Forward of each Detroit Lions recreation in 2025, we are going to present readers with an up to date depth chart of the workforce’s roster primarily based on what we’re seeing at practices.
For this preseason recreation towards the Miami Dolphins, the Lions have steered that they plan on persevering with to relaxation their starters—they rested 28 gamers towards the Chargers and one other 31 towards the Falcons—particularly with two joint practices earlier this week. So with that in thoughts, count on at the least the highest third of the roster to be on the sidelines for this matchup.
To assist out your recreation viewing expertise, listed here are just a few keys to bear in mind when exploring this depth chart:
Jared Goff (16)Kyle Allen (8)Hendon Hooker (2)
After two preseason duds, Hooker must get on monitor in a nasty method on this recreation. Sadly, he’ll have to attend his flip as Allen is just not solely taking part in higher (see Lions coach Dan Campbell’s feedback beneath), but it surely’s his flip to start out within the rotation.
“I assumed Kyle (Allen) performed rather well, man, I used to be fired up,” Campbell mentioned of Allen’s efficiency towards the Falcons. “That was excellent. […] He will get on the market and instantly provides us a lift. Runs the offense, makes two large throws within the first drive he’s in there. Man, I assumed he was on level with the checks. The kills, movement landmarks, the entire thing. He operated the offense at a excessive degree and made big-time throws, so I used to be fired up.”
Jahmyr Gibbs (0)David Montgomery (5)Craig Reynolds (13)Sione Vaki (33) — returned to follow this week (hamstring)Jacob Saylors (48)Deon Jackson (36) — Signed this week
Injured checklist:Kye Robichaux* (25) — (IR – shoulder)
Reynolds has began every of the Lions’ two preseason video games, however he may get a relaxation this week if Vaki is deemed wholesome sufficient to play—he’s missed each video games with a hamstring damage. Vaki returned to follow this week, and Campbell mentioned the plan was to see what he may deal with after which hold giving him extra till he was full go. So long as he suffered no setbacks, Vaki may permit Reynolds to get a break this week, or at a minimal, scale back his variety of snaps.
Saylors and Jackson determine to get work within the second half, although it’s attainable Saylors will get some run with the second workforce, as he’s impressed Campbell along with his capacity to rise up to hurry with the offense rapidly and never make errors.
“I assumed what Saylors did the opposite day was fairly headsy and he’s form of a artful again and there’s one thing to be mentioned about that,” Campbell mentioned on Thursday. “Sensible man, understands ball, actually acquired a crash course on what we have been doing and actually didn’t have any MAs (missed assignments), which is fairly spectacular.”
WR-Y Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)WR-Z Jameson Williams (1)WR-X Tim Patrick (12) — injured (undisclosed)Kalif Raymond (11)Isaac TeSlaa* (18)Jackson Meeks* (83)Tom Kennedy (85) — returned to follow on Thursday (undisclosed)Dominic Lovett* (19) — returned to follow on Thursday (belly damage)Ronnie Bell (10)Jakobie Keeney-James* (80)Malik Taylor (86) — injured (undisclosed)
TeSlaa, Kennedy, and Lovett began towards the Chargers, then Meeks joined the starters for the Falcons recreation with Lovett sitting out on account of an belly damage. Lovett returned for the ultimate follow of this week, as did Kennedy, who missed two practices, but it surely’s unclear if both is able to bounce again in with the beginning group simply but. Bell has additionally made his case to get the beginning towards the Dolphins along with his current play, as he has proven the power to step into a number of conditions and has confirmed to be productive.
Backside line, past TeSlaa, the opposite beginning spots may very well be up for grabs.
TE Sam LaPorta (87) — injured (undisclosed)TE Brock Wright (89)TE Shane Zylstra (84)TE/H-B Zach Horton* (40)TE Steven Stilianos (43) — Signed this weekTE Gunnar Oakes (41) — Signed this week
Injured checklist:TE Kenny Yeboah (88) — Injured Reserve
Zylstra and Horton look like in a two tight finish race for the TE3 function, now that Yeboah has been positioned on injured reserve. Newcomers Stilianos and Oakes might want to impress to interrupt into the operating and are extra probably attempting to do sufficient to warrant a spot on the follow squad.
Projected offensive line (16 + 1)
LT Taylor Decker (68)LG Christian Mahogany (73)C Graham Glasgow (60)RG Tate Ratledge* (69)RT Penei Sewell (58)
Projected beginning offensive line for this recreation
LT Dan Skipper (70)LG Netane Muti (52)C Kingsley Eguakun (65)RG Kayode Awosika (74)RT Jamarco Jones (72)
Projected reservesLT Giovanni Manu (58) — didn’t follow Thursday (undisclosed)C/G Trystan Colon (67) — injured (elbow)RT Gunner Britton (78) — Signed this weekC/G Michael Niese (62)OT/G Mason Miller* (63)IOL/T Zack Johnson (77) — Signed on Thursday
Injured checklist:G Miles Frazier* (71) — Energetic/PUP, goal return date: SeptemberG/T Colby Sorsdal (75) — Injured ReserveOT Justin Herron (76) — Injured ReserveG/C Keaton Sutherland (74) — Signed this week — Injured Reserve
Accidents Colon and different depth gamers have sophisticated issues alongside the offensive line. If the Lions need to relaxation their starters and injured gamers, they’ll be left with simply 9 offensive linemen, which means one in all their gamers might have to drag double responsibility. Nevertheless, if the Lions elect to play rookie Tate Ratledge once more this week, they might roll two traces. Nevertheless it’s onerous to say if the Lions would try this, contemplating Campbell already believes Ratledge is “taking part in like a beginning NFL guard.”
