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Lions Bench Rock Ya-Sin After Brutal Start to 2026 Season
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- Lions Bench Rock Ya-Sin After Brutal Start to 2026 Season
The Detroit Lions ' defense is off to a rough start to the 2026 NFL season, especially the secondary.
Entering the year, the back end was a major concern for the Lions , and through two games, it hasn't been pretty. The secondary has been prone to surrendering explosive plays, and one of the biggest culprits has been cornerback Rock Ya-Sin .
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Ya-Sin has been awful so far this season as the No. 2 boundary corner opposite D.J. Reed . In coverage, the veteran has allowed a 68.8% completion rate on 16 targets and a 106.0 passer rating when targeted, along with a 43.7 Pro Football Focus grade.
Though he is an experienced NFL starter, Ya-Sin has been a complete liability on defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard 's unit, and it looks like the Lions have had enough.
Lions Bench Rock Ya-Sin for Roger McCreary in Week 3
Sep 13, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (23) breaks up a two point conversion try to New Orleans Saints wide receiver Bryce Lance (18) in overtime at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
After losing to the Buffalo Bills , the Lions are eyeing a bounce-back win in Week 3 against the New York Jets, and the coaching staff made a major switch in the secondary.
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Detroit benched Ya-Sin for Roger McCreary at boundary corner. McCreary has more experience as a nickel, but the Lions seem to be intrigued by his promise on the outside.
Ya-Sin still played nine snaps in the first half and committed a pass interference penalty near the end of the first half. Detroit is leading New York right now, and the defense has been better with Ya-Sin off the field.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
