The Detroit Lions have completed two preseason games, and in less than two weeks, the roster will be cut to 53-players. With that in mind, this version of our Roster Stack will look a little different from past versions.
Players will still be stacked into categories — Impact players, Core players, Projected starters, Role players, Last 10 to make the 53, One spot away from the 53, and Have work to do — but this version will examine how players stack up in each position group.
Quarterbacks (2)
Impact players: Matthew Stafford
Role players: Tom Savage
One spot away from the 53: Josh Johnson, David Fales
Savage has looked the sharpest of the reserve quarterbacks this offseason and was the team’s top choice in free agency. The determining factor on his roster status is: how long will it take him to recover from his latest concussion?
If Savage is unable to return, the Lions appear to favor Johnson at this time, notably giving him reps last game ahead of Fales. Although, Fales’ performance against Houston, made this a competition again.
Running backs (5)
Impact players: Kerryon Johnson
Role players: C.J. Anderson, Ty Johnson, Nick Bawden
Last 10 to make the 53: Zach Zenner
Have work to do: Mark Thompson, Justin Stockton (Update: Stockton has been released)
In the running backs hierarchy, Zenner is far ahead of both Thompson and Stockton, but also firmly behind rookie Ty Johnson and would be the preferred option if the Lions keep five from this group — as I am projecting. Roster construction is realistically the only factor keeping Zenner from being a lock, as he provides the team with versatility and reliability on both offense and special teams.
Wide receiver (5)
Impact players: Kenny Golladay
Core players: Marvin Jones
Projected starters: Danny Amendola
Last 10 to make the 53: Chris Lacy, Travis Fulgham
One spot away from the 53: Andy Jones, Brandon Powell
Have work to do: Tommylee Lewis, Tom Kennedy, John Duhart, Deontez Alexander (Update: Jordan Lasley has been signed)
The battle for the last two wide receiver spots is far from settled. Lacy’s offensive upside and improved prowess on special teams bumps him ahead of Andy Jones for me, who is terrific on special teams but has a limited ceiling of offense.
Fulgham looks like he has the highest ceiling of the reserves and if he keeps making catches like he did last game (below) it’s going to be risky to expose him to waivers.
Powell is the wildcard in this group. His potential led to the Lions keeping six wide receivers last season and the same could happen this year as well. Something to keep an eye on over the next two games: Why did Tom Kennedy get the start in the slot over Powell in Houston? If the team feels comfortable with Kennedy as a developmental slot, they may be willing to risk Powell to waivers and try to sneak him onto the practice squad.
If they do keep a sixth wide receiver, it will likely come at the expense of Zenner or a fourth tight end.
Tight end (4)
Core players: T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James
Role players: Logan Thomas
Last 10 to make the 53: Isaac Nauta
Have work to do: Jerome Cunningham, Austin Traylor
Nauta struggled the first week of camp, then lit it up the two weeks after. He has been inconsistent in the preseason games and it’s fair to wonder if he has proven enough to warrant keeping on the active roster. If the team feels they can’t part with Powell, Nauta’s spot is very vulnerable.
Offensive line (9)
Core players: Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, Rick Wagner
Projected starters: Joe Dahl
Role players: Kenny Wiggins, Tyrell Crosby
Last 10 to make the 53: Beau Benzschawel, Andrew Donnal
One spot away from the 53: Oday Aboushi
Have work to do: Luke Bowanko, Leo Kolomatangi, Matt Nelson, Micah St. Andrew, Ryan Pope
After the top seven, the last two (or one) spots are murky. Wiggins ability to play guard and tackle could make Donnal vulnerable, but with Crosby’s status unsettled due to injury, the team may feel the need to keep Donnal in the fold.
Keeping Donnal means the team will have to decide between experience and youth among the reserves on the interior.
Benzschawel has been repping behind Aboushi most of camp, but over the last week, you can see things are starting to click for the undrafted rookie. At the end of the day, his developmental upside could be more valuable to the team than Aboushi’s veteran experience.
