Second-year cornerback Bill Bentley is expected to win the starting job at right cornerback for the Detroit Lions, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News. Bentley, a third-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, held the starting spot for three games before suffering a shoulder injury that landed him on injured reserve a season ago.
Bill Bentley expected to win Lions starting CB job
Detroit Lions cornerback Bill Bentley is expected to win the starting job on the right side opposite veteran Chris Houston.
Frederick Breedon
Jonte Green saw the most playing time at the position last year, but the sixth-round pick was likely the team's third option at the position, behind Bentley and fifth-round pick Chris Greenwood, who also ended up on injured reserve. Green made five starts and played in 15 games, but was unremarkable.
Green's lacking play is likely why the Lions spent a second-round pick on Darius Slay in this year's draft, and why Ron Bartell is in the mix to compete for the No. 2 spot as well.
Still, Bentley spent the offseason rehabbing his shoulder injury and is expected to win the job. Slay is expected to compete and should beat out Green and Greenwood if he can pick up the defense fast enough. At that point, he would seem good to go on a potential starting spot in the nickel formation, or a primary backup role behind Chris Houston, the starter at left cornerback.
Detroit has been searching for answers at cornerback for some time now. The Lions seem to have some capable players on their hands, but those players have to remain healthy going forward.
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