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Lions cornerback Cassius Vaughn tries to deflect a pass from Carolina QB Cam Newton during Sunday's game in Carolina. (Melanie Maxwell | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions lost nickelback Bill Bentley (ACL) for the season in Week 1. They lost Bentley's replacement, Nevin Lawson (dislocated toes), in Week 2.

And now it appears Lawson's replacement, Cassius Vaughn, is hurt too.

Vaughn was limited by an ankle injury at Wednesday's practice, then did not attend Thursday's practice in Allen Park -- with just three days left before a matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions' secondary has been scorched by injury. In addition to Bentley and Lawson, safeties James Ihedigbo (pinched nerve) and Don Carey (hamstring) have yet to play this year.

Starting cornerback Chris Houston also was cut in the preseason due to a toe injury.

Detroit signed Danny Gorrer this week to bolster the depth at cornerback -- and even that left the team with four cornerbacks, two fewer than normal. Now Vaughn is shelved, too, leaving the Lions with just three healthy cornerbacks heading into the Packers game.

Also missing practice were defensive ends Ezekiel Ansah (knee) and George Johnson (groin), as well as linebacker Travis Lewis (quad).

A bit of good news: Starting right tackle LaAdrian Waddle still has not returned to practice, but was seen Thursday getting in some work on the side with a trainer. That's usually a sign a player is nearing a return.

Waddle won the starting right tackle job over Corey Hilliard, but played only one series before suffering a calf injury and has yet to return to action.