Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu may be able to put his versatility on full display

After an injury truncated 2021 rookie season, playing cornerback like he did at Syracuse, Ifeatu Melifonwu made the switch to safety going into his second season. He played 10 games in 2022, starting once.

Melifonwu suited up for all 17 games last season, but a hand injury limited him to special teams duties for a significant stretch. He entered the starting lineup in Week 14, and he was a star from there right through the playoffs.

Over eight games from Week 14 through the NFC Championship Game, Melifonwu had five sacks, 42 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, eight quarterback hits and a 79.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

Per PFF, during the regular season, Melifonwu lined up across the defensive formation last year (186 snaps at free safety, 117 snaps in the box, 81 snaps as a slot corner). So he's got versatility, rooted in having played cornerback and proving to be such an effective blitzer down the stretch last season.

New role could be something that 'suits' Ifeatu Melifonwu

The battle for the starting nickel cornerback spot for the Lions so far in training camp has been a broad one, with multiple candidates entering the fray as a move to safety seems to be coming for Brian Branch. It will obviously come down to finding the right mix, and there are options to move people around.

One candidate to be the Lions' starting nickel corner is out of the mix now, with Emmanuel Moseley out indefinitely after suffering a torn pectoral during Monday's joint practice against the Giants.

But what head coach Dan Campbell said before Monday's practice regarding that position battle, and Melifonwu specifically, still stands (via SI.com)

"But yeah, the nickel position is big between Amik (Robertson) and ‘E-Man’ (Emmanuel Moseley), and we may give Iffy some reps there. That’s one (position battle).”

"He’s a corner and a safety. His body type, he’s got coverage ability, he’s pretty good in the box and it could just be something that suits him,” Campbell said, of Melifonwu.

Melifonwu did not participate in Tuesday's joint practice against the Giants, due to what Campbell called a minor injury. Any injury news with Melifonwu naturally raises a bit of concern, but this appears to be nothing.