ALLEN PARK -- Teez Tabor’s future in Detroit is unclear heading into cut-down day next week.
The former second-round pick suffered an undisclosed injury on Aug. 1 and hasn’t practiced since. Quarterback Tom Savage, defensive end Da’Shawn Hand, receiver Tommylee Lewis, offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby, defensive end Austin Bryant, linebacker Malik Carney and defensive end Eric Lee also missed practice on Tuesday as Detroit ramped up preparations for its dress rehearsal on Friday night against Buffalo.
Tabor’s struggles in Detroit are well-documented by this point, including allowing a perfect passer rating on balls thrown his way in 2018. But he rededicated himself to the game this offseason, dropped some body fat and spent more time digesting film. He said he was spending as much as 18 hours at the facility.
All that work seemed to be paying off on the field, too. Tabor looked good during OTAs and minicamp, then was off to a nice start in training camp before suffering the injury. But the injury has stalled that momentum. And as the missed practices added up, Rashaan Melvin’s grip grew tighter on the starting job opposite Darius Slay. Justin Coleman and rookie Amani Oruwariye aren’t going anywhere either.
That’s four spots already spoken for, while Jamal Agnew probably will claim a fifth because of his versatility to contribute on special teams and even offense. Last year, the Lions carried four cornerbacks on their initial 53-man roster, and then later added a fifth by re-signing DeShawn Shead.
So Tabor’s right on the roster bubble at this point, and the longer he continues to miss practice, the less time he’ll have to convince Detroit to give him a third chance to figure this thing out.