Detroit Lions

Lions' James Ihedigbo: 2015 season was 'humbling'

Published Jan. 15, 2016 2:17 p.m. ET

foxsports

The 2015 season took an unexpected turn for Detroit Lions safety James Ihedigbo. He started for the first half of the season, but Isa Abdul-Quddus replaced him in the starting lineup for the second half.

The Lions went 1-7 with Ihedigbo in the starting lineup and 6-2 after Abdul-Quddus stole his job. The 32-year-old veteran described that development as "humbling."

Via ESPN's Michael Rothstein:

It's humbling personally and as a team. You look at our team in general, we went from being a playoff team to starting off 1-7, that's a humbling experience. Then me personally, I went from being on pace for 100 tackles this season to spot play. So it's humbling.

You have to sit there and say, hey, I've got to put my pride aside and say it's about winning ballgames. It's about coaches trying to do whatever they can for the benefit of the team. That's what I mean by humbling.

A former undrafted free agent, Ihedigbo worked his way up the ranks to become a starter. He signed with the Lions in the spring of 2014 and was productive in his first season, 71 tackles (59 solo), two sacks, eight defended passes and four interceptions. Those numbers fell to 63 tackles (47 solo), one sack, two defended passes and one interception in 2015.

Ihedigbo's contract will expire this spring. He's unlikely to return to the Lions at anything more than the veteran minimum, since his skills appear to be in serious decline.