The Detroit Lions are set to host the Chicago Bears today. No doubt they’re hoping to get this season off on the right foot. They almost have to since their entire power structure is in danger of being purged if they fail to make the playoffs this season. Head coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn need to deliver on what they’ve promised the past two years. So one can imagine the news they’ve received this week isn’t encouraging.
By far the worst of it is the prospect that star wide receiver Kenny Golladay might not play. He suffered a hamstring injury earlier this week and is doubtful for the game. Adding to the headache is Halapoulivaati Vaitai. The big right tackle was one of their top signings in free agency. They expected him to be a big boost up front. Now he’s out with a foot injury.
Those setbacks are bad enough. Yet the NFL gods felt it necessary to add a little insult to injury. Ian Rapoport revealed that Jeff Okudah, the Lions’ #3 overall pick in the draft, would not suit up for the team as well. This due to a hamstring issue he’s had for some time.
#Lions No. 3 overall pick CB Jeff Okudah, listed as questionable, is not expected to make his debut today, source said. He’s been dealing with a hamstring injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 13, 2020
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Detroit Lions may already have regrets about Okudah
Now drafting Okudah wasn’t a huge stretch in the minds of many experts. The Ohio State cornerback is a legit talent. He has all the tools one could ask for. Yet it seems those tools didn’t do him much good in his first training camp. The injury may have knocked out of the game, but even if he were healthy the undercurrent from Detroit beat writers was he wouldn’t have started anyway.
That is how underwhelming he was. It forces one to ask the obvious question. Did the Lions make a mistake trading Darius Slay? The veteran cornerback was their best player on defense and the only dependable member of an otherwise weak secondary. Okudah was expected to slide right in as his successor. That may end up being the case eventually, but it certainly looks like a questionable decision right now.
