DETROIT -- Within one half, the Detroit Lions lost two starters Monday night, and it is unclear when either right tackle LaAdrian Waddle or nickel cornerback Bill Bentley will return.
Waddle left the game after the first series with a calf injury that Lions coach Jim Caldwell described as "a bit of a sprain" and was replaced by Corey Hilliard. Bentley left the game in the first half with a knee injury and was carted to the locker room almost immediately.
Neither reappeared on the sidelines in the second half of Detroit's 35-14 rout of the New York Giants. After the game, Caldwell wouldn't rule out either player being out long term.
"There's always concern until we find out exactly," Caldwell said.
Asked specifically whether Bentley, who is one of five cornerbacks on the Detroit roster, tore his ACL, Caldwell was not certain.
"That hasn't been confirmed yet," he said.
Detroit was already thin in the secondary before Bentley's injury. The Lions were without starting strong safety James Ihedigbo and his backup, Don Carey. Carey missed the game with a hamstring injury, and Ihedigbo was listed as having neck and knee injuries but said Monday night that his injury was more of a shoulder injury.
Ihedigbo initially thought his injury would be "a couple-days thing." It now has lasted more than two weeks as he continues to try to get better. The Lions' most prominent defensive free-agent signing was hopeful he would be ready for Sunday against Carolina but wasn't positive.
"It's all based on how I feel," Ihedigbo said. "Leaning in that direction but it's day to day really."