The Detroit Lions could be heading toward some difficult roster decisions before the November 10 trade deadline as they try to address a defense that has struggled badly through the opening four games.
Detroit is 2-2 after losing to the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, and the defensive issues have become one of the biggest concerns surrounding the team. With the Lions needing reinforcements in the secondary, some current players could find themselves in danger of losing their roster spots.
Three names in particular stand out.
Christian Izien
Izien’s struggles in coverage were especially noticeable against Carolina, where he had difficulty dealing with Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
With Brian Branch expected to return at some point, Izien could see his opportunities decrease. If Detroit finds a trade opportunity that allows the team to upgrade the secondary, Izien could become expendable.
Tyler Conklin
Conklin’s role has been extremely limited. The veteran tight end has played only 14 snaps this season, all of them coming on special teams, and he has been a healthy scratch in recent games.
With Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright and other options ahead of him, Conklin’s path to meaningful playing time is difficult to see. Unless injuries create an opening, the Lions could look elsewhere for that roster spot.
Rock Ya-Sin
Ya-Sin has also struggled to establish himself in Detroit’s secondary. The Lions have already shown their frustration with his performances by reducing his role.
Detroit desperately needs help at cornerback, and if the team acquires a starting-caliber defensive back before the deadline, Ya-Sin could be one of the players most vulnerable to being pushed out.
The Lions still have time to turn things around, but their defensive struggles could force the front office to make some difficult decisions. If Detroit wants to remain in playoff contention, improving the secondary has to be one of the team’s biggest priorities before the trade deadline.
