on the other hand, detroit lions We’ve already released an unofficial depth chart ahead of Game 1 of the preseason, but we wanted to give fans a closer look at the roster with our updated depth chart. This builds on what we’ve seen in our three-week training camp, and also the team’s recent roster moves.
The Lions complete two days of joint practice. new york giants And it’s already letting the starters do the hard work. As such, they plan to rest some of their top players in this match, thus giving them a chance to take a closer look at their game reserves.
Coach Dan Campbell said, “I think it’s about the starters, whether they can do a very good job of controlling this opponent in two days of practice.” “But this game is going to be like, ‘Hey, let’s see some of these guys play in a real game.'”
After practicing with the Colts during the 2022 preseason, the Lions rested 20 of their expected starters, so it would be a surprise if some of their top players didn’t play against the Giants. do not have.
To make the viewing experience easier, we have listed the numbers next to each player’s name. bold Added asterisk * after expected starter and rookie names.
quarterback (5)
- Jared Goff (16)
- Teddy Bridgewater (TBD) — signed this week, not scheduled
- Nate Sudfeld (10)
- Adrian Martinez* (18)
- Hendon Hooker* (12) — ineligible, NFI Listed
Goff is due to take Friday night off, while Bridgewater just signed a deal on Thursday, while Hooker is still on the NFI list and ineligible to play. That means Lions fans will probably get a lot of Sudfeld, and Martinez will manage at some point in the second half.
running back (8)
- David Montgomery (5)
- Jermyl Gibbs* (26)
- Jason Cabinda (45), FB
- Craig Reynolds (13) — Dealing with injuries
- Jermer Jefferson (28)
- Mohammed Ibrahim* (33)
- Divine Ogibo (30) — signed this week
- Benny Snell (38) — To Sign This Week
The Lions’ running back room has seen some recent changes following the retirement of Justin Jackson and the recent signings of Ogibo and Snell. If the Lions rest Montgomery and Gibbs and Reynolds is still struggling with injuries (he has been absent from joint practice this week), the Lions could give Jefferson and Ibrahim a majority of berths and keep newcomers on the field. likely to stand. in the fourth quarter.
wide receiver (12)
- Amon La St. Brown (14)
- Josh Reynolds (8)
- Caliph Raymond (11)
- Jameson Williams (9)
- Marvin Jones Jr. (0)
- Denzel Mims (17) — Dealing with injuries
- Trinity Benson (19) — dealing with injuries
- Dylan Drummond* (83)
- Antoine Green* (80)
- Maurice Alexander (15)
- Chase Cota* (88)
- Trey Quinn (29)
If the Lions rest their starting pitcher, Marvin Jones will join the bench, with Jameson Williams and rookies Drummond and Green doing most of the work. With Williams’ suspension out of action for the first six games of the regular season, the Lions are expected to give him a lot of work in the preseason.
“It’s going to be huge. It’s essential,” Campbell said of Williams, who will play in the preseason. “We’re going to hit him with a ton of game reps. He needs it. He needs it. He needs practice, but everyone does. , the more repetitions, the more time he spends on the task, the more continuous practice and repetitions, the more he will only grow..I really believe so.and I hope he wants it I believe he wants to be better, so let’s see how far he can go with this issue.”
tight end (5)
- Block Light (89)
- Sam LaPorta* (87)
- James Mitchell (82)
- Darrell Daniels (86) — Dealing with injuries
- Daniel Helm (43)
With injuries to Shane Zylstra, the Lions’ tight end room looks very predictable, with Wright, LaPorta and Mitchell being the clear frontrunners for the job. Daniels has a history of working with Lions tight end coach Steve Heiden, so he could get an outside chance on the roster, but if he can’t play due to injury, he’ll further solidify this group. there’s a possibility that.
Predicted starting offensive line (18)
starter
- LT — Taylor Decker (68)
- LG — Jonah Jackson (73)
- C — Frank Ragno (77)
- RG — Haraporivati Vaitai (72) or Graham Glasgow (60)
- RT — Penay Sewell (58)
top reserves
- LT — Obinna Eze (65) or Matt Nelson (67)
- LG — Kayode Awosica (74) or Darin Paulo (69)
- C — Graham Glasgow (60) or Ross Pierschbacher (66)
- RG — Graham Glasgow (60) or Colby Solsdal* (75)
- RT — Matt Nelson (67) or Jermaine Ifedi (70)
abundant reserves
There seems to be a lot of moving parts in this large group, but I wouldn’t be surprised if all six players in bold are out of the match, leaving the game to substitutes for positions. Campbell has told the media he is waiting for his backup players to separate, which could be the very opportunity they need to take advantage.
Inside Line of Defense (8)
- DT — Alim McNeill (54)
- DT — Isaiah Baggs (96)
- DT — Brodrick Martin* (98)
- DT — Benito Jones (94)
- DL — Levi Onzrike (91)
- DL — Christian Covington (52)
- DL — Cory Durden* (90)
- DL — Chris Smith* (91)
The top three Lions interior defense linemen are looking to join the active roster, with many players competing for one slot. Jones has looked the strongest throughout training camp so far, but Onuzrike is starting to show enough skill to be a second-round draft pick, and the team is investing heavily in his development. Covington shouldn’t be left out just yet, and the two undrafted rookies have a chance to join the conversation.
edge rusher (7)
- Edge — Aidan Hutchinson (97)
- DE/SAM — Charles Harris (53)
- DE/IDL — John Kominsky (79)
- DE/IDL — Josh Pascal (93)
- SAM — James Huston (41)
- EDGE — Romeo Okwala (95)
- SAM — Julian Okwala (99)
The Lions’ defensive scheme is determined by how they deploy edge rushers and switch the front from four to five. In the basic set he has 2 edge his rushers on the field, but when expanded to 5 he has 3 on the field.
