The Detroit Lions made a major investment in veteran cornerback D.J. Reed this offseason, and based on Dan Campbell’s latest comments, things appear to be trending in the right direction.
Speaking before Thursday’s OTA practice in Allen Park, Campbell offered an encouraging update on Reed’s recovery from the significant hamstring injury that derailed his 2025 season.
And from the sound of it, the veteran corner is looking much closer to his old self.
D.J. Reed injury update DJ Reed return Lions D.J. Reed injury update
Lions Like What They’re Seeing From D.J. Reed
After joining Detroit this offseason, Reed entered the spring as one of the most important additions to Kelvin Sheppard’s defense.
The veteran cornerback is expected to play a key role opposite Terrion Arnold as the Lions look to improve a secondary that battled injuries throughout much of last season.
According to Campbell, Reed’s recovery is progressing well.
“I like where he’s at.”
The Lions coach also noted that Reed appears to be moving freely during offseason work.
“He’s moving well.”
Those comments are particularly encouraging considering the severity of the injury Reed dealt with last season.
Reed Overcame Significant Hamstring Injury
Reed’s 2025 campaign was interrupted in late September when he suffered a serious hamstring injury during Week 4.
The injury was severe enough to land him on injured reserve and force an extended recovery period.
While surgery was not required, the rehabilitation process lasted several weeks before Reed was eventually activated from injured reserve in November.
Campbell acknowledged that returning from that type of injury is rarely easy for a player at Reed’s position.
“That wasn’t an easy injury for a corner.”
He emphasized just how significant the injury was.
“It was a pretty significant hamstring injury.”
For defensive backs who rely heavily on speed, explosiveness, and change-of-direction ability, hamstring injuries can often linger long after a player returns to action.
That makes Reed’s progress even more noteworthy.
Early Signs Are Encouraging
Perhaps the most promising part of Campbell’s update came when discussing what he has observed firsthand during offseason practices.
“I like the way he looks running around right now.”
That observation aligns with what Lions insider Tim Twentyman recently reported after watching Reed during OTA practices.
According to Twentyman, Reed appears to be moving like the player Detroit expected when it signed him.
Twentyman noted that Reed “is moving well and looks like the player we saw in camp and early in the season last year before the injury.”
That’s exactly what the Lions were hoping to see heading into training camp.
Why Reed’s Return Matters
The Lions have made significant investments in their secondary over the past two years.
With Reed, Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, and several young defensive backs competing for roles, Detroit believes it has assembled one of the deepest defensive back groups in the NFC.
But Reed’s role is especially important.
The veteran corner brings experience, physicality, and proven coverage ability to a defense looking to take a major step forward in 2026.
As Twentyman pointed out, getting the best version of Reed could have a significant impact on Detroit’s defense.
And based on Campbell’s latest comments, the Lions are liking what they’re seeing so far.