Roger McCreary entered the offseason looking like the cleanest answer for the Detroit Lions’ open nickel spot. Then the picture got a little messier.
Detroit added Keith Abney II in the fifth round of this year’s draft, and that turned what had seemed like a fairly open competition into something much less certain. McCreary’s own offseason and training camp didn’t help matters, either, and for a stretch it looked like he could end up fighting just to stay comfortably on the roster.
Now, though, he’s giving the Lions a reason to pause.
Through two weeks of preseason, PFF has McCreary graded as the third-best cornerback in the league at 90.3, according to Pride of Detroit’s Al Karsten. The number is eye-catching on its own, but the bigger detail is how he’s getting it done. Karsten noted that McCreary has logged snaps both at nickel and on the outside, showing the kind of versatility that can matter in a crowded secondary.
That matters because the competition for the Week 1 nickel job is still very much alive. Abney got the start there in Week 2 of the preseason, but the rookie also had some growing pains. He drew what was described as a silly holding penalty and gave up a few chunk plays to Washington.
McCreary has looked steadier. He’s been solid tackling in space and has held up as both a run defender and a pass defender, which is exactly the sort of all-around work that can win a coaching staff over when the depth chart is still unsettled.
For now, McCreary and Abney look like the main names in the mix to start at nickel in Week 1. Christian Izien is another versatile defensive back on the roster, but the way the preseason snaps have been handled makes this feel like a two-man race.
The question for Detroit is straightforward: do they lean on McCreary’s veteran presence and trust what he’s shown in preseason, or do they roll with Abney, the player who has clearly done enough in camp to get a real look at the job?
That’s the hard part with preseason evaluations. McCreary and Abney are mostly going against second- and third-string players, so even strong showings have to be taken with some caution. The same goes for struggles, which can look worse when you’re not seeing first-string competition.
Either way, the Lions are heading into a tricky final stretch of camp and their last preseason game with a real decision to make.
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