Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants

Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) and safety Glover Quin (27) look over cornerback Bill Bentley (28) after he was injured on a play in the first quarter of their game against the New York Giants. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

DETROIT -- Bill Bentley was sidelined by a knee injury during the first half of the Detroit Lions' romp against the New York Giants.

Then he was carted to the locker room, which usually is an ominous sign.

The worst fear is that Bentley, Detroit's starting nickel back, tore his ACL. And coach Jim Caldwell did nothing to dispel those fears after the game, intimating there's a chance Bentley is lost for the year.

"That hasn't been confirmed yet," Caldwell said, when asked about the ACL.

Bentley is expected to undergo further testing over the next day to determine the extent of his injury.

The Lions also lost a second starter, LaAdrian Waddle, who battled Corey Hilliard long and hard for the starting job at right tackle. He finally earned the nod last week, but the gig lasted only one series before he suffered a calf sprain. He did not return.

That's a tough blow for Waddle. But as far as the team is concerned, Bentley's injury is far more foreboding because of its possible long-term nature, as well as the lack of experience behind him.

Bentley's backup, Nevin Lawson, is a rookie who was selected in the fourth round of May's draft. The Utah State product was expected to play little, if any, defensive role this season.

Detroit also only kept five cornerbacks on its initial roster, one fewer than normal. Any kind of long-term injury to Bentley would require the team to acquire one, if not two, defensive backs to bolster the ranks for next week's game in Carolina against Cam Newton and the Panthers.