Detroit Lions Midseason Grades: Cornerback Report Card
By Dean Holden
Jonte Green
Oct 22, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) is tackled by Detroit Lions cornerback Jonte Green (36) during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Production
Green has been mostly silent this season, and hasn’t seen the field since Week 4. He did play 22 reasonably solid snaps against Chicago on the defense, but hasn’t seen it since. He also spent three weeks on special teams, but after he notched more penalties than tackles, they’ve taken him off that, too. This clearly isn’t his year to shine.
Grade: D-
Impact
Not seeing the field means not making impact.
Grade: F
Vs. Expectations
Bench warming seems like a big step back for Green, who was a starter at the end of last season. But remember that he was only starting in 2012 because the Lions’ secondary was decimated by injuries. There’s a strong chance his best days are still ahead of him.
Grade: C-
Overall
Green would certainly like to be playing more, but he’s still on the 53-man roster, which means the Lions are still (probably) buying into his stock. Don’t be surprised if he sees a bit more time on the field in the second half if Slay continues to struggle. Having a guy with Green’s upside and a half-season’s worth of game experience under his belt at the bottom of the depth chart is a bit of a luxury.
Grade: D+