The Detroit Free Press reports that cornerback Jerry Jacobs will be placed on injured reserve by the Detroit Lions.
Before the team’s Sunday Wild Card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, Jacobs’ season comes to an end. Due to a lower body injury, he was reported as not participating in Thursday’s practice.
Due to the decision, the Lions have an available roster space, which may result in James Houston, the linebacker, returning. It may be the first time the gifted pass-rusher plays since he was placed on injured reserve in Week 2 due to an ankle fracture.
The second-year defender has eight sacks in nine career games, so he should have a significant influence on Detroit’s pass-rushing unit.
What does future hold for Jerry Jacobs ?
As a prospective restricted free agent, this offseason will be crucial for Jacobs. He started 12 games as the team’s starting cornerback in place of Cam Sutton at the start of the season.
However, starting in Week 15, Khalil Dorsey took his spot and he was reduced to a reserve and special teams duty. In contrast, Kindle Vildor has started the last two games opposite Sutton.
The Lions will need to assess their cornerback depth without Jacobs. Vildor and Sutton are expected to start, with Will Harris and Dorsey filling in as backups.
In addition to 55 tackles and two tackles for loss this season, Jacobs also registered three interceptions. He has 131 tackles and four interceptions in 40 career games.
After training camp, Jacobs made the roster after joining the team in 2021 as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State. Before sustaining a season-ending knee injury late in the season, he started nine games as a rookie.
He made his first career interception in 12 games the next year, including eight starts.