The Lions could not afford to suffer an extensive injury at the quarterback position entering the season. That really goes without saying.
No. 2 on that list was probably the cornerback position. After starters Rashean Mathis and Darius Slay, the Lions entered the year thin at the spot. Veteran Josh Wilson is better in the slot than on the outside and Quandre Diggs (rookie) and Nevin Lawson haven’t played much football at this level.
The Lions entered the game with Wilson, their starting nickel cornerback, absent due to a concussion, and lost Mathis in the second half after he went down with a head injury.