The Detroit Lions are bolstering their secondary by adding veteran cornerback Kindle Vildor to the main roster following a stay on the practice squad.
According to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, the Lions placed defensive tackle Alim McNeill on injured reserve on December 5 and added defensive tackle Tyson Alualo and offensive lineman Matt Farniok to their practice squad.
The Lions were used to seeing Vildor line up against them with an NFC North competitor, according to Rogers.
“A fifth-round pick out of Georgia Southern in 2020, [Vildor has] made 22 starts as a professional, all with the Chicago Bears, primarily playing as an outside corner,” Rogers said in a blog post. “He spent part of last season with the Tennessee Titans and was most recently on Philadelphia’s practice squad.”
Injuries have taken a heavy toll on the Lions’ secondary.
Vildor will have the opportunity to contribute seasoned depth to a secondary that has seen a number of major injuries, including two of the team’s most significant offseason additions. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s season was cut short due to a torn pecora muscle, and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley tore his ACL in his first game back after tearing the ACL in his opposite knee last season.
After Moseley’s injury, Campbell stated that he was not concerned about the secondary’s state, owing in part to Jerry Jacobs’ excellent play and the versatility of Will Harris, who can play both inside and outside.
Injuries have taken a heavy toll on the Lions’ secondary.
Vildor will have the opportunity to contribute seasoned depth to a secondary that has seen a number of major injuries, including two of the team’s most significant offseason additions. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s season was cut short due to a torn pecora muscle, and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley tore his ACL in his first game back after tearing the ACL in his opposite knee last season.
After Moseley’s injury, Campbell stated that he was not concerned about the secondary’s state, owing in part to Jerry Jacobs’ excellent play and the versatility of Will Harris, who can play both inside and outside.
“Three regular-season games and two starts in a row would lead you to believe that some trust has grown there and that the Lions want to maybe keep seeing where this goes,” Payton wrote in a December 6 article. “This is especially important with McNeill out for at least the next four games.” If they want Bohanna to play, they must add him on the active roster.”
There is still optimism that McNeill will return before the end of the season. His placing on injured reserve means he will miss at least the next four games, but Rogers said he may return for the season finale and playoffs.
“According to a team source, this isn’t immediately being labeled a season-ending injury for Alim McNeill,” Rogers wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “There’s still hope to get him back this (technically next) year.”
