Detroit Lions’ coach Dan Campbell remains confident in his cornerback depth, despite injuries to key players. Here’s a breakdown of his options and what he thinks of each.

As the Detroit Lions prepare for their upcoming games, they are once again dealing with the challenge of missing a starting cornerback. With rookie Terrion Arnold out last week with a groin injury and uncertainty surrounding veteran Carlton Davis’s availability after a knee injury, coach Dan Campbell faces a tough task. Yet, despite these setbacks, Campbell expressed confidence in the team’s cornerback depth, suggesting that there are more than enough viable options to fill the void.

Emmanuel Moseley: Back from Injury and Ready to Play

The Lions welcomed back Emmanuel Moseley last week after a long recovery from a torn pectoral muscle. Moseley had been expected to compete for the starting nickel cornerback spot before his injury, but with the depth at cornerback now a concern, Moseley’s versatility is a major asset.

Although he was eased into the lineup last week with a special teams role, Campbell emphasized that Moseley is now ready for a more significant defensive role, if needed.

“He went out there, competed, did a good job on (special) teams for us, but yeah, I think he’s ready,” Campbell said. “I think he’s ready and we’re not afraid to use him.”

If called upon, Moseley could see action as an outside cornerback, a position where he has experience, offering the Lions a much-needed option to stabilize their secondary.

Amik Robertson: Flexibility and Versatility

Another option Campbell may consider is moving Amik Robertson from his usual nickel cornerback role to the outside. Robertson, who played the majority of his snaps as an outside cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, brings considerable flexibility to the table.

Campbell acknowledged the versatility that Robertson offers, stating, “All things are on the table… It’s not like Amik’s never played outside. He can go out there and not bat an eye, and then you move E-man (Moseley) inside, which is great.”

With Robertson able to step up on the outside, the Lions could easily shuffle their secondary to accommodate the best matchups, something that Campbell is more than willing to explore.

Kindle Vildor: A Tough Start, But Not Defeated

Last week, with Arnold sidelined, Kindle Vildor was thrust into the starting lineup. Unfortunately, his performance was less than stellar. PFF rated him with a coverage grade of just 27.7, which was the worst among all NFL cornerbacks that week. He allowed several big plays, though one incompletion was due to an overthrow, and another was on a pass where the receiver failed to secure both feet inbounds.

Despite the rough outing, Campbell remains confident in Vildor’s potential, acknowledging that it was his first start since the NFC Championship. “His coverage grades have never been great, but they have also never been that bad,” Campbell noted, suggesting that the performance may not have been a true reflection of Vildor’s capabilities.

Khalil Dorsey: A Young Cornerback with Potential

Khalil Dorsey, who filled in for Davis last week against the Colts, is another option in the Lions’ cornerback rotation. Though he has limited experience, with only 123 defensive snaps since entering the league in 2020, Dorsey has shown flashes of solid coverage skills in both training camp and preseason play.

“We’re not afraid to play Dorsey with Vildor or whatever the case is,” Campbell said. “We’ve got options and we feel good about all of them.”

While Dorsey is still relatively untested at the NFL level, his potential for growth makes him a player that could rise to the occasion when given the opportunity.

The Road Ahead

With key cornerbacks dealing with injuries, Dan Campbell has no shortage of options at his disposal. Whether it’s Moseley stepping into a larger role, Robertson’s versatility, or the continued development of Dorsey and Vildor, the Lions have a deep pool of talent ready to step up. While the injury woes are unfortunate, Campbell’s confidence in his cornerbacks reflects the team’s preparedness to handle adversity and continue competing at a high level.

The Lions’ defense will need to adjust, but with Campbell’s belief in the next man up, Detroit is poised to face whatever challenges lie ahead.