The Detroit Lions' roster is mostly set as they head into the final week of the preseason.
The Lions have three practices this week before leaving for their final exhibition game Saturday, Aug. 29, against the Indianapolis Colts, and NFL teams have to trim their rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. the next day.
There's still time for players to make an impression in their fight for jobs, but with the regular season fast approaching, the Lions appear to have only a handful of roster spots still up for grabs.
Here are the most pressing roster battles they need to figure out this week.
No. 5 (or 6) receiver
The candidates: Cedrick Wilson Jr., Tay Martin, Tom Kennedy, Lucky Jackson, Dominic Lovett, Tarik Black, Malik Cunningham.
Wilson was my pick for the No. 5 receiver spot
when I did my last roster projection after the preseason opener − I have Greg Dortch in as the No. 4 receiver and punt returner − but he suffered a knee injury Saturday, Aug. 22, against the Washington Commanders that could impact the race. Martin has been the Lions' best performer on special teams, which could make him the favorite for the job. But Jackson has impressed on special teams, too, and Kennedy has a long history with the coaching staff and can handle kick returns.
"That room is hard," Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the Commanders game. "I mean, that room is very difficult right now because there are guys that are making plays."
The Lions could end up keeping six receivers if they find enough special teams value at the position; Kennedy could handle kick returns and be the No. 5 receiver, for instance. From a purely offensive standpoint, Lovett leads the group with four catches for 34 yards this preseason but had a shaky exhibition opener. Martin also had a drop and short-armed another one in last week's game, though Campbell said he saw some good things on offense, winning a couple deep routes when the Lions didn't get him the ball.
No. 6 (or 7) linebacker
The candidates: Joe Bachie, Troy Reeder, Damone Clark, Erick Hunter, Amen Ogbongbemiga.
The Lions seem pretty set with their top five linebackers. Devin White should start next to Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes, with Malcolm Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske playing packaged roles and on special teams. Jimmy Rolder is in as the sixth linebacker, though he hasn't practiced since July 31 because of a hamstring injury and it's unclear if he'll open the season on the 53-man roster or injured reserve.
The Lions use linebackers heavily on special teams, and Rolder's injury means there's probably at least one backup spot open. Clark was expected to win the job when he signed early in free agency, but he hasn't practiced since early in camp because of injury. Bachie and Reeder are the most accomplished special teams players in this group, while Hunter looks like a top developmental candidate as an undrafted rookie.
If the potential to play some fill-in linebacker is the tie-breaker, Bachie could be the guy.
Backup quarterback
The candidates: Josh Dobbs, Luke Altmyer.
Campbell said last week this job is still open, and while the Lions have almost always had a veteran backup behind Jared Goff, neither Dobbs nor Altmyer has run away with the spot based on their on-field play.
Dobbs had turnovers on his first two possessions against the Commanders, though he rebounded to lead two touchdown drives and scored on a 50-yard run. And Altmyer had three turnovers in the exhibition opener but has shown signs of promise as an undrafted rookie.
Most likely, Dobbs will be the No. 2 quarterback barring an injury or absolute meltdown against the Colts, while Altmyer is playing to try and force the Lions' hand and keep him on the 53-man roster as the third QB.
No. 4 running back
The candidates: Jacob Saylors, Jabari Small, Trayveon Williams, Raheem Blackshear.
The working thesis for me and most others this summer is that Saylors will be the No. 4 running back. He has special teams value, and the Lions probably need ball-carrying insurance behind Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco (who hasn't practiced since early August because of a sprained knee) and Sione Vaki (who's a better special teams player than running back).
I still think that's the most likely scenario, especially if Small can't practice this week because of a concussion. But all four backs competing for jobs played well against the Commanders and Campbell indicated the last spot was still up for grabs heading into this week.
"It was already interesting," Campbell said after the Commanders game. "It feels very interesting right now, especially after that performance of some of these guys, so that was good to see."
No. 5 (or 6) DT
The candidates: Chris Smith, Mekhi Wingo, Ben Stille, Myles Adams, Tyre West.
Five defensive tackles is a lot to keep, let alone six, but the Lions have some position flexibility up front with Alim McNeill and presumed roster lock Levi Onwuzurike able to flex out to big end when necessary. Rookie sixth-round pick Skyler Gill-Howard has done enough to lock up a job. The Lions have good depth at the position and might not want to risk losing some of it on the waiver wire.
Campbell has talked a lot about having contrasting players and playing styles on the defensive line, and the final spot up front could come down to what they value most: A backup nose tackle like Smith who can spell Tyleik Williams, or an undersized interior rusher and recent draft pick like Wingo or West?
Stille was a late add to camp, but he's worked up his way up the depth chart in certain packages, too, while the Lions kept Adams on the practice squad all last year and held on to him through an injury this summer. At the very least, this should be an interesting internal debate heading into cut day.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 5 position battles still raging as Lions close training camp
