Ifeatu Melifonwu is yet to play in this season, and there will be a significant delay in his 2024 debut. According to a team announcement on Saturday, the fourth-year safety was placed on injured reserve.
Early this month, Melifonwu sustained an ankle injury during practice. He missed the first three weeks of the campaign due to it, and this move today indicates that a long recuperation period is still required. The IR move will cause the 2021 third-round pick to miss at least the next four games.
Melifonwu was drafted as a cornerback but spent most of his rookie season playing on the boundary. Despite playing in just seven games that year, he recorded a 53% snap share. The next season, the 25-year-old switched to safety, however, he was also a part-time cornerback. Injuries also cut short Melifonwu’s 2022 season, as he appeared in just 10 games.
The Syracuse product was able to stay healthy for the entire season last year, which was a positive development in his health. Melifonwu participated in all 20 of the regular season and postseason games for the Lions, starting nine of them. Throughout the season, he recorded three sacks and his first two interceptions of his career; Melifonwu added two more sacks during the playoffs. His absence will be felt deeply in the secondary for the foreseeable future, as that production has been missed this season.
With Brian Branch available as a flexible backend contributor, Detroit has secured Kerby Joseph as a full-time safety starter. Brandon Joseph will continue in his backup/special teams role while Melifonwu recovers. Although the Lions defense has excelled in many areas this season, it is currently ranked just 19th against the pass. This defense was the subject of multiple cornerback moves during the offseason. That could be helped if Melifonwu gets well again, but it’s unclear when that will happen.
Melifonwu’s most recent injury problem has come at a particularly difficult time because he is a prospective free agent. The fact that he is missing significant time indicates that his value could be negatively impacted, as evidenced by the transaction of today.
