The Packers are not a team you want to face with a depleted secondary. But that’s what the Lions may have to do on Sunday.
With an NFC North showdown looming on Sunday in Green Bay, three starters in Detroit’s secondary were held out of practice today: cornerback Chris Houston with a hamstring injury, safety Glover Quin with an ankle injury and safety Louis Delmas with a knee injury.
Of those three, Houston seems to be the one in greatest danger of missing Sunday’s game. Houston suffered the injury on Sunday against the Bears, and coach Jim Schwartz didn’t sound optimistic about a quick recovery afterward.
If there’s any good news in the Lions’ secondary, it’s that the other starting cornerback, Rashean Mathis, was back to practice after missing most of Sunday’s win over the Bears with a head injury. If Houston can’t go on Sunday, Mathis and rookie Darius Slay will be the two starting cornerbacks against the Packers.
Lions receiver Calvin Johnson missed practice with a knee injury, but that’s not a cause for concern. The Lions frequently give Johnson time off with minor aches and pains, but he’ll be ready to go on Sunday. The Lions will have to hope Johnson can have a big game because it’s almost a sure thing that Aaron Rodgers and Co. will have a big game against the Lions’ banged-up defensive backs.