Let’s take a closer look at the Detroit Lions’ personnel decisions in their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. How Detroit used their players can often be a hint as to where position battles currently lie. So I’m going to break down every position and note both how many snaps each player played, and—perhaps more notably—when those players played.
Quarterbacks:
- Kyle Allen: 32 snaps (60%)
- Hendon Hooker: 21 (40%)
- Jared Goff: DNP
I wouldn’t read too much into Allen starting the opening game. It was his turn in the rotation to be with the second-team offense after Hooker
led that unit during Tuesday’s scrimmage. It’s probably a fair assumption that Hooker will get the honor next week against the Falcons.
Allen got significantly more snaps than Hooker only because the offense was more successful. Both players got a half of football, but Allen managed to lead the offense to 143 net yards, while Hooker’s offense gained just 54.
Running backs:
- Jabari Small: 25 (47%)
- Craig Reynolds: 23 (43%) — 2 special teams snaps (8%)
- Jacob Saylors: 5 (9%)
- Kye Robichaux: Injured
- Sione Vaki: Injured
- Jahmyr Gibbs: DNP
- David Montgomery: DNP
It was surprising to see so much Craig Reynolds, but with two injured players among the Lions’ depth, they didn’t have much of a choice. For the second half, it was mostly Jabari Small, but recently-signed UFL star Jacob Saylors did get some late work.
Wide receivers:
- Dominic Lovett: 36 (68%) — 10 (42%)
- Isaac TeSlaa: 32 (60%) — 9 (38%)
- Tom Kennedy: 26 (49%)
- Jackson Meeks: 22 (42%) — 6 (25%)
- Jakobie Keeney-James: 11 (21%) — 5 (21%)
- Malik Taylor: 10 (19%) — 5 (21%)
- Ronnie Bell: 5 (9%) — 2 (8%)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: DNP
- Jameson Williams: DNP
- Tim Patrick: DNP
- Kalif Raymond: DNP
If you needed any more assurance that guys like Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond are likely safe, their healthy scratch on Thursday is a good indication.
Detroit purposely got long looks at their two drafted rookie receivers. Although, TeSlaa was done by halftime after putting up a team-leading 46 yards. Lovett played from beginning to end, and even got work on both punt returner and kick returner.
While the Lions understandably wanted to get their rookie receivers as much work as possible, it can’t be a great sign that veteran Malik Taylor and Ronnie Bell barely got any opportunity to shine.
Tight ends:
- Kenny Yeboah: 29 (55%) — 7 (29%)
- Zach Horton: 21 (42%) — 6 (25%)
- Shane Zylstra: 19 (36%) — 6 (25%)
- Sam LaPorta: DNP
- Brock Wright: DNP
Zylstra’s day was short after starting the game (alongside Kenny Yeboah). That’s a good indication he still has a strong lead in the TE3 race. Still, Yeboah got plenty of work and put on some good tape before leaving with a (believed-to-be non-serious) injury. Horton, meanwhile, got much of his work in the backfield as a fullback and also had some good moments.
Offensive tackle:
- Jamarco Jones: 32 (60%) — 1 (4%)
- Dan Skipper: 29 (55%)
- Giovanni Manu: 24 (45%) — 1 (4%)
- Mason Miller: 21 (40%)
- Penei Sewell: DNP
- Taylor Decker: Injured/PUP
The offensive tackle spit went as follows;
First team:
- LT: Dan Skipper
- RT: Jamarco Jones
Second team:
- LT: Giovanni Manu
- RT: Mason Miller
Manu got a little extra work when Skipper went down with an ankle sprain.
Personally, I was a little surprised to see the Lions play Skipper at all. I figured they would want Manu to get as much work as possible. However, that could be a sign that the Lions’ OT3 job is truly up for grabs, meaning Skipper should not feel completely safe. Of course, we’ll see how his injury ends up looking, because that could also change Detroit’s options.
Guard/center:
- Kingsley Eguakun: 32 (60%) — 1 (4%)
- Netane Muti: 32 (60%)
- Kayode Awosika: 29 (55%)
- Colby Sorsdal: 24 (45%)
- Trystan Colon: 21 (40%)
- Michael Niese: 21 (40%)
- Christian Mahogany: DNP
- Graham Glasgow: DNP
- Tate Ratledge: DNP
- Miles Frazier: Injured/PUP
First team:
- LG: Netane Muti
- C: Kingsley Eguakun
- RG: Kayode Awosika
Second team:
- LG: Michael Niese
- C: Trystan Colon
- RG: Colby Sorsdal
The first team lineup matches what we’ve seen in training camp, but there was a noticeable change with the reserves beyond that. Niese had been repping as the second backup center, but on Thursday that job belonged to Colon. Maybe they’re just testing Niese’s versatility, but that could also certainly be read as Colon gaining ground on the backup center job. That’s certainly something to monitor in preseason Game 2.
