The second exhibition game for the Detroit Lions ended in a disappointing, punchless 25-7 loss to the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars.
With nearly every player of significance sitting out, it was a chance for the depth players in Detroit to prove themselves. Some looked like bullish risers, while others saw their stocks grow more bearish.
Here are the Lions who rose up and those who fell back in the preseason loss to the Jagaurs.
Stock up: James Houston
For the second preseason game in a row, Houston looked decent in run defense. While he did miss a tackle and ran past another, overall the second-year EDGE created issues for the Jaguars run game with his supremely quick closing burst and ever-improving awareness.
The Lions coaches have emphasized being able to be more than just a pass rusher with Houston throughout camp. It’s still a work in progress, but Houston is indeed progressing with the work. He showed that on Saturday.
Stock down: Trinity Benson
Benson missed the preseason opener, so this was the wideout’s first chance to show what he can do in a game situation. After a solid performance in the joint practices against the Jaguars, Benson dropped the ball in the exhibition game.
Like, literally dropped the ball.
Benson had three passes thrown his way. He put two of those on the ground, one of them the pictured contested catch. That’s a nice play by Jags CB Christian Braswell, but that’s a play a receiver fighting for his roster spot needs to make.
Stock up: Tracy Walker
Walker looked very much like a starter playing against backups, and that’s exactly what the Lions wanted to see from their defensive captain of a year ago.
Walker showed zero sign of any lingering issues from his 2022 Achilles tear. He logged five tackles and a PD–which turned into Steven Gilmore’s INT, in the first quarter. No. 21 might not be a full-time starter for the new-look Lions defense, but on Saturday he proved he’s more than capable.
Stock down: Brad Cecil
Cecil was handed the chance to be the starting center for a game. After the Lions parted ways with injured Ross Pierschbacher, Cecil could have helped himself as the top true reserve center on the roster.
Alas, the undrafted rookie from South Florida was consistently overwhelmed as a run blocker. The Lions had no surge up front, and Cecil was the centerpiece of the first half’s ineffective run game.
Stock up: Starling Thomas
Thomas is competing for an outside CB spot. The undrafted rookie from UAB had a mixed bag of a day on defense; Thomas was on the hook for Parker Washington’s touchdown catch and run, and he was also guilty of an illegal contact penalty that wiped out a sack.
Thomas gets the bullish stock value for his special teams work. He showed off the speed and vision on two impressive kick returns, a gig that is wide open after Justin Jackson’s retirement. But the reps that will please ST coordinator Dave Fipp the most were Thomas’ two punt coverage plays as the gunner. No. 49 beat his blocks and forced fair catches on both.
Stock down: Levi Onwuzurike
Onwuzurike looked good in the exhibition win over the Giants, making an impact late in the game. Against Jacksonville, the oft-injured DL got the start.
In 31 defensive snaps, Onwuzurike failed to record even an assisted tackle. It stood in stark contrast to John Cominsky, who was a dominant force as the other starting DE. Coach Dan Campbell harps on consistency all the time, valuing the ability to string positives together. Onwuzurike failed to capitalize on a day when much of the rest of the D-line looked impressive.
Honorable mentions
Down:
QB Nate Sudfeld, for his inability to avoid the terrible mistake
OT Matt Nelson
CB Chase Lucas, for missed tackles that were also an issue in joint practices
WR Dylan Drummond
FB Jason Cabinda, for another dropped pass
G Kayode Awosika, unable to build off a solid preseason debut
DB Will Harris; former starters should stand out positively when playing with reserves but that didn’t happen for Harris
Up:
DE John Cominsky, not that he needed it
DT Cory Durden, very active in run defense
LB Jack Campbell
WR Chase Cota, for his TD reception
CB Steven Gilmore
RB Craig Reynolds, for his receiving and special teams work
