The Detroit Lions’ offense has done its part through three weeks. The problem is the other side of the ball, where the secondary has been leaking production and the cornerback room has taken the biggest hit.
That issue was expected to some degree after injuries in the secondary to Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. But the situation has gotten worse with the arrest and release of Terrion Arnold, plus injuries to Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper. At this point, the Lions’ need at corner is impossible to ignore.
Detroit already did its homework on Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but that path is gone now that Porter has landed with the Cowboys. If the Lions are still looking for help, another name could make sense: Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Cam Hart.
Hart is one of the more realistic options if the Chargers decide to move players early. Los Angeles has stumbled to a 0-3 start and faces the reigning Super Bowl Champions in Week Four. The calendar is still young, but the history is not kind to teams that open 0-3; since 1990, only four have made the playoffs.
For Detroit, Hart checks a lot of boxes. He was a 2024 fifth-round pick, which should keep the acquisition cost lower than it would be for Porter Jr. or other top corners on the market. He has already picked off a pass this season, giving him his second career interception after breaking up ten passes in 2025.
The numbers suggest a player who can handle real responsibility. Hart has 1,348 defensive snaps under his belt entering this week. According to PFF, quarterbacks have completed 61 percent of passes when throwing his way, and his grades sit in the middle of the league among qualified corners.
He has also been used almost entirely on the outside this season, with 134 snaps there and just 2 in the slot.
Hart’s résumé from Notre Dame also helps explain why he has stayed on NFL radars. He played all five seasons with the Fighting Irish and finished with 91 tackles, 10 for loss, 17 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions.
As a senior, he also forced three fumbles. One of his standout college performances came against first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr., a game that helped put him in front of NFL scouts.
At 6-foot-2, Hart brings the kind of length teams want on the boundary. His athleticism was one of his top traits coming out of college, and that development has helped him become a legitimate Sunday option.
There is a concern, though. Hart has stayed healthy in the pros so far, but he did need surgery on both shoulders during his time at South Bend.
Still, with the Lions getting repeated letdowns from Rock Ya-Sin, DJ Reed, and Roger McCreary, the need at corner is obvious. If Detroit wants to stay in the mix for the NFL Playoffs or a Super Bowl, the front office may have to keep shopping for help. Hart offers an intriguing fit alongside Reed or Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
In Other News...
Lions Face A Week 4 Officiating Trend That Could Matter
Clay Martin will be the head referee for the Lions Week 4 primetime matchup against the Panthers, bringing a familiar presence to a game that could still hinge on the usual September edge. Martin has been working NFL games since 2016 and has been a head referee since 2018, with previous experience on both Detroit and Carolina contests, so this is not a new look for either sideline.
What may matter most is the way his crew has handled flags this season. The group has thrown relatively few penalties and has shown some clear tendencies in how it calls fouls, which is the kind of detail teams track closely heading into a standalone game. For a Lions team trying to stay clean in a nationally televised spot, the officiating profile is another layer to watch along with the matchup itself. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Hit A Familiar Lions Nerve On Pass Interference
Pass interference is back in the spotlight around the NFL, and for Dan Campbell it is a topic with some history. After a controversial call against the Rams helped extend Denvers game-winning drive, the Lions coach weighed in with the kind of perspective Detroit fans know well, tying the discussion to the infamous 2018 NFC Championship Game non-call and the lingering frustration that came with it.
Campbell also sounded skeptical about whether challenging pass interference ever really solves much, which is hardly surprising for a team that has already been flagged for a league-high number of defensive pass interference penalties early this season. For Detroit, the issue is bigger than one blown whistle or one close call, because every questionable contact downfield has a way of reopening old wounds while putting even more pressure on an already costly part of the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Have An Early Opportunity Panthers May Not Be Able To Fix
The Lions head into a Week 4 Sunday Night Football matchup with Carolina in a position they rarely get this early in the season: healthier than the opponent and facing a defense that has already taken some major hits. The Panthers have placed starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson on injured reserve, a blow that could leave their pass defense scrambling to sort out the back end before Detroit arrives.
For Detroit, the injury report looks far cleaner, with DJ Wonnum and D.J. Reed listed as limited and no indication from the coach that either is in danger of missing the game. That gives the Lions a chance to attack a weakened secondary in a prime-time spot, and it sets up an early-season test of how much Carolina can patch things up before Sunday night. [Read more 🡒]