Allen Park — At this stage of the year, the novelty of having preseason football to watch has worn off. Most fans are ready to jump a couple weeks into the future, when the games actually count in the standings. But for a couple hundred players around the NFL, including more than a dozen on the Detroit Lions’ roster, few stretches supersede the importance of the next week.
With only a few practices and a preseason game remaining, this is the final chance to impress the decision-makers, to earn a role or a job, for those players who exist on the bubble.
Lions coach Dan Campbell didn’t want to publicly put a number on the roster spots still up for grabs, only conceding there are “enough,” where he and his staff will be looking for the cream to rise to the top, or at least high enough to merit a slot on the 53-man roster, which must be established a week from Tuesday.
“Look, (overall) body of work goes a long way, but I’ll say this, man, you string a couple, two or three really good showings back-to-back, a couple of practices here, like, today’s a big day,” Campbell said ahead of Tuesday’s padded scrimmage. “We’re going to be able to evaluate the heck out of today’s practice and then tomorrow. Then, man, the game (Friday in Carolina), that can certainly catch our eye, especially if we feel like it’s been just trending in the right way (for a player).
“…I mean we have an idea (with the roster),” Campbell said. “We feel pretty good about this is what we’re thinking, but that doesn’t mean our minds are made up, either. So, yes, absolutely, there’s some guys that still have an opportunity here that can catch our eye.”
On Monday, Campbell sat down with general manager Brad Holmes to discuss the state of the roster, going as far as to hash out an informal roster projection. Even though the two are in constant, daily communication, the coach said the two have intentionally avoided having this deep of a conversation on personnel, because they didn’t want to sway each others’ opinions, one way or another, until it was close to the time for decisions to be made.
And sticking with a theme that has defined their joint tenure in Detroit, Campbell said he and Holmes had overlapping views with the majority of their evaluations.
“I’d say we’re pretty aligned,” Campbell said. “I mean, we really are. And the last pieces are the ones that — it’s that, there are moving parts to it all, because there are. There’s still a lot of spots that are in flux right now, and guys are fighting for those spots. It’s good. It’s a competitive roster and I like the guys we’ve got.”
Campbell doesn’t need to spell it out. Most of the open competitions are plain to see. For example, there’s some obvious uncertainty at the back end of the wide-receiver depth chart, where undrafted rookies Chase Cota and Dylan Drummond are giving the Lions plenty to consider, contrasted against seventh-round draft pick Antoine Green, return man Maurice Alexander and former trade acquisition Trinity Benson.
Additionally, special teams are so critical at this stage, often being the pathway off the bubble for fringe players, such as second-year cornerback Chase Lucas.
“He’s another guy that’s, he’s continued to compete every day,” Campbell said. “He’s done some nice things. I feel like he’s gotten better, but he is, he’s fighting for a spot. And, what I love about Lukey is I told him this, he’s the same guy every day. I mean the way he comes into work, he’s not up and down; he has the same attitude, he puts in the same amount of work. I mean nothing changes. He’s consistent. So, he’s giving it everything he’s got right now. That’s all you can ask.”
Campbell said he plans to meet with Holmes two or three more times as the two piece together the puzzle. What can be lost in the process is it’s not always as cut and dry as which receiver deserves a job over another, but whether it makes more sense to keep an extra offensive lineman or even a third quarterback over a young defensive player who showed developable traits during the preseason.
It’s about finding the best 53 players, since injuries are inevitable during a 17-game season, and the Lions understand they will need to rely on their depth if they want to return to the postseason for the first time in seven years.
“Depth is what gets you through the rough spots when you get those injuries,” Campbell said. “We know it’s a long season and so to have quality depth in certain areas. Really, you’d love it in all of them, but to have it in certain areas gives you flexibility, gives you guys that you know you feel like you’re not really going to lose anything if something happens.”
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
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