Okudah (elbow) tallied 73 tackles, seven pass breakups, one interception, one defensive touchdown and one forced fumble over 15 games in 2022.
After looking like a bust over the first two seasons of his career, Okudah looked like a new player during the first half of the season under former defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant. However, even though Detroit was more successful as a team after Pleasant's midseason dismissal, Okudah's play deteriorated down the stretch, and the former No. 2 overall pick was ultimately the worst-graded cornerback in coverage over the final five weeks of the season, per Pro Football Focus. With that said, an elbow injury seemingly impacted Okudah's play during this period, and the Detroit coaching staff doesn't seem to have lost confidence in Okudah entering 2023. While the Lions will surely add reinforcements to the cornerback position with Amani Oruwariye and Mike Hughes set to hit the open market, Okudah seems like a good bet to open next season in the starting lineup opposite Jerry Jacobs.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Sitting out Sunday
Rotowire
Okudah (elbow) is inactive for Sunday's game in Green Bay.
Okudah suffered an elbow injury at Friday's practice, which will force his second absence of the season. With the third-year pro unavailable to the Lions defense, Will Harris, Jerry Jacobs and Mike Hughes should be busy at cornerback Week 18.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Suffers elbow injury Friday
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Okudah suffered an elbow injury during Friday's practice and is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Packers, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
The severity of the issue is unclear, but this is certainly a concerning development for the Lions' defense. If Okudah is sidelined for the critical Week 18 matchup, Jerry Jacobs and Mike Hughes would be candidates for increased snaps opposite Will Harris.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Moderate effort in loss
Rotowire
Okudah recorded six tackles (four solo) in Saturday's 37-23 loss to the Panthers.
Okudah has now put forth back-to-back games with six stops, while he's now up to 72 total tackles on the 2022-23 campaign following this past weekend's matchup in Carolina. The 2020 No. 3 overall draft pick should continue playing a prominent role opposite Will Harris when Detroit hosts the Bears on New Year's Day.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Playing Sunday
Rotowire
Okudah (illness) is active Sunday against the Vikings.
Okudah logged DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday, but he returned to practice in limited fashion Friday. The 23-year-old's ability to suit up is certainly good news for the Lions' defense as they look to keep Justin Jefferson in check Sunday.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Sitting out with illness
Rotowire
Okudah (illness) was listed as a non-participant on the Lions' injury report Thursday.
Okudah made his return from a one-game absence due to a concussion during Sunday's win over the Jaguars. However, the 23-year-old appears to have come down with an illness since then, leaving him sidelined for each of Detroit's first two practices of Week 14 prep. Okudah will now have one more opportunity to increase his practice activity to avoid garnering a injury designation for the Sunday's divisional showdown against the Vikings.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Doesn't carry injury designation
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Okudah (concussion) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Okudah was limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday but was given the green light to play Sunday after he practiced fully Friday. Over his last five appearances, he's logged 29 tackles (26 solo), an interception, a forced fumble and two pass defenses.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Out for Thanksgiving
Rotowire
Okudah (concussion) is listed as out for Thursday's game versus Buffalo.
Okudah will miss his first game of the 2022 season as he recovers from a concussion he sustained Sunday at the Giants. In the 2020 first-rounder's stead, Will Harris should see increased work on the boundaries.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Misses practice Monday
Rotowire
Okudah (concussion) did not participate in Monday's walkthrough ahead of Thursday's game versus Buffalo, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
After sustaining a concussion during Detroit's win at the Giants in Week 11, it's looking increasingly likely that Okudah will have to miss his first game of the 2022 season on Thanksgiving Day. If Okudah does indeed sit out Week 12, Amani Oruwariye should be in line for fill-in reps on the boundaries.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Likely out Week 12
Rotowire
Head coach Dan Campbell said after Sunday's win over the Giants that Okudah is unlikely to clear the NFL's concussion protocol prior to the Lions' next game Thanksgiving Day against the Bills, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Okudah was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game after exiting early in the Week 11 contest. The cornerback's expected absence against the Bills' dangerous passing attack will be a major blow to a defense that has generally struggled this season. Jerry Jacobs will be the likely beneficiary of increased playing time Week 12, assuming Okudah sits out.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Forced out with consussion
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Okudah (concussion) was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Giants.
