The Detroit Lions’ secondary is in a tough spot right now.

At cornerback, D.J. Reed and Khalil Dorsey remain on injured reserve, while Terrion Arnold and nickel corner Avonte Maddox are both expected to miss at least another week. On top of that, 2024 second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw is out for the season after an injury suffered in August.

The safety group isn’t in much better condition. Brian Branch is suspended for this week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Kerby Joseph appears doubtful as he continues to battle through a painful injury.

Here’s who’s currently available among the Lions’ healthy defensive backs on the 53-man roster:

CB/NB Amik Robertson

CB Nick Whiteside

CB/S Rock Ya-Sin

S Erick Hallett

S Thomas Harper

S Jammie Robinson

Additionally, the team recently added Tre Flowers, Kendall Fuller, and Arthur Mallett to the practice squad.

So, the big question is:

What will the Lions’ secondary look like against Tampa Bay?

My take: It’s still early in the week and the Lions haven’t practiced yet, so this is purely an informed projection.

At outside cornerback, Amik Robertson appears locked into one of the starting spots. Rock Ya-Sin started on the other side last week, but with the safety depth in shambles, it might make more sense to move him back there—he spent significant time at safety during training camp.

That would leave one outside cornerback role open, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Detroit turns to Kendall Fuller right away, even though he was just signed. With over 100 career starts, Fuller brings experience and adaptability to any defensive scheme.

Nickel corner remains a puzzle. The Lions could keep Mallett there after his appearance last week, but I’d prefer seeing Robertson slide inside for nickel packages, allowing either Tre Flowers or Nick Whiteside to fill the outside role.

At safety, I’m assuming both starters will sit out. Branch’s suspension stands, and resting Joseph would be the smart move to get him healthy for later games. He clearly wasn’t at full strength last week.

In that case, Ya-Sin could shift to safety alongside Thomas Harper, who impressed as an emergency substitute last week. Harper looks like a promising young talent and one of Brad Holmes’ under-the-radar roster finds.

So, ideally, here’s how the Lions’ secondary could line up on Monday night:

Base defense:

CB1: Amik Robertson

CB2: Kendall Fuller

S: Rock Ya-Sin

S: Thomas Harper

Nickel defense:

CB1: Kendall Fuller

CB2: Tre Flowers/Nick Whiteside

NB: Amik Robertson

S: Rock Ya-Sin

S: Thomas Harper

What setup would you prefer? Jump into the comments and share your take.