Detroit — Here’s a look at who is trending up and who is trending down after the Detroit Lions’ 25-7 preseason loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
▶ Stock up: John Cominsky
With both teams resting the majority of their starters, Cominsky looked like a varsity athlete playing with the JV squad. A stellar addition since the Lions claimed him off waivers last year, he’s settled into a clearly established role as an outside rusher on early downs, capable of sliding inside in clear passing situations on later downs.
Against the Jaguars, he had a sack, batted down a third-down pass and was highly disruptive despite playing just 13 defensive snaps. The two-year, $8.5 million extension he signed this offseason might end up being a bargain.
▶ Stock down: Germain Ifedi
The Lions are still sifting through their backup options along the offensive line, and the veteran Ifedi had a prime opportunity to state his case while working as the starting left tackle in this contest. Instead, he had a false start penalty early in the game and was responsible for allowing multiple quarterback pressures, even though he was working against backup edge rushers.
▶ Stock up: Steven Gilmore
Gilmore gave up a long completion early in the game, despite having excellent positioning on the route. That kind of bad break has the potential to send a young player scrapping for a roster spot spiraling, but Gilmore responded the way good cornerbacks do, breaking up another vertical throw at the goal line and corralling an interception off a deflection.
He’s a lock for a practice squad job, but this is the kind of performance that can push a guy off the bubble and on to the main roster. If nothing else, he gave the league’s other 31 teams something to think about if he ends up hitting waivers.
▶ Stock down: Starling Thomas V
Thomas has been tracking toward a roster spot for weeks, and he added some previously unknown versatility to his list of credentials by effectively serving as Detroit’s kickoff returner early in this contest. But in his primary role, as an outside cornerback, he had a rough outing. His trademark physicality cost the team when he drew an illegal contact penalty that negated a sack on third down. He also was the cover man on a 23-yard reception across the middle and a 11-yard touchdown in the first half.
▶ Stock up: James Houston
Even with the starters sitting, Houston hasn’t been working high enough on the depth chart to draw the start in this game. That’s simply the reality of where things currently stand, but the second-year sparkplug is doing all he can to change his trajectory.
Playing 36 defensive snaps, as well as a team-high 16 on special teams, Houston was a force, racking up four tackles for a loss against Jacksonville. He played with relentless effort, flashed overwhelming power at the point of attack, and even showed some ability in coverage, which has been a work in progress on the practice field.
▶ Stock down: Edge setting
Like all NFL defenses, stopping the run is a top priority for the Lions. The team tweaked its approach up front this offseason in an effort to improve the 5.2 yards per carry they allowed last season, but what we saw against the Jaguars is there are still some gap responsibility concerns, particularly on the edges. Jacksonville’s running backs got loose several times, including three runs of 15 yards or more.
▶ Stock up: Chase Cota
It wasn’t a huge day for Cota, who finished with two catches for 9 yards, but he was on the receiving end of Detroit’s only touchdown and, overall, did a nice job running his routes, even if the ball placement wasn’t great on a couple of his targets. Plus, similarly to what we noted with Thomas, Cota showed some ability in an unexpected role, returning a punt 28 yards in the first half.
▶ Stock down: Dylan Drummond and Trinity Benson
Drops were an issue for both Drummond and Benson, who allowed four balls that hit their hands to make it to the ground. Both of Drummond’s concentration lapses came on third down, including a well-placed slot fade from quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
▶ Stock up: Bobby Hart
The subpar blocking was a big part of Detroit’s offensive struggles, but one individual who delivered a steady performance was Hart, who has only been with the Lions just under two weeks.
Drawing the start at right guard, he was largely assignment sound, allowing a single quarterback pressure late in the first half. Hart is intriguing because he has extensive experience playing both tackle and guard. The Lions have primarily used him on the inside, but with Ifedi and Matt Nelson failing to lock up the swing tackle job, it’s not inconceivable Hart could work himself into the mix if given the opportunity.
▶ Stock down: Center depth
Undrafted rookie Brad Cecil got the start at center and had a rough day, getting badly beaten off the snap multiple times, including a play where Jaguars defensive tackle Jeremiah Ledbetter was able to instantly penetrate the backfield and blow up a handoff between Bridgewater and running back Craig Reynolds.
Cecil was eventually replaced by Alex Mollette, who allowed a defender into the backfield on his first snap, blowing up a run play.
▶ Stock up: Darrell Daniels
I’ve been intrigued by Daniels since the Lions added him a few weeks back because he offers a different body type and skill set than the other guys in the tight end room. He’s been slowed by injury, but his blocking and special teams ability showed up, first on a backside seal as a pull blocker during a red zone run, then on an authoritative tackle on the kickoff after Detroit’s touchdown.
There’s probably not enough good tape to earn a roster spot, but he’s someone I would find room for on the practice squad, because I think there will be a place where he could contribute this season.
▶ Stock up: Running back No. 3 battle
As noted, the blocking wasn’t great, but it would have been nice to see Reynolds gain more than 13 yards with his eight carries in the first half. Where he did show up was as a pass catcher, hauling in a team-high four passes for 29 yards, which tied a team high.
Reynolds was relieved by Jermar Jefferson, who was only slightly more efficient, averaging 3.0 yards on eight touches to go with some decent kick returners.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said special teams will be the key factor in deciding the job, and outside of Jefferson’s returns, none of the contenders made a play of note with those groups.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers