The Detroit Lions may have themselves a gem in Keith Abney II.
The fifth-round rookie from Arizona State is coming off an impressive first preseason game and is earning more trust in training camp.
"I thought Abney played a good game. He feels like a football player," head coach Dan Campbell said. "He's felt that way out here. And that showed up the other night. He's got a knack. He's pretty instinctive, plays aggressive, not too big for him.
“He feels like a football player.”
"That's a great compliment," Abney said of the line from Campbell. "Especially coming from coach. It just gives me motivation to keep working, staying poised and keep stacking those days and keep getting more compliments like that."
Abney is working himself up the Lions' depth chart
Abney tied for the team lead in tackles with five and recovered a fumble in the Lions’ 16-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Wednesday.
Keith Abney showed off nearly everything vs the Bengals: awareness, toughness, coverage (and positional) versatility, and tackling. The 5-foot-8 Rookie has apparently earned some 1st Team reps as a result. On-screen edits made possible with @11OnceSport #Lions #DetroitLions pic.twitter.com/8R81oiI8kc
— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) August 17, 2026
Coming off that performance, he’s reportedly getting reps with the first team at the nickel cornerback spot in training camp.
The move comes in the wake of some apparent struggles from veteran cornerback Roger McCreary. The former Los Angeles Ram signed a one-year deal with the Lions this offseason but has not been reported as having a good training camp.
He’s not been getting many reps with the first team, and has given up some big plays in practice. McCreary was originally tabbed by several sources as the favorite to win the starting nickel job due to his tenure in the league, but might not be more than a depth signing.
A hip injury suffered last season could have a lot to do with his supposed decline.
It opens up room for Abney, who looks like he could become the most important rookie on the Lions’ roster all of a sudden. Detroit’s secondary is in dire need of some help. If it comes from a day 3 pick, the team should still be fine with that.
First-round tackle Blake Miller played a good game against Cincinnati, but is battling with veteran tackle Larry Borom for a starting role. Detroit may opt to let him sit and learn for the first few weeks of the regular season, but if he continues to play well in training camp and the preseason that may not be the case.
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Second-rounder Derrick Moore is fighting for a spot in the Lions’ edge rush rotation. Fourth-rounder Jimmy Rolder was looking good in minicamp but will be out for “a while” with injury. It leaves Abney as one of the two rookies, along with Miller, with the biggest opportunity in front of him.
Abney is a physical defensive back who plays bigger than he is and has a knack for getting his hands on the ball. He recorded a combined five interceptions and 21 pass deflections in his final two years of college, and already pounced on a fumble in his preseason debut.
That play style and ball production are ideal traits when going up against NFL slot receivers.
Besides, facing the league’s best slot receiver in practice isn’t a bad way to learn how to play nickel in the NFL.
Maybe it’s a bad sign that the Lions could be so dependent on a fifth-round rookie to play well in their defense. But they may have just gotten a steal.
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