If you’re looking for a quiet training camp star for the Lions this summer, Rock Ya-Sin might be your guy.
The veteran cornerback has bounced around the league the last few years — from the Colts to the Raiders, to the Ravens, to the 49ers — and now he’s landed in Detroit trying to stick on his fourth team in four seasons. But don’t let the movement fool you. Ya-Sin is showing out.
He’s mostly played outside corner during camp, backing up Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed, but now he’s getting some run at safety too. That’s no small deal considering he hasn’t really played there consistently since college. Still, Lions coaches love guys who can wear multiple hats — and Ya-Sin is all in.
“I just like the guy,” Dan Campbell said after a recent practice. “Tough, physical, smart… and you know what you’re getting with him every day.”
In limited snaps against the Chargers during Detroit’s preseason opener, Ya-Sin showed up — literally. He had two hard-hitting tackles in just 17 defensive snaps and graded out at a strong 75.3 via Pro Football Focus — second-best on the team. Not bad for someone still adjusting to a new role.
He’s been asked to study safety over the offseason, and it’s paying off. “I’m excited to play anywhere,” Ya-Sin said. “If it’s safety, corner — whatever helps the team win.”
And this whole position-switching thing? It’s not just a Rock Ya-Sin experiment. The Lions love versatility in their secondary. Brian Branch made the switch from nickel to safety and thrived. New addition Avonte Maddox can move around too. The more roles a DB can fill, the more chaos the defense can cause — and Detroit wants chaos.
Ya-Sin even compared the vibe here to what he experienced in Baltimore with All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. “You can call a lot more defenses when guys move around,” he said. “It confuses the offense and opens things up.”
This is exactly the kind of defense Rock wants to be in — aggressive, hard-hitting, and constantly attacking. He may not be a household name, but he’s making sure the Lions’ coaches keep calling his.
Rock Ya-Sin’s Out to Prove He Belongs — No Matter the Position
