By Blessing 
Lions Make Final Call on Injured Cornerback as Week 5 Nears
The Detroit Lions are off to a strong start this season, carrying a 3-1 record into Week 5. Their only setback came against the Green Bay Packers, a loss that already feels far behind them. Instead of dwelling on that defeat, Detroit has its sights locked on the upcoming matchup.
On Sunday, October 5, the Lions face the Cincinnati Bengals, who currently sit at 2-2. On paper, Detroit has an advantage with Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sidelined, but the NFL rarely provides guarantees. Even without Burrow, the Bengals remain dangerous, meaning the Lions will need to grind out every yard and point.
Of course, Detroit isn’t immune to health issues either. Last season was plagued with defensive injuries, and while this year hasn’t been quite as brutal, a few key pieces are still unavailable. The latest setback stings: a final decision has been made on one of their most reliable defenders.
Lions Rule Out D.J. Reed
The Lions have officially placed cornerback D.J. Reed on injured reserve after he suffered a hamstring injury. That means he will miss at least four weeks, ruling him out until after the team’s bye week. The move came as part of a roster shuffle announced on the team’s X account on October 1.
Along with Reed’s designation, Detroit elevated safety Loren Strickland and linebacker Ty Summers to the active roster. The team also added cornerbacks Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside to the practice squad, bolstering depth in a secondary that suddenly needs reinforcements.
While the IR news hurts, Reed’s situation could be worse. According to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, Reed was spotted in the locker room “without a boot or brace on his injured leg.” Woodyard also noted, “No surgery is required, but Reed anticipated he would be placed on the IR list before the news was officially announced.”
Reed himself addressed reporters earlier in the week, saying, “We don’t have a timetable of like when I’m going to be back, but yeah, I strained it pretty bad. I don’t need surgery so just got to rehab it.”
Detroit Keeps Gaining Respect
Even with injuries mounting, Detroit is gaining national recognition. In the NFL’s Week 5 power rankings, writer Eric Edholm slotted the Lions at No. 3 overall, highlighting their balanced play and toughness.
“Detroit was not prolific offensively against Cleveland, but no one has been this season,” Edholm wrote. “Still, this is the second time in four games where the Lions have been kept somewhat grounded on offense, even if they’ve taken good care of the football. Committing five offensive penalties was out of character, and Detroit’s still trying to hone the connection between Jared Goff and Jameson Williams.”
The Lions will need to stay sharp as they push through October. Their Week 8 bye looms on the horizon, offering much-needed recovery time. If the team can hold strong until then, they could come out of the break healthier and even more dangerous heading into the second half of the season.
For now, the Lions will battle on without Reed, hoping that four weeks of rehab is enough to get their cornerback back where he belongs —
making plays on the field.