Subscribe
Follow Us
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay is back, the team announced. The Lions took Slay off of the NFI (non-football injury list) on Friday.
As head coach Matt Patricia said last week, via the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett, placing Slay on the NFI was “so that guys when they report to camp (that) need a little more time… can go out and prepare and be ready to go.”
The cause to put Slay on the NFI is unknown. He said last week, via Birkett, “whenever I feel better, whenever everything gets right.”
There were reports earlier in the offseason that Slay was eyeing down a contract extension with the Lions, but no indications give that placing him on the NFI was specifically amid contract disputes.
According to Over The Cap, Slay is the Lions' second-highest-paid player. In 2019, he'll make nearly $16 million. His contract ends after 2020, when he's paid $13.4 million with just $2.9 million in guarantees. In all likelihood, the 28-year-old is liking searching for a bump up in pay in 2020 and a few more years tacked on with more substantial guarantees.
A back-to-back Pro-Bowl cornerback, having Slay back on the practice field is assuredly a good thing for the Lions and their fans. He's been a full-time starter in Detroit since 2014.
In 2017, he hauled in a league-high eight interceptions and 26 pass deflections; which, ultimately earned him a first-team All-Pro nod. In 2018, he tallied three interceptions, 17 pass deflections, and 43 total tackles while missing one game.
He's a focal point for Matt Patricia's defense.
