In a roster move that slid under the radar because it took place just before Wednesday’s practice, the Detroit Lions added cornerback Javelin Guidry to the den. Guidry spent the last four seasons with the New York Jets, including the entire 2023 season on the Jets’ injured reserve.
The 5-foot-9 Guidry immediately takes the throne of “fastest man on the Lions defense.” He’s one of the fastest players in NFL Scouting Combine history. Coming out of Utah in the 2020 NFL Draft, Guidry clocked a blazing 4.29 40-yard dash. Guidry also posted 21 reps on the bench press, by far the most of any player who has ever broken the 4.3-second mark in the 40.
To this point, that’s been the career apex for Guidry, who went undrafted despite the incredible speed. He started five games over three seasons with the Jets, playing in all 17 games in 2021. Just as was the case at Utah, Guidry’s considerable athletic gifts just didn’t translate effectively to playing defense consistently. He allowed a QB Rating of over 120.0 in all three seasons, and also sports a career missed tackle rate of 10 percent. Guidry did play some on special teams but has never been a returner, not even at Utah.
He tore ligaments in his knee during joint practices with the Buccaneers last summer and reverted to the Jets’ injured reserve. With only a handful of practices and two preseason games left, it’s going to be very tough for Guidry to prove he’s anything more than a healthy body for a team missing its top three cornerbacks from practice due to injuries.
The 26-year-old Guidry is taking the roster spot of another injured cornerback, undrafted rookie Morice Norris, who was waived with injury status on Wednesday. Norris had played well early in camp.