5 Detroit Lions who must step up in Week 2 vs. the Commanders

2. CB Jeff Okudah

By all accounts, Okudah had a nice game in Week 1. Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith had zero catches against him, while A.J. Brown had his way with Amani Oruwariye on the other side.

Oruwariye popped up with a back injury this week, and he’s listed as questionable for Sunday. If he’s out Will Harris is a downgrade as the other starting corner with Okudah, and a fairly thin and vulnerable Detroit secondary gets a little bit thinner and a little more vulnerable. Okudah may be traveling with Commanders’ No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin if Oruwariye is out.

Coming off an Achilles’ tear that cost him almost all of last season and trying to get his career on the right track, every game is a test of some sort for Okudah until further notice. This week, it may be if he can be a lock down corner, 1-on-1 on a regular basis against a wide receiver of McLaurin’s caliber.

As vulnerable as the rest of the Lions secondary stands to be against Washington’s sudden array of weapons, Okudah will have to have another good showing even if Oruwariye is active. And if Oruwariye is in uniform, how effective he’ll be or how long he’ll even last in the game without a setback that sidelines him are the easy questions.