Detroit Lions training camp will wrap the second week of action on Saturday. It’s a good point to recalibrate the depth chart and reevaluate the 53-man roster projection.
There are a few changes to the prediction after 10 days of practice. Injuries have caused some unfortunate shifts, as have on-field performances — positive and negative. There are some leanings here that reflect what I’ve seen and heard in training camp, too.
Quarterbacks - 3
Starter: Jared Goff
Reserves: Nate Sudfeld, Hendon Hooker
The change here is that I think Hooker can make the initial 53-man roster. He’s looked very healthy in his work with trainers during and after practices; you’d never know he was barely nine months out from knee surgery. It might be a case of the Lions keeping him, then putting him on I.R. immediately to go waiver-wire surfing after the roster cutdowns.
Running backs - 5
Starter: David Montgomery
Reserves: Jahmyr Gibbs, Justin Jackson, Craig Reynolds, Jason Cabinda (FB)
There are two questions at RB: who wins the No. 3/4 spots, and do the Lions continue to keep Cabinda for a fullback role that they used less than 20 percent of offensive snaps last season?
My current answers (subject to change) to those questions are Jackson and Reynolds sticking, and Cabinda still having a role. Low level of conviction about either answer, however…
Wide receivers - 6*
Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Jameson Williams*
Reserves: Kalif Raymond, Denzel Mims, Marvin Jones
The Williams asterisk is due to his 6-game suspension to start the year. He makes the 53-man roster, then goes away and needs replacing. I’m still not sure the WR who takes that spot during the suspension is currently on the roster, but if he is, it’s UDFA Dylan Drummond. That roster spot could very well go to a different position group, too.
If you’re looking for an upset/off-the-wall prediction, Jones isn’t the roster lock most fans expect him to be. Not saying, just sayin’…
Tight ends - 3
Starter: Sam LaPorta
Reserves: Brock Wright, James Mitchell
The injury to Shane Zylstra largely ended any drama here.
Offensive line - 9
Starters: LT Taylor Decker, LG Jonah Jackson, C Frank Ragnow, RG Graham Glasgow, RT Penei Sewell
Reserves: OT Matt Nelson, C Ross Pierschbacher, OL Colby Sorsdal, OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai
The only change here is swapping Glasgow into the starting spot and moving Vaitai down to a reserve role. Glasgow looks healthy again, while Vaitai continues to sputter with injuries. If Vaitai doesn’t make it, and that’s a possibility, the choice between versatile veteran Germain Ifedi and much-improved second-year OT Obinna Eze will be an interesting one.
Defensive tackles - 3
Starters: Alim McNeill, Isaiah Buggs
Reserves: Brodric Martin
Some position group had to take a hit by keeping more at other spots, and that could very well be the DT group. The threesome here is locked in; Martin is better than expected as a third-round rookie and figures to play a lot.
The Lions have a few DEs who can put a hand in the dirt and slide inside in packages, too. Josh Paschal, John Cominsky and even Aidan Hutchinson have all done that (and done well) during camp.
Could Levi Onwuzurike, Benito Jones or Christian Covington make it? Sure. But none have proven to be irreplaceable by someone cut from another team who might offer more long-term benefit. None of those guys figure to be claimed off waivers by another team once cut, too.
EDGE - 6
Starters: Aidan Hutchinson, Charles Harris
Reserves: Josh Paschal, John Cominsky, James Houston, Romeo Okwara
No change at all here from the previous projection. No reason to change anything.
Linebackers - 5
Starters: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell
Reserves: Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jalen Reeves-Maybin
The only change here is dropping Anthony Pittman and keeping just five. Pure conjecture on my part that the Lions will value keeping an extra running back in the special team role that Pittman has capably occupied in recent years. Reeves-Maybin has repped ahead of Pittman in LB drills, so he gets the edge.
UDFA Trevor Nowaske still has a shot at usurping that final spot if he thrives in preseason. And he might…
Cornerbacks - 5
Starters: Cam Sutton, Jerry Jacobs, C.J. Gardner-Johnson (slot)
Reserves: Will Harris, Starling Thomas
PUP: Emmanuel Moseley
Moseley is again the wild card with his ongoing knee issue. He’s still not activated from the PUP and hasn’t taken a single practice rep with Detroit’s defense.
Harris and Brian Branch (now listed at safety) are both capable of playing any DB spot, which gives the positional flexibility to keep one less reserve.
For the final spot, I opted to keep Thomas over fellow UDFA rookie Steven Gilmore based on athletic potential. That spot is certainly up for further competition.
Safeties - 5
Starters: Tracy Walker, Kerby Joseph
Reserves: Brian Branch, Saivion Smith, Ifeatu Melifonwu
The top three are locked in, and there will be packages where Walker, Joseph and Branch are all on the field together. Branch has been excellent in Joseph’s “robber” safety role when he’s not playing in the slot.
Smith has solidified his roster spot in camp in my opinion, both on defense and in special teams. Melifonwu is No. 53 of 53 and shouldn’t feel safe to make it.
Specialists - 3
Kicker: Riley Patterson
Punter: Jack Fox
Long snapper: Jake McQuaide
Fox as the punter is the only established position. Camp competitions are ongoing at kicker and long snapper, with both spots very much undecided heading into the preseason.
