Allen Park — The players on the roster bubble for the Detroit Lions didn’t make it easier this week, with several delivering standout performances in the preseason finale. The back of the roster is as complicated of a puzzle to piece together as ever, but here’s a final prediction of what it might look like ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to get down to 53 players.
Quarterback (2)
▶ In: Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater
▶ Out: Nate Sudfeld, Adrian Martinez
▶ Non-Football Injury: Hendon Hooker
▶ Change: None
▶ Thoughts: Goff didn’t play a single snap in the preseason, giving Detroit’s backups ample opportunity to get live-speed reps within the scheme. By the end of the three games, Bridgewater demonstrated why he was signed, showing good command of the huddle and the best overall skill set package of any Lions’ backup quarterback in more than a decade.
There was a fleeting thought the team might keep three QBs, but it would be an early-season luxury. Plus, Sudfeld’s injury in the preseason finale made the decision even easier.
Running back (4)
▶ In: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Craig Reynolds, Jason Cabinda
▶ Out: Jermar Jefferson, Benny Snell, Devine Ozigbo
▶ Change: None
▶ Thoughts: Reynolds looked to have a firm grasp on the No. 3 backfield job heading into the preseason finale and validated that thought with a solid outing, racking up 41 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Additionally, we know he’s going to be a solid contributor on multiple special teams units, which is a key component to that job.
Special teams also remain Cabinda’s key contribution, although there were signs the fullback spot might be a little more involved in the offense during the preseason slate. He was targeted in the passing game at least once in all three contests.
Wide receiver (6)
▶ In: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, Marvin Jones, Josh Reynolds, Antoine Green, Dylan Drummond
▶ Out: Chase Cota, Trinity Benson, Maurice Alexander, Avery Davis, Jason Moore
▶ Suspended: Jameson Williams
▶ Change: Green in, Cota out
▶ Thoughts: The first difficult decision comes at the receiver spot, where Drummond, Green and Cota all made compelling cases for the fifth and sixth jobs while Williams is out the first six games. Drummond checked the final box with a strong showing in the preseason finale, completing an offseason where he established himself as a smart and reliable option, playing with a comfort-level far exceeding that of an undrafted rookie.
Green was a bit more up and down during the offseason, in large part due to some minor injuries, but he showed why the Lions used a late-round draft pick on him with an electric, 70-yard touchdown against the Panthers on Friday. That, combined with some squandered opportunities by Cota in that final game, gives Green the slightest of edges.
Tight end (3)
▶ In: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell
▶ Out: Darrell Daniels, Daniel Helm
▶ Change: None
▶ Thoughts: Given the developmental investment the Lions have made, the top three have been locked in for some time. Shane Zylstra was also in that mix, but he suffered a season-ending injury early in camp.
The August additions, Daniels and Helm, were given opportunities in practice and the preseason, but just didn’t have enough time to make an impact. That said, we continue to believe Daniels has something to offer as a blocker and special teamer, making him an easy fit for the practice squad.
Offensive line (9)
▶ In: Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Jonah Jackson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, Matt Nelson, Kayode Awosika, Colby Sorsdal
▶ Out: Germain Ifedi, Obinna Eze, Darrin Paulo, Ryan Swoboda, Max Pircher, Brad Cecil, Connor Galvin, Bobby Hart, Alex Mollette
▶ Change: Awosika in, Hart out
▶ Thoughts: We admittedly overreacted to the veteran Hart getting the start in the second preseason game and have flipped back to Awosika getting the final roster spot. The Lions liked what they saw when they poached him from Philadelphia’s practice squad last year, and outside of some injury issues, that evaluation hasn’t changed. He provides some early insurance, so the team wouldn’t have to lean on the rookie Sorsdal in an injury-related emergency.
At tackle, Nelson ultimately pulled away from the experienced veteran Ifedi.
Defensive line (10)
▶ In: Aidan Hutchinson, Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara, Josh Paschal, Alim McNeill, Isaiah Buggs, John Cominsky, Benito Jones, Brodric Martin, Levi Onwuzurike
▶ Out: Christian Covington, Cory Durden, Chris Smith
▶ Change: None
▶ Thoughts: The Lions often use five down linemen, so it was easy to justify some extra depth along the defensive front. There was some thought given to leaving out Okwara or Jones, but neither made sense in the end. Despite Detroit’s edge depth, Okwara was solid in the preseason — nearly two years removed from his Achilles’ injury — and his contract was restructured in a way that it carries a bigger cap hit to cut him than keep him.
As for Jones, the conversation would be more about positional value than performance. He’s actually had a good offseason, but the Lions have a lot of nose tackle depth with Buggs and the rookie Martin playing similar alignments. Yet it became increasingly clear as the preseason reached the finish line that the latter needs more development, while Jones can be relied upon in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Linebackers (7)
▶ In: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Anthony Pittman, James Houston, Jalen Reeves-Maybin
▶ Out: Julian Okwara, Trevor Nowaske
▶ Change: None
▶ Thoughts: Given we’re cutting some uncomfortable corners with special teams contributors at other spots, there’s no way we could leave Pittman off the roster. The linebacker room is going to carry Detroit’s kickoff and punt coverage units and no one has logged more snaps with those groups the past three seasons.
The younger Okwara has remained on the outside of the bubble all offseason, in our opinion. Yes, the three-sack showing in the opener gave us some pause, but he did next to nothing the final two games, while exiting with an injury in the finale. Durability has been an unfortunate part of the package for the former third-rounder, who never fully clicked in his three-plus seasons with the Lions.
Defensive backs (9)
▶ In: Cam Sutton, Jerry Jacobs, Will Harris, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Kerby Joseph, Tracy Walker, Brian Branch, Starling Thomas V, Steven Gilmore
▶ Out: Ifeatu Melifonwu, Chase Lucas, Khalil Dorsey, Brady Breeze, Brandon Joseph, Colby Richardson, Scott Nelson
▶ PUP: Emmanuel Moseley
▶ Change: Gilmore in, Melifonwu out
▶ Thoughts: Speaking of durability, it’s been difficult to contrast Melifonwu’s struggles staying healthy against the improvement and potential he displayed when healthy. But another leg injury late in camp provides clarity that it’s OK to move on. His release will open the door to keep one of the young, promising cornerbacks.
If the emphasis is on special teams, Lucas or Dorsey probably make more sense. Between the two, we’d give a narrow edge to Lucas, but he’s hurt by Detroit’s quality nickel depth. And with Moseley likely on the shelf for at least another month, we think there’s more value in keeping around another option on the outside.
Gilmore might lack the ideal size for that, or any spot, but he played with incredible competitiveness throughout the preseason and showed impressive ball skills with four pass breakups and two interceptions, without a missed tackle. Give us that upside.
Specialists (3)
▶ In: Jack Fox, Riley Patterson, Scott Daly
▶ Out: Parker Romo
▶ Change: None
▶ Thoughts: Patterson got coach Dan Campbell’s vote of confidence after coming up short from 53 yards and missing an extra point in the preseason finale, but the Lions should keep an eye on the options that become available the next couple days. This feels like a clear area ripe for an upgrade.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
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