Joseph has not practiced this week. The good news is that both Terrion Arnold and Khalil Dorsey were back at practice on Thursday and could be ready to go on Sunday. But facing a Bengals offense featuring Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Lions’ reshuffled secondary will be under serious pressure.
That situation has likely caused Detroit to rethink one of its offseason decisions. Rock Ya-Sin, signed to serve as a depth cornerback, is expected to start this week. Based on his recent play, it’s fair to question whether the Lions should have gone after a more proven or younger option.
Over the past two seasons, Ya-Sin has struggled to find consistent playing time. Between stints with the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, he saw more action on special teams than at cornerback. Last season in San Francisco, he logged just 62 defensive snaps and earned a disappointing 44.2 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. The year before, in Baltimore, he allowed the highest passer rating of his career in coverage.
That downward trend raised doubts about what Ya-Sin still had left in the tank. Signing a 29-year-old with limited recent production was a gamble — one that could come back to haunt Detroit now that Reed is sidelined.
During the preseason, Ya-Sin did see plenty of action, delivering a mix of good and bad moments across four games. His solid enough showing earned him a spot on the final 53-man roster, but through the regular season, he’s logged only 18 defensive snaps — not enough to truly evaluate him. Still, with Detroit now depending on him heavily, the front office may already be questioning that decision.
Meanwhile, Amik Robertson, Khalil Dorsey, and Avonte Maddox are expected to take on expanded roles as well. If any of them impresses, there’s a real chance one could replace Ya-Sin in the lineup until Reed returns. How Dan Campbell and defensive backs coach Kelvin Sheppard manage this next stretch could define the Lions’ secondary moving forward.