The Detroit Lions don’t have many beginning jobs up for grabs this coaching camp. The truth is, they could not have any. However as they open up the preseason on Thursday night time with the Corridor of Fame Sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers, a number of depth roles could possibly be on the road.
Listed below are 10 place battles to maintain a detailed eye on throughout Thursday’s motion.
Backup quarterback:
The opponents: Hendon Hooker, Kyle Allen
Undoubtedly, that is among the many greatest and most vital camp battles to be determined. In coaching camp, Hooker and Allen have alternated days because the backup quarterback, and each have seemed in a position to deal with the offense. It’ll be completely different Thursday when the purple jersey comes off and the bullets are flying, but it surely’ll be fascinating to see how a lot Hooker has grown from 12 months 2 to 12 months 3 and the way that compares to a veteran like Allen.
Huge receiver 6
The opponents: Dominic Lovett, Jackson Meeks, Jakobie Keeney-James, Tom Kennedy, Ronnie Bell
Detroit’s high 5 receivers are nearly actually set, leaving a extremely robust competitors for what is probably going solely to be one roster spot. The trio of rookies (Lovett, Meeks, and Keeney-James) have all splashed within the first week of coaching camp. In the meantime, Tom Kennedy is all the time a dependable possibility on offense, however restricted on particular groups. Ronnie Bell has but to face out in camp, however together with his NFL expertise, he might flip it up when the lights come on.
Offensive sort out 3
The opponents: Dan Skipper, Giovanni Manu, Jamarco Jones, Mason Miller
Tuesday’s scrimmage, through which Aidan Hutchinson simply dominated, was a stark reminder that if both of Detroit’s beginning tackles goes down, it could possibly be dangerous information.
Whereas Skipper got here into camp because the heavy favourite for this job, I feel it’s truthful to marvel if Detroit would take into account upgrading that place. Skipper shall be 31 in simply over a month, and whereas he’s been an excellent jumbo bundle addition, he has struggled in spot begins.
Giovanni Manu is among the extra thrilling prospects to comply with, given his ridiculous measurables and restricted expertise. In the meantime, Jamarco Jones quietly has six years of expertise and could possibly be an underdog for the spot.
Backup heart
The opponents: Kingsley Eguakun, Michael Niese, Trystan Colon
With Graham Glasgow closing in on the beginning job and rookie Tate Ratledge again at guard, the Lions abruptly have a fairly large want for a backup heart. At camp, they’ve rotated Eguakun, Niese, and Colon day by day because the backup heart, in that order. There was no noticeable separation between the three, so Thursday night time shall be an enormous piece of the puzzle.
Backup guard
The opponents: Netane Muti, Kayode Awosika, Colby Sorsdal
It seems Ratledge and Christian Mahogany have the beginning jobs locked up, however with Miles Frazier probably beginning the season injured (PUP), Detroit wants high quality depth. A few of that will come from the winner of the backup heart winner, however Muti and Awosika each deliver some helpful expertise to the reserves. These two could also be combating for only a single roster spot. Sorsdal has loads of work to do, however a robust preseason might make a distinction.
Edge defender 4
The opponents: Ahmed Hassanein, Nate Lynn, Mitchell Agude, Isaac Ukwu
Final 12 months, Lynn, Agude, and Ukwu all impressed within the preseason, main them to stay round for a 12 months. Lynn and Ukwu barely performed, although. The previous suffered a season-ending harm, and the latter simply spent most weeks inactive. Agude acquired some motion late within the season when the accidents mounted.
However now all must deal with sixth-round rookie Ahmed Hassanein, top-of-the-line tales from the Lions’ 2025 draft haul. Hassanein’s countless motor will endear him to the teaching employees, however provided that he solely realized the sport of soccer a number of years in the past, he’ll must study schematic self-discipline rapidly.
Defensive position depth
The opponents: Pat O’Connor, Keith Cooper Jr., Chris Smith
With Josh Paschal unlikely to be prepared for Week 1 and Levi Onwuzurike out for the 12 months, the Lions want some utility defensive linemen who can play in a number of spots. Pat O’Connor is fairly near locking up a spot on the roster, however undrafted rookie Keith Cooper Jr. and 2023 UDFA Chris Smith have each proven a capability to play up and down the defensive position.
Linebacker 6
The opponents: Trevor Nowaske, Anthony Pittman, Ezekiel Turner, DaRon Gilbert
For the second straight 12 months, the Lions have an extremely aggressive linebacker room. If Malcolm Rodriguez had been wholesome, there will not be room for any of those linebackers, however with him anticipated to begin the season on PUP, it opens up one—possibly two—spots for these reserves. All 4 gamers have proven a capability to play on particular groups, so the deciding issue could also be how a lot they’ll contribute on protection.
Cornerback 5/6
The opponents: Rock Ya-Sin, Erick Hallett, Dicaprio Bootle
With Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson, and Ennis Rakestraw assumed to be in, there might solely be a spot for one or two extra cornerbacks. Rock Ya-Sin has a robust early lead on the place, however Erick Hallett’s latest transfer from security to nook provides extra intrigue to this competitors.
Security 4/5
The opponents: Morice Norris, Dan Jackson, Loren Strickland, Ian Kennelly
Let’s assume Brian Department, Kerby Joseph, and Avonte Maddox are all in. Does that go away one or two security spots left? If it’s only one, it could go to seventh-round choose Dan Jackson, just because he’s a rookie with loads of particular groups expertise. Nevertheless, Norris, Strickland, and Kennelly have all made performs this camp, each on protection and particular groups. Will one be capable to eclipse Jackson, or will Detroit attempt to match a fifth security into the combo?
