One of the key building blocks in the young Detroit Lions secondary is back and ready for action. Rookie cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu has been activated from injured reserve and added to the active 53-man roster.
The Lions announced Melifonwu’s activation on Monday after the short Thanksgiving weekend break. Melifonwu has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2, a game that was his first NFL start as a replacement for injured Jeff Okudah.
Head coach Dan Campbell indicated in his press conference that Melifonwu will begin back as a reserve. Fellow rookie Jerry Jacobs has performed above expectations as the starter on the outside and has earned the right to stay in the starting lineup, per Campbell. With regular slot corner AJ Parker now on injured reserve, it opens the potential for Melifonwu to slide inside.
In another move, the Lions also re-signed cornerback Parnell Motley to the team’s practice squad. Motley has been on and off the squad in the last month and is now back on.
