The Detroit Lions players arrive in Allen Park this week for training camp. Not every player’s purpose in training camp is the same, however.
Many players already have roster spots sewn up. Others are fighting to try and earn a spot on the Lions’ final 53-man roster.
Here are the Detroit offensive players who don’t have to worry about losing their jobs in the upcoming weeks of training camp and preseason.
Quarterbacks
Roster locks: Jared Goff, Hendon Hooker
Goff is a Pro Bowl starter; of course he’s a lock. Hooker will be on the roster as a third-round rookie too, though that might begin with him on the NFI list as Hooker recuperates from December knee surgery.
Nate Sudfeld figures to be the No. 2 QB, but this Lions regime has shown a willingness to make changes if Goff’s backup isn’t getting the job done satisfactorily in the preseason.
Running backs
Roster locks: David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs
The high-profile newcomers will be used heavily during the season, though perhaps not so much during the exhibition campaign.
As for the guy behind them, it’s difficult to find anyone who is a lock to make the final 53. That includes FB Jason Cabinda, who gets lumped in with the RBs. Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson, Mohammed Ibrahim and Greg Bell enter camp in that order hoping to clinch a reserve RB role.
Wide receivers
Roster locks: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Josh Reynolds
The six-game suspension for Williams to start the season effectively ensures Raymond a spot, though he almost certainly was a lock regardless. St. Brown is a no-brainer as Goff’s top target, while Reynolds is a trusted security blanket for his old Rams teammate.
It would be nice to include fan favorite Marvin Jones here, but the aging veteran hasn’t clinched a spot. The same is true of seventh-round rookie Antoine Green or perennial preseason star Tom Kennedy.
Tight ends
Roster locks: Sam LaPorta, James Mitchell
LaPorta figures to be the featured TE as a second-round rookie. Mitchell is pressing the boundary of being a lock, but the Lions don’t have anyone else like the promising second-year player who could push him off the roster.
For Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and Derrick Deese Jr., there are paths for all of them to make it. Nearly all those paths involve special teams prowess.
Offensive line
Roster locks: Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Penei Sewell
The starting five are guaranteed, but that’s all that is set.
Are Graham Glasgow and Matt Nelson very close to locks as the primary reserves? Yes they are, but they do need to prove their worth. Ross Pierschbacher as the backup center to Ragnow–who will rarely practice due to his toe injury–might be more of a lock than either of them. Hard to see the team giving up on fifth-round rookie Colby Sorsdal right away, but a Day 3 draft pick from an FCS school making a position change cannot be considered a lock for a roster spot at this juncture.
