Dan Campbell believes Keith Abney will probably help the Detroit Lions a little more in Week 5, with the coach also pointing to Jalen Mills as another player who could take on a bigger role against the Arizona Cardinals. With the Lions dealing with a shorthanded secondary, the timing of that message matters.
The update came on Wednesday as Detroit continued to manage injuries in the defensive backfield. Avonte Maddox, Thomas Harper and Brian Branch were all unavailable because of injury, leaving the Lions to lean on whatever depth they could find.
Why Abney's role may grow
Campbell did not make it sound like Keith Abney was being handed a huge assignment, but he did suggest there is room for him to do more. As Campbell put it, Abney will probably help the team out a little more this week, and he expects both Abney and Mills to take on bigger roles.
That fits the situation Detroit is in. When a secondary is stretched, even modest changes in usage can matter, especially against an opponent like the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5. The Lions do not need perfection from every depth option, but they do need players who can step in cleanly and keep the defense stable.
Mills is also in the mix
Jalen Mills is part of that same conversation. Last week, he played four defensive snaps and seven special teams snaps against the Carolina Panthers, and this week the Lions elevated him from the practice squad for the third straight week before facing the Arizona Cardinals.
That is significant because three practice squad elevations is the maximum allowed before a roster move would be required. In other words, Detroit is nearing the point where it will need to make a longer-term decision if it wants to keep using Mills in this way.
What happens next
The Lions have a bye next week, which gives the team a little more breathing room before the schedule tightens again. Brian Branch was expected to be ready against the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, and that could ease some of the pressure on the current rotation.
For now, though, the focus is on Arizona. If the Detroit Lions are going to manage this short-handed stretch successfully, they will need players like Keith Abney and Jalen Mills to give them reliable minutes when called upon.
