By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s secondary is cracking at the worst possible time — and one struggling signing is dragging the unit down.
A Signing That Looked Smart — Until It Didn’t
When the Detroit Lions inked Amik Robertson to a two-year, $9.25 million deal in 2024, the move looked like one of the offseason’s cleanest bargains. A tough, feisty slot corner with production in limited snaps? Perfect. Or so it seemed.
But as Detroit’s secondary has been stretched thin by injuries and rising expectations, the cracks in Robertson’s game have turned into gaping holes. What once looked like a savvy depth signing has now become one of the franchise’s most glaring free-agent miscalculations — and head coach Dan Campbell can’t afford to ignore it any longer.
The Lions’ meltdown on Thanksgiving only shoved the issue into the spotlight. After allowing Jordan Love to toss four touchdowns in a 31-24 loss, Robertson left the game so frustrated that he couldn’t even address the media. And unfortunately for Detroit, the tape did all the talking.
Numbers Don’t Lie — And They’re Getting Worse
Robertson has always played with grit. He forces turnovers, he talks, he hits — Detroit wanted that edge. But they also needed reliability, and that’s where everything has unraveled.
According to Pro Football Reference, Robertson has already surrendered a career-worst five touchdowns this season — with five games still left to play. He has allowed 398 air yards, the highest total of his NFL career, and opponents have increasingly targeted him on deeper routes, recognizing a vulnerability Detroit has failed to patch.
This isn’t just a small misstep or a rough stretch. It’s a structural problem in a defense fighting for its postseason life. And with Robertson logging more snaps than any other Lions corner, the exposure has been amplified.
He hasn’t shied away from speaking out, either. Frustrated after a long touchdown allowed to Christian Watson, Robertson took to Instagram with pointed words about the receiver — and others across the league — insisting he was pushed off. But frustration doesn’t change results, and results are exactly what the Lions don’t have time to wait on.
Looming Matchups Could Break Detroit’s Season
If Thanksgiving was a warning, what’s next might be a full-blown alarm for Detroit’s coaching staff.
In back-to-back weeks, the Lions face the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams, arguably the strongest wide receiver duos in the league outside Detroit’s own room. CeeDee Lamb. Brandin Cooks. Cooper Kupp. Puka Nacua. Every one of them is capable of exposing defensive lapses — especially from a corner struggling to survive his current workload.
And with the Lions already slipping in the NFC North standings, the stakes are nothing short of season-defining.
This isn’t about pinning everything on Robertson. Injuries have stretched Detroit’s secondary to its limit. Schematically, the defense has been inconsistent. But continuing to force Robertson into a role he’s not built for — especially in the biggest month of the season — is a choice, not a necessity.
Campbell Must Make the Call — Before It’s Too Late
Dan Campbell values toughness. Loyalty. Fight. Robertson embodies all of it. But the Lions aren’t in a position to lean on intangibles. They’re fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive in a conference loaded with elite offenses, and relying on a player who has repeatedly been targeted and exploited is simply unsustainable.
Robertson has the heart to thrive as an NFL slot corner. What he doesn’t have — at least not right now — is the ability to be Detroit’s every-down answer on the boundary or in expanded coverage responsibilities. The Lions asked too much, and they’re paying the price.
With Dallas and Los Angeles on deck, Campbell has a decision to make. One that could define whether Detroit climbs back into contention — or watches its season unravel because a free-agent gamble turned into a costly misfire.
One thing is clear: the Lions can’t keep pretending this isn’t a problem. Not anymore.