The breakdown of roles for this job group is as follows:
- EDGE = Can play edge with hands on dirt or standing, while also reducing inside in pass rush situations
- DE/SAM = Can play edge with hands on dirt or standing
- DE/IDL = Can play edge with hands on dirt or reduce inside on base set
- SAM = stand-up pass rusher
Off-the-ball linebacker (7)
- Will — Alex Anzalone (34)
- Mike — Derrick Burns (55)
- Mike — Jack Campbell* (46)
- Will — Malcolm Rodriguez (44)
- Will — Jalen Reeves-Maybin (42)
- Mike/Sam — Anthony Pittman (57)
- Mike/Sam — Trevor Nowask* (59)
Anzalone, who alternated between Mike and Will last season, has been firmly established at Will this year and the move plays to his strengths.
“I think (Anzalone) is really naturally more determined,” Campbell told media on Wednesday. “He would rather be in that position and I think it suits his skill set.”
Who will start next to Anzalone at the mic is one of the biggest battles at camp this fall, and Barnes appears to be holding off the rookie so far. Campbell is taking days and hours, but the experience he gains through the rep will be key to his progress.
The Lions rely heavily on special teams linebackers and kept six players from this group last season. If they’re going to keep that number up this year, keep an eye on Special Teams to see who’s getting that number during preseason. Because it may be an indicator of how the coaching staff feels about their status.
Cornerback (8)
- Cameron Sutton (1)
- Jerry Jacobs (39)
- Will Harris (25)
- Sterling Thomas V* (49)
- Stephen Gilmore* (36)
- Khalil Dorsey (30)
- Te Hayes (24)
- Emmanuel Moseley (4) — ineligible, listed on PUP list
It will be interesting to see how the Lions position their cornerbacks in the preseason. Undrafted corners Thomas and Gilmour have long been viewed by the coaching staff and could use these games to secure roster spots.
Hybrid slot DB (3)
- NB/S — CJ Gardner Johnson (2)
- NB/S — Brian Branch* (32)
- NB/CB — Chase Lucas (36)
Gardner-Johnson will likely miss this game, and fans will see Branch start. The rookie has been sensational during camp, and it’s fair to wonder if coaches will limit his snaps in this game. Lucas has been snapping in camp, outside and slot right now, so he could be on the outside in this game, but I think we’ll see him playing a lot of snaps on the inside against the Giants. I hope not.
safety (6)
- Kirby Joseph (31)
- Tracy Walker (21)
- Ifitu Merifonwu (6)
- Syvion Smith (23)
- Brady Brees (35)
- Brandon Joseph* (40)
With Gardner-Johnson and Branch backed up in safe territory and Joseph and Walker slots secured on the roster, the rest of the group will have a single slot if there are still openings. may contend. Merifon Wu, a third-round pick in the system, appears to hold the lead as a front-runner, but Smith quietly put up a solid camp and played in safe conditions for the Lions last season. made the starting lineup for the
kick team (4)
- P — Jack Fox (3)
- LS — Scott Daly (47)
- K— Riley Patterson (36) or Parker Romo (24)
The race for the kicker spot continues, and if Camp’s pattern holds up, Patterson will likely get the first opportunity, while Romo will have a chance to show off his strength later in the game.
kick/punt returner
- Punt Return — Caliph Raymond (11)
- Kick returns — Jermyl Gibbs (26) or Dylan Drummond (83) or Maurice Alexander (15)
With Raymond coming off a season with All-Pro honors, the Lions are gearing up for a punt returner. But Justin Jackson’s sudden retirement left the Lions with a big question mark on kick returners. The Lions brought in rookies Gibbs and Drummond in a joint practice game against the Giants, while Alexander was called in to replace Jackson last season and performed well. He also saw frequent snaps on kick returners early in camp.
kick coverage specialist
- Kickoff — Riley Patterson (36) OR Parker Romo (24) OR Jack Fox (3)
- Owner – Jack Fox (3)
- Gunner — Sterling Thomas (49), Ifeetu Merifonwu (6), Jerry Jacobs (39)Will Harris (25), Antoine Green (80)
- Personal Guardian (PP) — Tracy Walker (21)
The Lions used Fox as their kickoff specialist last season, but commented special teams coordinator Dave Phipp that they would prefer a kicker to fill that role. Therefore, the kickoff becomes an element of the kicking battle, so please pay attention to the difference in kickers here.
Who will be the Lions gunner tandem is a bit of an unknown. Thomas, Melifon Wu, Lucas and Branch were the main contenders early in camp, but when asked who would be the right person for the role, Campbell suggested Jacobs, Harris and Antoine Green as possible candidates. In addition to Thomas, who is consistently active as a gunner, it seems that another position is attracting a lot of attention.
In PP, Jackson’s retirement paves the way for another player to fill the role. Walker was in charge behind Jackson here, but it’s unclear if the Lions will simply turn to him for the role or resume the competition.
Projected depth chart at a glance
For those of you who prefer to learn visually, make sure you understand what I’ve explained above at a glance.
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