Aidan Hutchinson (97)Marcus Davenport (92)Al-Quadin Muhammad (96)Nate Lynn (57)Ahmed Hassanein* (61) — averted damage scare (decrease leg)Isaac Ukwu (45)Mitchell Agude (50)
Injured checklist:Josh Paschal (93) Energetic/NFI, goal return date: September
Muhammad seems to be like he’s all however solidified a spot on the 53-man roster, particularly after Campbell praised his play in camp, noting that “he brings some safety to us.” Hassanein can be anticipated to make the energetic roster, even when he’s repping behind Nate Lynn proper now. Lynn has merely executed greater than sufficient to earn a spot amongst the highest group and is pushing onerous for a spot on the common season roster. Campbell famous that Lynn was nonetheless in a powerful competitors with Ukwu and Agude, and praised all three in press conferences this week.
NT DJ Reader (98)3T Tyleik Williams* (91)NT Roy Lopez (51)DL Pat O’Connor (95) — returned to follow on Thursday (leg)DL Chris Smith (90)DL Keith Cooper* (64)DL Myles Adams (66)NT Brodric Martin (99)
Injured:DT Alim McNeill (54) Energetic/PUP, goal return date: OctoberDL Mekhi Wingo (94) Energetic/PUP, goal return date: September
Lopez isn’t technically a starter, however he’s but to play within the preseason, and O’Connor simply returned to follow on Thursday, so it’s truthful to surprise if he will get the veteran relaxation remedy as properly. Nevertheless, if the Lions elect to not play Williams this week—which appears probably—they might ask O’Connor to attempt to give it a go. On the similar time, it wouldn’t be shocking if it’s Chris Smith and Keith Cooper getting the begins this week.
MIKE Jack Campbell (46)WILL Alex Anzalone (34) SAM Derrick Barnes (55)WILL/MIKE Zach Cunningham (52)WILL Grant Stuard (15)SAM/MIKE Trevor Nowaske (53)MIKE Anthony Pittman (41)WILL Ezekiel Turner (47)MIKE/WILL DaRon Gilbert (43)
Injured:WILL Malcolm Rodriguez (44) Energetic/PUP, goal return date: October
The Lions’ linebackers ought to deploy equally to how they’ve in earlier weeks. Cunningham, Stuard, and Nowaske ought to get begins at their main positions, with Nowaske getting a while on the MIKE after Cunningham exits. Pittman, Turner, and Gilbert can be hoping for extra taking part in time this week after their time was minimize quick final recreation.
CB Terrion Arnold (6) — returned to follow this week (hamstring)CB D.J. Reed (4)NB/CB Amik Robertson (21) CB/NB/S Erick Hallett (36)CB Nick Whiteside (38)CB Tyson Russell (35)CB D.J. Miller (42) — Signed final weekCB Luq Barcoo (40) — Signed final weekCB Allan George (25) — Signed on Thursday
Injured checklist:CB Khalil Dorsey (30) Energetic/PUP, goal return date: “late camp”CB Dicaprio Bootle (17) — Injured Reserve (decrease leg)
With Bootle touchdown on injured reserve, search for Whiteside to vault into the beginning lineup for this recreation. Relying on roster building, the Lions could also be trying to hold one of many six reserves anticipated to play towards the Dolphins, and Whiteside may very properly be the main candidate for the function. Hallett can be firmly in that competitors, and if he continues his sample of positional versatility, search for him to play on the surface early within the recreation, then shift into the slot afterward. Miller, Barcoo, and George have but to play within the preseason for the Lions, so that they’ll be trying to stand out for coaches.
S Brian Department (32)S Kerby Joseph (31)CB/S/NB Rock Ya-Sin (23) — has been cross-training at security and CBS/NB Avonte Maddox (29)S/NB Morice Norris (26) — injured (concussion) — anticipated to overlook the rest of preseasonS Loren Strickland (24)S Ian Kennelly* (27)
I’ve shifted Ya-Sin to the safeties group this week, as he continues to take reps there to realize expertise. I don’t consider this can be a everlasting positional swap, however he’s taking part in properly sufficient that he’s making himself a coveted participant. With Norris nonetheless in concussion protocol, Maddox may shift out of the slot and again right into a pure security function on this recreation. Nevertheless, if the Lions elect to proceed to make use of him as a slot possibility, a rotation of Strickland and Kennelly may very well be so as.
P Jack Fox (3)Ok Jake Bates (39)LS Hogan Hatten (49)
With no in-camp competitors, all three must play within the pre-season.
