Falcons' Jeff Okudah Could Play Big Role vs. Old Lions Team

Regardless of whether he plays or not, former Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah could help the Atlanta Falcons scout their opponent this week.

The Atlanta Falcons are facing cornerback Jeff Okudah’s former team, the Detroit Lions, this weekend, and many are wondering if he has the intel to help his current team.

Okudah was drafted by the Lions back in 2020 with the No. 3 overall pick, but injuries limited him to just 25 games over three seasons. This past offseason, Detroit moved on from the man they hoped would become a defensive pillar, sending him to the Falcons for a fifth-round pick.

Unfortunately, his injuries followed him to Atlanta, as he’s been out with a foot injury since training camp. However, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been able to help the Falcons inside the locker room as they prepare for this week’s game.

Former Detroit Lions cornerback Jeff Okudah could be a huge asset as the Atlanta Falcons prepare to face them this week :: Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

Atlanta’s head coach Arthur Smith addressed the perceived advantage Okudah’s knowledge of the Lions gives the team as they prepared to face them.

“There’s things that everybody tries to collect information [on],” Smith said. “I’ve been a part of something where a guy was traded or released – I can’t remember – like he had all the intel, and it didn’t matter one bit. You try to get as much information from different places, but at the end of the day, teams evolve so much. Whether you were there a month ago in training camp or not, week to week, what their game plan will be to try to stop us and vice versa. I’m sure Detroit will do the same thing. But ultimately, most teams adapt, and there’s no distinct secrets that he’s going to reveal.”

So, it doesn’t sound like Smith is expecting much of Okudah’s knowledge to play a factor this weekend, as teams often revise game plans and schemes, making former players’ knowledge of specific calls outdated quickly. 

That doesn’t mean Okudah doesn’t want to impress his ex, though. On Wednesday, the corner was a full participant in practice, meaning that he could get a chance to show Detroit that they gave up on him too quickly by playing on Sunday and locking up receivers. 

Perhaps Okudah can’t give away the entire Lions playbook, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be an X-factor in the Falcons’ pursuit of 3-0.