Interior defensive line (4)
Impact players: Damon Harrison
Core players: Da’Shawn Hand
Projected starters: Mike Daniels
Role players: A’Shawn Robinson
One spot away from the 53: Kevin Strong, John Atkins
Have work to do: Fred Jones, PJ Johnson, Ray Smith
Last season the team kept a reserve nose tackle, finishing the season with Atkins on the 53-man roster, but with Daniels and Robinson both capable of playing situational nose, that may no longer be a priority. Don’t be surprised if Strong’s pass-rushing upside and positional versatility make him a preferred option if the team keeps five from this group.
If the Lions do keep a fifth defensive lineman, it would likely be because another defensive player lands on injured reserve (IR), thus opening a spot.
EDGE rushers (5)
Impact players: Trey Flowers
Core players: Devon Kennard
Role players: Romeo Okwara, Austin Bryant
Last 10 to make the 53: Eric Lee
One spot away from the 53: Mitchell Loewen
Have work to do: Malik Carney, Jonathan Wynn
Bryant hasn’t practiced since injuring his shoulder early in training camp but the Lions love his upside and won’t expose him to waivers. If Bryant’s injury is still lingering two weeks from now, he’s a candidate for IR, which would solidify Lee’s spot on the depth chart, and would open a spot for another defensive lineman.
If a spot is freed up, Strong and Atkins will receive intense competition from Loewen, who has shown the ability to play on the EDGE and at the 3-technique.
Linebackers (5)
Core players: Jarrad Davis, Jahlani Tavai
Role players: Christian Jones, Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Last 10 to make the 53: Miles Killebrew
Have work to do: Steve Longa, Garret Dooley, Anthony Pittman
After looking like an afterthought in the Spring, Killebrew has earned himself a spot on the roster after taking a “much more aggressive” approach on defense in training camp. Longa not practicing — another IR candidate — has also allowed Killebrew to solidify a much-needed special teams role, making him even more valuable.
Dooley and Pittman could both make the practice squad.
Cornerbacks (6)
Impact players: Darius Slay
Core players: Justin Coleman
Projected starters: Rashaan Melvin
Role players: Jamal Agnew, Amani Oruwariye
Last 10 to make the 53: Teez Tabor
One spot away from the 53: Mike Ford, Dee Virgin
Have work to do: Andre Chachere, Jonathan Alston, Jamar Summers
After competing for a starting job at the beginning of training camp, Tabor’s injury has dropped him to the roster bubble. Don’t expect the Lions to give up on him yet and if he doesn’t make the 53-man roster straight out, he is yet another defender who could end up on IR.
If Tabor isn’t on the 53-man, Ford and Virgin are likely in the lead for the sixth corner spot. Ford has more upside on defense, while Virgin has been balling out on special teams. Depth at safety will also be a factor here and could force the team to skip over both Ford and Virgin — keeping only five corners.
Safeties (5)
Impact players: Quandre Diggs
Core players: Tracy Walker
Role players: Will Harris, Charles Washington
Last 10 to make the 53: Tavon Wilson
One spot away from the 53: Andrew Adams
Have work to do: C.J. Moore
What the team does with Washington has kept me up at nights. He is by far their most valuable special teams player and both teammates and coaches love him. He’s going to be difficult to cut, and in turn, will likely force a decision between Wilson and Adams.
Wilson was asked to take a pay cut this offseason, then saw the Lions select Harris high in the draft. He has outplayed the rookie so far in camp and appeared likely to be kept around as a mentor for the youngster, but things have changed over the last week. An injury to Wilson created an opportunity for Harris and he took advantage, racking up a team-leading six tackles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. If Harris has indeed “Wally Pipped” Wilson, then it creates an easier path for Adams to the roster.
The final decision between Adams and Wilson — like with corner — will likely come down to depth in the secondary vs special teams play. Adams is a ballhawk and gives the Lions a playmaker in deep centerfield, but as a clear reserve. Wilson may be third on the depth chart as a slot safety, but he plays key roles on special teams and is a valuable leader. For now, I’m leaning towards the every-down contributor on special teams over the playmaker who will spend most of his time on the bench.
Special teams
Core players: Matt Prater, Sam Martin, Don Muhlbach
Have work to do: Ryan Santoso
This is locked in.