The starting cornerback sustained a head injury during a collision with teammate Will Harris at some point in the first half, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Okudah was then apparently diagnosed with a concussion, and he'll now have just four days to clear the league's protocol before Detroit's game against the Bills on Thanksgiving Day, though it's unlikely he'll be able to return given this quick turnaround. With Okudah out, expect Amani Oruwariye and Jerry Jacobs to see increased usage alongside Harris on Sunday.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: First career pick-six
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Okudah recorded one tackle and two pass breakups with one interception during Sunday's 31-30 win over Chicago.
Okudah arguably made the play of the game by intercepting Justin Fields for a short pick-six that helped launch Detroit's comeback. While his tackle total matched a season low, Okudah has at least flashed double-digit-tackle upside on two occasions so far. The third-year cornerback will look to add to his season totals of 50 tackles and five PBUs during a Week 11 matchup with the Giants.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Totals 15 tackles
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Okudah recorded 15 total tackles with one tackle for loss during Sunday's 24-6 loss to Dallas.
The tackle total was the most for a Lions player in roughly a decade and easily the most for Okudah since he racked up 10 tackles in the season opener. While Okudah only tallied 14 tackles in the four games between those two productive outings -- including a one-tackle effort in Week 5 against New England -- these flashes of IDP brilliance make the former No. 1 overall pick an upside fantasy play in certain formats.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Wins starting job
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Coach Dan Campbell said after Sunday's preseason finale against Pittsburgh that Okudah will serve as a starting cornerback Week 1 against the Eagles on Sept. 11, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
Okudah missed most of the 2021 season due to a ruptured Achilles, but he avoided the PUP list to begin training camp and performed well enough during the preseason to earn a job as a starting cornerback opposite Amani Oruwariye. Okudah has racked up 51 tackles (44 solo), an interception and three pass defenses in 10 games over his first two professional seasons.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Participating in training camp
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Okudah (Achilles) was close to a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Roughly 11 months since rupturing his Achilles, Okudah took first-team reps during the only full-team period of the opening day of training camp. Head coach Dan Campbell said afterward that the plan is for Okudah to practice without restrictions for the rest of the summer. If he can finally avoid the injury bug, the Ohio State product should have a good shot at sticking with the starting defense come Week 1, though Will Harris also took first-team reps opposite Amani Oruwariye at cornerback Wednesday and could be in the mix as well.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Limited at OTAs
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Okudah (Achilles) took part in individual drills during Thursday's OTAs, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell said it's "hard to put a timeline" on when the cornerback will be ready for full-team activities, Chris Burke of The Athletic reports.
Okudah tore his Achilles during the first game of the 2021 campaign and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. However, it appears he's progressing well throughout rehab and could potentially be ready for the start of the regular season. Regardless, Detroit is expected to be cautious with its 2020 first-round pick after he's appeared in just 10 games across his first two years in the NFL.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Lands on IR
Rotowire
The Lions placed Okudah (Achilles) on injured reserve Monday.
As expected, Okudah lands on IR after rupturing his Achilles in the second half of the season opener. Rookie third-round pick Ifeatu Melifonwu will likely step into the starting role while the 2020 first-round pick spends the rest of the season and upcoming offseason recovering from surgery.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Lands on IR
Rotowire
Okudah (groin) was placed on injured reserve Monday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Okudah will undergo season-ending surgery at some point this week and won't return this season. He should be back to 100 percent for the 2021 campaign, as he looks to build off an uninspiring rookie year. Through nine games this year, Okudah posted 47 tackles (41 solo), two pass breakups and an interception, and he let up 594 yards (11.2 yards per target) and two touchdowns in coverage.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Won't play Week 13
Rotowire
Okudah (shoulder/groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Okudah was unable to practice at all this week and has tacked on a groin injury in addition to the shoulder problem that has been bothering him since Week 11. Mike Ford should start in Okudah's spot opposite Justin Coleman, and Amani Oruwariye is the only other healthy cornerback left on Detroit's roster.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Won't suit up Thursday
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Okudah (shoulder) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Texans, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
Okudah missed the entire week of practice after suffering a shoulder injury in this past Sunday's loss to the Panthers.The third-overall pick's usage has declined recently, as he hasn't played more than 50 percent of the snaps on defense since Week 8. Desmond Trufant, Justin Coleman and Amani Oruwariye (back), who is considered questionable, are expected to start Thursday's game at cornerback.
