Lions stock report: Roster decisions get tougher following preseason finale performances

Detroit News

Here’s a look at who is trending up and who is trending down after the Detroit Lions’ 26-17 preseason win over the Carolina Panthers.

▶ Stock up: Dylan Drummond

We’ve written plenty of praise for Drummond this offseason, but his practice performance hadn’t ported to the preseason games the first two weeks. He changed that script against the Panthers, hauling in five of six targets, helping keep the chains moving on drives. Most impressive was his ability to haul in tight-window throws, something coach Dan Campbell said was a point of emphasis for the backup receivers fighting for a job and an area where Drummond had missed some opportunities the previous week.

▶ Stock up: Steven Gilmore

After conceding some early receptions, the undrafted rookie cornerback settled into a ballhawking groove, knocking away three passes before coming up with an impressive interception in the closing minutes of the contest. To make the pick, Gilmore outmuscled receiver Gary Jennings across the middle and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown.

▶ Stock down: Trinity Benson

Benson didn’t have the drop issues he did a week earlier, catching all three passes his direction, but those grabs combined for 16 yards and zero first downs. That’s a low-impact outing in a game where his competition for a roster spot flourished.

▶ Stock up: Antoine Green

One of Benson’s competitors, Green, had something of a breakout performance, if such a thing exists in the preseason. His night was highlighted by a 70-yard touchdown near the end of the first half, where he had an opportunity to showcase his speed in the open field. The seventh-round draft pick added two more grabs for an additional 27 yards.

▶ Stock up: Chase Lucas

Lucas did what he could to play himself off the bubble, recording three tackles and three pass defenses. The play that leaves a lasting memory was a diving interception in the end zone at the end of the first half that was the turning point in Detroit’s victory. Not only did it end a scoring threat, it effectively sparked a 13-point swing before the break and the Panthers were never able to recover.

▶ Stock down: Will Harris

Harris’ roster spot has never felt in jeopardy, in part because he’s a frequent recipient of the coaching staff’s praise, and also because it would cost the Lions double the cap space to cut him compared to keeping him. Still, it’s hardly ideal the team’s slew of young cornerbacks went on a playmaking binge while Harris was responsible for the Panthers’ first touchdown. The veteran was assignment sound, picking up the right receiver out of a bunch formation, but he couldn’t hang with Adam Thielen on the third-down play in the red zone, conceding a 16-yard score.

▶ Stock up: Levi Onwuzurike

Onwuzurike finished his offseason comeback with a strong showing in the preseason finale. He beat his man on the first snap of the game to generate quarterback pressure, added a QB hit later in the contest and blew up a screen behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of yardage. If there’s a complaint, he still struggles to anchor against the run, especially when taking on double teams, but there’s some real hope he can provide the Lions with some interior pass rush this season after being limited his first two years by a back injury.

▶ Stock up: Craig Reynolds

Reynolds bounced back from an ineffective performance a week earlier to solidify his standing as the No. 3 pack on the roster. He showed good burst and vision running between the tackles, finishing his night with 41 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while chipping in a 5-yard reception.

▶ Stock down: Nate Sudfeld/Adrian Martinez

Looking to make a case for the Lions to keep a third quarterback, Sudfeld suffered a night-ending knee injury during his only series. That opened the door for Martinez to put down some good tape, building on his performance in the preseason opener, when he led a game-winning drive. Instead, the rookie battled indecision and inefficiency he’s frequently displayed on the practice field, leading the Lions to 75 yards and zero points with six possessions.

▶ Stock up: Teddy Bridgewater

Bridgewater wasn’t perfect, misfiring on a handful of throws, including throwing behind Chase Cota in the end zone, but it was a far better performance for the backup quarterback in his second outing with the Lions. The team had opportunities to put points on the board five of his six drives and scored 20 points in the first half. The veteran QB showed the ability to put some zip on downfield throws with accuracy, netting three gains of 20 or more yards, including the perfectly placed ball to Green that allowed the receiver to run into space for his 70-yard score.

▶ Stock down: Idea of keeping a fourth RB

The Lions kept four running backs going into the season in 2022, but no one is pushing for that a year later. Jermar Jefferson didn’t play after suffering another practice injury and Devin Ozigbo gained just three yards on four carries and one target in the pass game. Benny Snell was efficient in the closing stages of the contest, but that came against the defenders at the very bottom of Carolina’s depth chart. Given his special teams ability, he’s a leading contender to head to the practice squad as the next man up, assuming he doesn’t get scooped up by another team needing depth.

▶ Stock up: Colby Sorsdal

Starting at right guard, Sorsdal delivered some encouraging run blocks for Reynolds, including an effective seal on the back’s touchdown scamper in the second quarter.

▶ Stock down: Riley Patterson

Leg strength has always been the knock on Patterson. That showed up when his 53-yard attempt early in the game came up short. He also missed an extra point wide left in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. Coach Campbell didn’t seem worried about it after the game, praising Patterson’s consistency in camp, but that’s a glass-half-full assessment. Patterson was often good for a miss each practice, making around 80% of his attempts overall. That’s good, not great, leaving the door open for the Lions to hunt for an upgrade on waivers next week.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

X: @Justin_Rogers

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