Lions 53-man roster projection: Taking a close look at battles for final spots

New York Times

7 hours ago

The Detroit Lions have a preseason game and two weeks of practice under their belts. The coaching staff has been able to evaluate everything — from shells to full pads and now, a game performance for those who need it. There weren't many questions with this roster, but some have already been answered.
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Let's take a look at where things stand with our first Lions roster projection.
Jared Goff
Hendon Hooker
Others: Kyle Allen.
If Kyle Allen continues to play like he did in the preseason opener, he won't have a spot on this team. He made a poor throw on a pass intended for Tom Kennedy that was picked off and nearly returned for a touchdown, and made a poor decision throwing into double coverage on an end-zone shot to Isaac TeSlaa — also intercepted. I expected more from Allen, given how well he's performed in practice. He's got time to make up for it, though. The same goes for Hooker. He's in line to get the start vs. the Falcons this week and I'd expect a much more efficient outing. It was hard to evaluate him with third-stringers blocking and running routes for him.
Side note: I get why the Lions alternate QBs the way they do — with Allen getting the first shot one day and Hooker the next — but they're never going to learn anything about Hooker by using him this way. He threw six passes 0n Thursday. He should be getting the first shot in these games. Full stop.
Jahmyr Gibbs
David Montgomery
Craig Reynolds
Sione Vaki
Others: Kye Robichaux, Jabari Small, Jacob Saylors.
No real surprises here. The Lions could maybe maneuver cut down day and leave Reynolds off the initial roster before bringing him back immediately — they did this in 2023 — but they could also simply leave it as is. These four will be Detroit's running backs this season.
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Jameson Williams
Tim Patrick
Isaac TeSlaa
Kalif Raymond
Dominic Lovett
Others: Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Ronnie Bell, Jakobie Keeney-James, Malik Taylor.
The first five names here are all roster locks, and at this point, Lovett has the best shot out of the other rookie receivers to make the roster. He's been adding value on special teams and has been one of Detroit's top targets, along with TeSlaa, on the second-team offense. But he needs a better showing in the Falcons game to overcome a poor performance vs. the Chargers. He had a bad drop on Detroit's first drive and had a pass from Hooker ripped out of his hands for an interception.
Sam LaPorta
Brock Wright
Shane Zylstra
Others: Zach Horton, Kenny Yeboah.
At this point, it feels like the Lions will go thin at tight end. LaPorta and Wright are locks and Zylstra splits time between the first- and second-team offense. Yeboah has not done much to stand out and got hurt in the Chargers game. I do like Horton as a fullback/H-back but I think he has work to do. Could be a practice squad option, though.
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LT Taylor Decker
LG Christian Mahogany
C Graham Glasgow
RG Tate Ratledge
RT Penei Sewell
OT Dan Skipper
OT Giovanni Manu
G Kayode Awosika
OT Jamarco Jones
Others: Kingsley Eguakun, Trystan Colon, Colby Sorsdal, Netane Muti, Michael Niese, Mason Miller, Justin Herron.
Active/PUP: Miles Frazier.
Some thoughts here. Coach Dan Campbell said Frazier (knee) will be out until September/October, and the Lions won't rush him back. I would've liked to have found a spot for Eguakun but I don't think he offers enough versatility at the moment, as Ratledge would be the backup center if it came to it. Awosika has been the most consistent reserve guard and rotates with the first-team offense on occasion, so I think he makes it over the other options.
As for Detroit's tackle depth, Skipper has had a rough training camp filling in for Decker. Blocking Aidan Hutchinson isn't exactly a walk in the park, but Skipper tends to stick out when he's with the starters. That's what he'd be asked to do in the event of an injury. With Manu still developing, Jones might be Detroit's best backup tackle. I'd roster three of them until Frazier is cleared.
Think of it like this: Two starting tackles (Sewell and Decker) and two reserve tackles (Skipper and Jones). Three starting interior linemen (Glasgow, Mahogany, Ratledge — who can also play center) and one reserve (Awosika). Manu is the developmental player.
DJ Reader
Tyleik Williams
Mekhi Wingo
Roy Lopez
Pat O'Connor
Others: Keith Cooper, Chris Smith, Myles Adams, Brodric Martin.
Reader and Williams have been locked in as starters since camp began. Lopez and O'Connor have been the top reserves, with UDFA Cooper making some noise along the way. But if Wingo is healthy to begin the season — he told me the team is being cautious with him — then there might not be a spot for Cooper on the initial roster. Really like what I've seen from him, though. He can change the conversation by continuing to stack good days.
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Aidan Hutchinson
Marcus Davenport
Josh Paschal
Al-Quadin Muhammad
Ahmed Hassanein
Others: Nate Lynn, Mitchell Agude, Isaac Ukwu.
A lot of this depends on what the Lions do with Paschal. Campbell said that Paschal, currently on NFI, should be back by early September. However, he'll need a few weeks of practice to ramp up. Depends how long the Lions think he'll need, but perhaps he could be back within the first month. I'll keep him on the roster for now. If not, I'd have Lynn in for him. He's been a bright spot this training camp, after impressing last year before a season-ending injury.
Alex Anzalone
Jack Campbell
Derrick Barnes
Zach Cunningham
Grant Stuard
Trevor Nowaske
Others: Anthony Pittman, Ezekiel Turner, DaRon Gilbert.
Active/PUP: Malcolm Rodriguez.
The Lions usually roll deep at linebacker for special teams purposes. Their initial roster had seven a year ago. I've got them at six this year. Anzalone, Barnes and Campbell are starters. Cunningham would be the first man off the bench. Stuard is an ace special-teamer and offers instincts defensively. Nowaske is a young player who knows all three positions. Pittman, a veteran, could stick around on the practice squad.
Terrion Arnold
D.J. Reed
Amik Robertson (nickel)
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Rock Ya-Sin
Khalil Dorsey
Others: Dicaprio Bootle, Erick Hallett, Tyson Russell, Nick Whiteside.
Rakestraw left practice Sunday with a shoulder injury during a tackling drill. Campbell should provide an update Monday evening, and a long-term injury could affect the roster math a bit. Elsewhere, if Dorsey is ready to go within the first month, you have to think the Lions will try to avoid an IR stint. Sounds like things are trending that way. The rest are roster locks at a fairly deep position.
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Brian Branch
Kerby Joseph
Avonte Maddox
Loren Strickland
Others: Dan Jackson, Morice Norris, Ian Kennelly.
I'll be honest, this position is wide open after the top three. Maddox has emerged as the true third safety and the first option off the bench. The fourth safety spot, if the Lions choose to roster one, will have to be someone who can contribute on special teams. Strickland made the roster that way a year ago and started at safety in the preseason game, so we'll give him the nod for now. I think Norris gives them a bit more defensively, though. Jackson has been chewed out by the coaching staff on occasion, but he does offer some special teams play. Dark horse here is Kennelly, who just catches the eye. I'd like to see him get more opportunities.
K Jake Bates
P Jack Fox
LS Hogan Hatten
Others: N/A
No drama here. These are the only three specialists in camp.
(Top photo of Hendon Hooker: Nick Cammett / Imagn Images)