After the Detroit Lions' first preseason game of the 2026 season, it was clear that they were not seeking to use veteran cornerback Roger McCreary in a serious capacity on defense. He played a majority of the second half of their loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, picking up a pass breakup, but otherwise looking a little out of sorts on the field.
Rookie cornerback Keith Abney II, who is also looking to win the starting nickel back job this season - same as McCreary - looked good as a run defender and tackler in the open field for Detroit in their preseason contest. As a result, he's starting to get snaps with the first team defense in training camp.
Does this mean that the Lions' secondary is so thin that a rookie can break through, or that Abney has simply impressed so much in camp that the team can't deny him starters snaps?
We won't know until the season actually starts, but with this update from camp, it's beginning to feel like McCreary is sinking farther down the depth chart.
McCreary may be furhter on the roster bubble than initially thought
McCreary has struggled in camp so far, with the former Los Angeles Rams cornerback looking like a buy-low free agent swing and miss from Detroit's front office.
Obviously, if Abney is just performing well enough at nickel back to push McCreary out of the picture, that's one thing. But, it does feel like the Lions' secondary is simply not looking very deep due to injuries, and Abney is looking a heck of a lot better as an option at the slot as a result.
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Lions On SI's Vito Chirco had written about McCreary's struggles from camp just last week, writing in his scathing review of the corner's showing: "All in all, McCreary – who split time with the Titans and Rams last season – has not looked the part of a capable cover corner thus far in camp."
Abney, a 5th-round pick seen as a huge draft steal by multiple pundits, has an opportunity to solidify his spot on the starting roster if he can continue to improve in camp and the preseason.
Detroit's depth at the nickel includes just Abney, McCreary, and potentially Ennis Rakestraw Jr., although it seems like Rakestraw's competing against Nick Whiteside and Rock Ya-Sin for the starting outside corner spot next to D.J. Reed.
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