The Detroit Lions have completed three preseason games, have one remaining in Cleveland on Thursday, and by Saturday night the roster will be cut to 53-players.
Therefore, this version of our Roster Stack will be focused on projecting who those 53 players are and identifying who has a chance to change my mind over the next week.
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
Changes: None
Until a decision on Savage’s injury is made, I still believe he is the preferred option moving forward. I could see a situation where he lands on injured reserve — so they can keep him in the quarterback’s room for film study and preparation — and then keep a third, but at this point, I am not sure who that third would be. Heading into Game 4, I’m leaning slightly towards Johnson.
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
Changes: None
Over the last two weeks, Thompson has played well, finding the end zone in each game, but he is still on the outside looking in for one major factor: special teams contributions.
In Week 1 of the preseason, Thompson saw 10 snaps, then two in the next game and zero in the most recent. That is not what you want to see from a player trying to earn a back end roster spot. On the plus side, he has shown enough upside to warrant a spot on the practice squad.
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, Jordan Lasley
Changes: None
Game 3 did nothing to change my mind on how this position group will shake out — Lacy is the teams best option for the fourth spot, while Fulgham has the highest ceiling and should be protected. Both have also seen an uptick in their special teams contributions, while Andy Jones and Powell are seeing reductions.
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
Changes: None
If the Lions opt to only keep five wide receivers, it should allow them to keep a fourth tight end. Although, if they feel they need to keep a six receiver, it could at the expense of Nauta. For what it’s worth, the Lions use tight ends and wide receivers almost equally on special teams, which works in Nauta’s favor.
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: Andrew Donnal, Oday Aboushi
One spot away from the 53: Beau Benzschawel
Have work to do: Luke Bowanko, Leo Kolomatangi, Matt Nelson, Micah St. Andrew, Ryan Pope
Changes: Aboushi in, Benzschawel out
Adding Aboushi and removing Benzschawel happens solely because of Ragnow’s injury. If Ragnow is unable to play in Week 1, I can’t imagine the Lions would feel comfortable traveling to Arizona with an undrafted rookie only one injury away from having to start.
If Ragnow is able to play Week 1, it creates an entirely new dynamic that could see Benzschawel make the 53 over Aboushi. A healthy Ragnow would send Dahl or Wiggins back to the bench, giving them more depth on the interior, allowing them to keep the developmental rookie.
Interior defensive line (5)
Impact players: Damon Harrison
Core players: Da’Shawn Hand
Projected starters: Mike Daniels
Role players: A’Shawn Robinson
Last 10 to make the 53: Kevin Strong
One spot away from the 53: John Atkins
Have work to do: Fred Jones, PJ Johnson, Ray Smith
Changes: Strong in
Even though Hand is making progress on returning to the field healthy, he may not be ready to go Week 1. The Lions like to rotate their defensive tackles to keep them fresh, and if Hand can’t go, Strong is the best option they have to replace him. Strong has improved his stock each week and clearly has the highest ceiling among the defensive tackles on the bubble.
EDGE rushers (4)
Impact players: Trey Flowers
Core players: Devon Kennard
Role players: Romeo Okwara, Austin Bryant
One spot away from the 53: Eric Lee, Mitchell Loewen
Have work to do: Malik Carney, Jonathan Wynn
Changes: Lee out
With Strong added, another player has to be removed and unfortunately, Lee pays the price. Bryant is someone who has a future at the JACK linebacker position but if his injury is significant and he is placed on injured reserve, it could open the door back up for Lee — but he will have competition for that spot.
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
Changes: None
Davis’ injury complicates things a bit for this position group. They have the bodies to sustain an extended absence because of the group’s positional versatility and solid preseason showings from Tavai, Reeves-Maybin and Killebrew. Jones’ ability to back up Kennard at JACK also makes moving on from Lee an easier decision.
The timing of Longa being activated from PUP is curious. It’s possible he has finally returned to full health, but it’s also likely they are making this move now to add depth to the MIKE due to Davis’ injury status. If another player in my 53-man projection — like Bryant — is placed on IR, Longa could make the roster (over Lee).
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
Changes: None
Tabor is another injured player who could land on IR, but if he does, my guess is he would be replaced by another defensive back like Ford, Virgin or a safety.
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, C.J. Moore
Changes: None
Wilson vs Adams is one of the tougher decisions on this projection for me. I can make arguments for: either to make the roster, both to make the roster, and for one of them to be traded.
Bottom line: The talent in this position group is too good to just cut a player, which is why I am expecting some movement — either by trading or making room on the roster.
Special teams
Core players: Matt Prater, Sam Martin, Don Muhlbach
Have work to do: Ryan Santoso
This is locked in.
