They won’t arm wrestle, like Dan Campbell joked, but the Detroit Lions will spend the better part of Saturday trying to hash out their 53-man roster.
Campbell said he and his staff plan to meet Saturday morning to evaluate and rank players, and then he and general manager Brad Holmes will convene at 2 p.m. to talk through their choices.
The Lions are not likely to make any roster moves until Monday; they have to set their initial 53-man roster at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
With that in mind, here are three players who helped and three players who hurt their stock in Friday’s 27-17 preseason loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
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Stock up
RB Godwin Igwebuike: A safety who converted to running back at the start of training camp, it’s tough to ignore what Igwebuike did the last two weeks. He had 21 yards rushing and a touchdown on seven carries in last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and another 25 yards rushing and a score Friday. “He was battling for a job and I think he certainly is waving a massive flag out there like, ‘Look at me,'” Campbell said. “And I get it. So I thought he really stepped up and did some good things.”
S Jalen Elliott: Campbell mentioned Elliott as someone who impressed him after the Steelers game, and the second-year safety made the most of his chances again Friday. Elliott had two tackles on special teams and a third on defense. The numbers don’t necessarily favor the Lions keeping a fifth safety, but Elliott has a chance because of his sterling play on special teams.
CB Corn Elder: The Lions have options at the nickel cornerback position. Undrafted rookie A.J. Parker seems assured of a spot and Mike Ford took first-team reps at the start of camp, but there still could be room for one of two vets: Elder or Nickell Robey-Coleman. Elder, who played sparingly this summer because of a calf injury, secured the Lions’ first takeaway of the preseason when he jumped a Brett Hundley pass for an interception on the Colts’ opening drive of the second half.
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Stock down
WR Breshad Perriman: Perriman played most of the first half and finished with more drops (two) than catches (one). He signed a one-year deal with $2 million guaranteed to be the Lions’ No. 2 receiver this offseason, but has been a disappointment. At this point, he looks no better than the Lions’ fifth receiving option — and he might not make the team at all.
QB Tim Boyle: Boyle’s roster spot is secure, and he played well in his lone quarter of action Friday. But Lions coach Dan Campbell sounded an ominous note when speaking of Boyle’s thumb injury after the game. Boyle is due to undergo further testing Saturday. His pending absence could open the door for David Blough to take over as Jared Goff’s primary backup.
The Lions OTs: Taylor Decker did not play Friday, so take him out of the mix. But things did not go great for the other tackles on the Lions roster. Tyrell Crosby, making his preseason debut after missing time with a strained hamstring, got beat for a sack on the play Boyle got hurt. Penei Sewell, who played most of the first quarter and had his moments run blocking, also got beat on the play Boyle got injured on. Dan Skipper, Sewell’s replacement, was carted off the field with an injury. Campbell mentioned guard Tommy Kraemer as someone who played well Friday, but it was a rough day for the Lions’ tackles.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.