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Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson is progressing in his return from a dislocated foot, according to coach Jim Caldwell.

(Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions liked Bill Bentley enough to make him their starting nickelback to open last season. They liked Nevin Lawson enough to draft him in the fourth round, then move him into the starting lineup when Bentley was injured.

Then they went out and drafted two more cornerbacks who could play the position.

Detroit selected Stanford's Alex Carter in the third round, then Texas' Quandre Diggs -- a pure nickel -- in the sixth round. They provide some insurance should Bentley and/or Lawson not be able to overcome the significant leg injuries that ended their 2014 seasons.

Bentley tore an ACL in the season opener, and Lawson suffered a severe dislocated foot that required immediate surgery in Week 2.

But coach Jim Caldwell says both players are healing and involved in the team's offseason program.

"Both of them are active," Caldwell said. "They're working with us. And they're making progress."

If Bentley and Lawson indeed are returning to health, Detroit's nickel position will be one of the most hotly contested job battles of training camp. The team opened last year with two nickels (plus an inside/outside guy in Cassius Vaughn), but currently has six who could play the position in Bentley, Lawson, Carter, Diggs, Mohommed Seisay and Josh Wilson.

Bentley has been the most talented of the bunch, but a rash of injuries have stunted his development. A third-round pick in 2012, he's played more than four games just once in his three-year career. There are some concerns within the organization about whether he'll be able to hold up over the course of a full season. If some combination of Lawson, Carter and Diggs shows they are capable in the nickel, Bentley could find himself in a battle for his roster spot during camp.

Lawson was a fourth-round pick just one year ago, and showed rapid improvement during training camp and the preseason. He likely will make the team, as long as the team believes he can fully recover from his dislocated foot.

Carter, at 6-foot-1, is built more like an outside cornerback but Detroit has tauted his versatility to play anywhere since drafting him in the third round. Diggs, at 5-foot-9, is a pure nickel who the Lions love for his physicality.

"What you see with him is what you get," Caldwell said. "Pretty intense guy. Always seems like he's got something to prove. Tough, hard-nosed and, yeah, I think that does indeed resonate with his personality and everything that he does. He's attentive, just one of those guys that's going to give you everything he's got."

Detroit Lions 2015 rookie mini-camp - May 10, 2015 30 Gallery: Detroit Lions 2015 rookie mini-camp - May 10, 2015

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