The Detroit Lions could be without defensive back Christian Izien for their season opener Sept. 13 against the New Orleans Saints.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Izien might not be ready for the regular season because of an injury he appeared to suffer to his leg while covering a punt in the second quarter of last week's preseason win over the Washington Commanders.
"It’ll probably be a little bit here," Campbell said before practice Wednesday, Aug. 26, in Allen Park. "I don’t know if we’ll have him for the opener or not. But we’ll have him. I mean, we’re going to get him here, if it’s not then, we’ll get him here early in the season at some point."
Izien was in a three-man competition for the starting slot cornerback job along with veteran Roger
McCreary and rookie fifth-round pick Keith Abney II, and was considered one of the Lions' top backups at safety.
Izien played five defensive snaps and seven special teams snaps against the Commanders, when he started in the Lions' nickel package.
Abney took the bulk of the first-team reps at slot cornerback in Izien's absence at practice Tuesday, and cornerback Nick Whiteside filled in at safety with Izien and Dan Jackson out.
Campbell said linebacker Trevor Nowaske left Tuesday's practice with a knee sprain, though the injury is not considered serious.
"So I think we’ll be OK here, let it calm down," Campbell said. "So I’m not as worried about that."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions CB Christian Izien may miss opener, putting nickel job in doubt
