In the upcoming weeks, the Detroit Lions will have a significant portion of their defense back since C.J. Gardner-Johnson is back at practice. As early as this week, the safety might be back in the mix.
When he returns, Detroit will have secondary considerations to make. Gardner-Johnson will be crucial, but Ifeatu Melifonwu is also showing that he deserves to play more minutes beside Kerby Joseph.
There will be rivalry for the starting positions at safety because of Melifonwu’s rise in recent weeks, especially after he played his finest game of the season last week against Denver.
Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator, has always been a performance-based coach who gives players the opportunity to gain playing time by putting up good practice results. When Gardner-Johnson rejoins the team, it won’t change.
“The best player participates. “Best guy plays,” remarked Glenn. It’s easy. Thus, the player who does the best in practice will be the one to play.”
The defensive coordinator for Detroit, in his third season, made it a point to minimize any possible controversy that might result from a team decision.
The coaching staff will have more alternatives to choose from when allocating playing time if Glenn has multiple defensive backs, which is encouraging for the defense as they prepare for a postseason run.
Melifonwu gives Detroit’s secondary a special blend of skills. Despite being a converted cornerback, he possesses outstanding length and coverage skills and the physicality to play safety.
The player is still seen highly by the Lions, who may be able to include him and Gardner-Johnson in packages once the veteran returns.
“I’m a big fan of safeties that have a corner background, and that’s one of the reasons (Melifonwu) is here,” Glenn stated. “Because he’s able to cover like we need to like a corner, but he’s tough enough, physical enough as a safety to get down in the box and go make plays.”
For the past two weeks, Melifonwu has been the team’s strong safety. His career has been plagued by injuries, so the recent run of success has been incredibly promising.
“One of Iffy’s biggest issues was him being healthy for the whole time and then making that transition, that’s not an easy transition because he did come in as a corner,” Glenn stated. He now knows precisely what we’re searching for in safeties. In actuality, the communication has improved. He’s a clever man already. That being said, he still requires time to complete tasks. Last week, he really showed off what he was capable of, and I think he will only get better.”
Remarks
1.) Craig James, a cornerback, has been added by the Lions to their practice squad. Michael Schofield, an offensive lineman, was also cut from the practice squad in a related action.
James joined the league in 2018 and has since participated in 23 professional games with the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles. The last two games he participated in this season were with the Jets.
