Lions Place Rookie CB Jeff Okudah on Injured Reserve

Jeff Okudah with Ohio State
Jeff Okudah with Ohio State in 2019. Photo by Charles Baus/CSM/Shutterstock (10514187cw)

The rookie season of Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah has come to an early end. Okudah was placed on the injured reserve on Wednesday and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

The move comes after Okudah underwent surgery earlier this week to deal with a groin injury that troubled him for the better part of the season. The 21-year-old youngster is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for action once the 2021 offseason kicks off.

The Lions confirmed the news on social media while also announcing a pair of practice squad moves that could help them in Okudah’s absence.

Detroit Lions had high hopes for Jeff Okudah when they took him with the third overall pick in this year’s draft. The team struggled in the secondary for several years and believed the Ohio State product could help fix those issues.

While Okudah’s rookie campaign hasn’t exactly lived up to those expectations, he still showed significant signs that he could eventually become the player Detroit needs. In the nine games he played this season, Okudah had 47 tackles, including four tackles for loss, while adding two pass deflections and one interception.