Lions will place CB Justin Coleman on injured reserve before week 2 game against Packers

The Detroit Lions lost more than just a football game on Sunday when they gave up a 17-point fourth quarter lead to the Chicago Bears. With top draft pick Jeffrey Okudah inactive for their 27-23 loss to Chicago with a hamstring injury, the Lions saw two starting cornerbacks leave the game with hamstring problems of their own, and now at least one of them is officially out for next Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions are placing Justin Coleman on injured reserve today, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, leaving them more short-handed in the secondary than they already are. Coleman suffered his injury during the first half of Sunday’s game, and the Lions hope to get him back in about three weeks when he is eligible to return from IR.

After Coleman’s injury, the Lions lost their other starting cornerback, Desmond Trufant, in the second half. Trufant’s status is still uncertain for week two, but his and Okudah’s injuries leave the Lions with questions about their top two remaining players at the position. It is worth noting that the Bears mounted their comeback — during which they scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns — with all of these players off the field. Detroit was forced to rely on Amani Oruwariye, Darryl Roberts, and Tony McRae as the cornerback unit down the stretch.

These injuries bode poorly for the Lions in week two, given Aaron Rodgers’ aerial assault on the Minnesota Vikings’ young and inexperienced cornerback group in week one. Rodgers completed 22 of 27 passes to his wide receivers in week one for 315 yards and four touchdowns. A similar performance could be in store in week two depending on the statuses of Trufant and Okudah.