ALLEN PARK -- Detroit Lions cornerback DJ Reed has served the minimum four-game stay on injured reserve.
But coach Dan Campbell doesn’t expect to have Reed until around early December. Reed has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in coverage against the Cleveland Browns in late September.
“Reed is doing well. I don’t know if I can give you that timeline there,” Campbell said Friday morning. “Again, I’d say early December, you know, somewhere in there. But he’s looking good, getting better and better.”
The cornerback was the team’s biggest splash signing in free agency, inking a three-year deal worth $48 million. Reed has looked the part of CB1 whenever on the field, from training camp through the team’s first four games.
In four games, Reed posted one interception, recovered one fumble and added 16 tackles for the Lions. Pro Football Focus ranks Reed 23rd among cornerbacks with enough snaps to qualify. He is graded as the third-best run defender at his position, something the Lions love. Reed has also allowed only 11 catches on 18 targets and no touchdowns.
When quarterbacks threw Reed’s way, he allowed a passer rating against of 61.3, the ninth-best mark among starting cornerbacks.
For now, the Lions are rolling with Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson as their top outside cornerbacks. Rock Ya-Sin has helped fill those snaps while Arnold works through injuries.
Arnold has taken some positive steps in the right direction in coverage. Last year’s first-round pick grabbed the first interception of his career last week, and made some plays in coverage that had coaches smiling. But defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said Arnold’s run defense is “unacceptable right now,” and it’s something they are all aware of and working on moving forward. Robertson has again moved from the primary nickelback role to the outside, and the Lions remain confident in him.
The defensive coordinator also had high praise for Arthur Mauelt’s showing in the slot, and expects to continue to deploy the veteran on the inside.
“No, if the game’s on the line,” Sheppard said, “it’s going to be Arthur Maulet in press man and he’s going to find a way to get the ball out of the basket.”
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