Despite being in the midst of one of the best regular seasons in franchise history, the concern level among Lions fans reached new heights after the Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills. It wasn't the 48-42 defeat but the continuous piling of devastating injuries to key players.
Running back David Montgomery, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, and cornerback Khalil Dorsey all suffered season-ending injuries on Sunday. Carlton Davis III sustained a jaw injury that will keep him out for the immediate future.
Even before Sunday, the Lions were one of the most injury-riddled teams in the NFL, especially on the defensive end. They lost six starting defenders from their Week 1 lineup, including arguably the team's best player, Aidan Hutchinson.
What the Lions will do in the secondary remains one of the biggest questions for the team going forward. In addition to Dorsey and Davis, the Lions have Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Ifeatu Melifonwu on the injured reserve list. Melifonwu's practice window will likely start this week, but whether he will be ready to go in Week 16 remains to be seen.
This creates a need for more depth in the cornerback rotation. Fortunately for the Lions, they have an opportunity to target a talented CB with serious postseason experience.
Per Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers waived Ambry Thomas on Tuesday, opening the door for the Lions to add him before the playoffs.
Thomas is a former Michigan standout who was a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has been an important member of the elite 49ers defense since then, appearing in 42 games and logging 11 starts. He also started in four playoff games for San Francisco during his tenure.
Before the start of the season, Thomas broke his forearm and landed on the injured reserve list. He has yet to make his season debut but is reportedly healthy and ready to go.
The Lions will presumably start Terrion Arnold and Kindle Vildor on the outside against the Bears on Sunday. Amik Robertson could also slide outside, while Brian Branch could move from safety into a cornerback role. Emmanuel Moseley will also likely get an expanded role amidst all the absences.
None of these fixes are excellent long-term solutions. However, adding a player like Thomas could boost the Lions' defense before the postseason and help them regain their Super Bowl favorites status.