Defensive end:
- Nate Lynn: 33 (52%) — 2 (8%)
- Isaac Ukwu: 24 (38%) — 5 (21%)
- Ahmed Hassanein 20 (31%) — 12 (50%)
- Mitchell Agude: 16 (25%) — 6 (25%)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad: 14 (22%) — 4 (17%)
- Aidan Hutchinson: DNP
- Marcus Davenport: DNP
Muhammad was part of the 14/17-snap club on defense, which included a bunch of players who only played the first quarter—a sign of their potential safety on the roster.
Everyone else was sprinkled throughout the game, with sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein making the most of his playing time. Not only did he turn his 20 defensive snaps into four tackles, but he also doubled everyone else at his position group in special teams snaps, with 12.
Defensive tackle:
- Keith Cooper Jr.: 38 (59%) — 7 (29%)
- Myles Adams: 36 (56%)
- Chris Smith: 27 (42%) — 7 (29%)
- Raequan Williams: 22 (34%)
- Pat O’Connor: 14 (22%)
- Brodric Martin: 12 (19%)
- DJ Reader: DNP
- Tyleik Williams: DNP
- Roy Lopez: DNP
O’Connor was part of the first quarter-only club, which comes as no surprise after a very strong start to training camp.
It’s interesting to see Cooper play well over half the game, but his versatility at multiple positions certainly helps. Meanwhile, the battle for third-string nose tackle does not appear to be going Brodric Martin’s way. Just 12 snaps on Thursday night is concerning for him, even if he did log a nice pressure.
Linebacker:
- Ezekiel Turner: 47 (73%) — 7 (29%)
- Anthony Pittman: 44 (69%) — 14 (58%)
- Trevor Nowaske: 29 (45%) — 14 (58%)
- Grant Stuard: 17 (27%) — 12 (50%)
- Zach Cunningham: 17 (27%) — 2 (8%)
- DaRon Gilbert: 3 (5%) — 10 (42%)
- Jack Campbell: DNP
- Alex Anzalone: DNP
- Derrick Barnes: DNP
- Malcolm Rodriguez: Injured/PUP
Add Cunningham and Stuard to the “in good shape” club based on their limited playing time early. After taking those two out, it was mostly just Turner, Pittman, and Nowaske from start to finish.
I don’t know what to make of Gilbert only playing three defensive snaps, but it’s likely not good. That said, he did have plenty of opportunities on special teams... as did everyone in this group.
Cornerback:
- Dicaprio Bootle: 36 (56%) — 3 (12%)
- Tyson Russell: 36 (56%) — 3 (12%)
- Erick Hallett: 29 (45%) — 4 (17%)
- Ennis Rakestraw: 28 (44%) — 15 (62%)
- Rock Ya-Sin: 17 (27%) — 13 (54%)
- Nick Whiteside: 17 (27%) — 3 (12%)
- Terrion Arnold: DNP (injured?)
- D.J. Reed: DNP
- Amik Robertson: DNP
- Khalil Dorsey: Injured/PUP
Rakestraw and Ya-Sin got the starts. The latter had one of the best games of any Lions players on Thursday and was done by the end of the first quarter. While it was nice to see Rakestraw out there—and he got a good half of work—he also struggled in coverage. Let’s chalk it up to rust, considering he hasn’t played much football in a year.
Hallett continues to show his versatility, playing mostly nickel on Thursday after playing a lot of outside corner during training camp. After Ya-Sin was pulled, Bootle got most of the playing time, but struggled to make a positive impact.
Safety:
- Dan Jackson: 36 (56%) — 13 (54%)
- Ian Kennelly: 29 (45%)
- Loren Strickland: 28 (44%) — 7 (29%)
- Morice Norris: 18 (28%) — 14 (58%)
- Avonte Maddox: 17 (27%) — 2 (8%)
- Brian Branch: DNP
- Kerby Joseph: DNP
Maddox and Strickland started the game at safety, but Maddox was done by the first quarter. Strickland got a little extra work, but his night will likely be defined by allowing the Chargers’ first touchdown in coverage. Still, it’s notable he repped ahead of everyone else.
Norris got a surprisingly low amount of playing time in this game—filling in for Maddox in the first half—but he did lead the team with 14 special teams snaps. That allowed the team to get longer looks at rookies Dan Jackson and Ian Kennelly, who both essentially played the entirety of the second half.
Specialists:
- LS Hogan Hatten: 5 (21%)
- Jack Fox: 5 (21%)
- Jake Bates: 3 (12%)
Remember the days of #LongSnapperWatch?
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