The Detroit Lions got into the preseason win column by defeating the Washington Commanders on a midday tilt back at Ford Field. With two preseason games in the rearview mirror and one left to come, the roster picture is becoming both clearer and foggier. On one hand, certain players continue to rack up impressive reps and have worked to solidify their spot on the roster. On the other hand, some of the outstanding performances have led to position battles becoming tighter and more fierce.
The Lions
coaching staff will have plenty to like from this victory. Which Lions players bolstered their odds of making the 53-man roster?
Skyler Gill-Howard, DT
Last week, it was Ahmed Hassanein dominating in the trenches. This week, it was Gill-Howard’s turn. After making a pair of stellar, high-motor plays against the Cincinnati Bengals, Gill-Howard was motoring on nearly every down against the Commanders. If you saw a pocket collapsing, Gill-Howard was more than likely at the center of it. He demonstrated resilience and power on multiple double teams, while also flashing some finesse and agility when tasked with a one-on-one. He originally teamed up with D.J. Wonnum for a sack of Sam Hartman, but it was called back on a defensive holding penalty in the secondary. Regardless, his presence was evident early and often. Best of all, he was getting some reps on early downs as well.
Gill-Howard had been on the roster bubble for a few weeks, but I think he has firmly stamped his spot on the roster going forward. It also doesn’t hurt that the kid has moxie.
Jackson Meeks, TE
With a looming question about the health of Sam LaPorta, the Lions needed someone from the tight end group to stand out. Tyler Conklin had a few solid reps as a receiver and a blocker, but it was Meeks that made the biggest impact. As expected in preseason football, the offense tended to spread the ball around—in total, 11 different Lions players recorded a target. However, Meeks was the go-to option for both quarterbacks, turning six targets into four catches for 33 yards. His blocking is still a work in progress, but as a receiver, he is making the most of his many looks.
To cap off a great game, Meeks also forced a fumble on a kickoff late in the fourth quarter:
Given that the TE4 position is primarily a special teams role, seeing Meeks make a play like this does wonders to bolster his roster chances.
Devin White, LB
When White was signed in wake of Jimmy Rolder’s injury, it seemed more like a depth move than an attempt to find a legitimate roster candidate. However, White has done nothing but impress since arriving in Detroit, and that continued against Washington. White finished with three tackles, though his impact extended beyond the stat line. He forced an incomplete pass early in the game and he was a frequent contributor in run defense. I think his skill set lends more to early downs than pass coverage, but that is nonetheless a role that Detroit values.
It was also worth noting that during the in-game interview with senior advisor Chris Spielman (a former linebacker himself), Spielman was very complimentary of White’s impact thus far in camp and even mentioned that he and Malcolm Rodriguez have “a great competition going on.” Rodriguez, believed by many to be the unquestioned LB3 on the roster, might have a legitimate competitor for that spot. Even if White does not usurp Rodriguez, he is quickly cementing his place on the roster.
Tay Martin, WR
Martin had a near-catch/drop (up to your interpretation of how catchable it was) that kept him from having a bigger stat line, but I am seeing a lot that impresses me. He had four targets, meaning he was open on a regular basis, although that only turned into one catch for 11 yards. That being said, he is playing early ahead of his competition, and that bodes well for his roster chances. When the Lions started with Isaac TeSlaa and Greg Dortch, it was Martin joining them in three-receiver sets. Cedrick Wilson outperformed Martin with two catches for 22 yards, but he also suffered an injury. What will likely garner a gold star in Martin’s grades this week is his touchdown-sealing block on Joshua Dobbs’ 50-yard scamper to the end zone:
The Lions love receivers that can contribute as blockers. With Martin also adding value on special teams, and Wilson’s injury status, he is making a case for the roster. It would be massive for him to put together a solid receiving line in the Lions’ final preseason game.
Eric O’Neill, DE
Like Gill-Howard, O’Neill finds himself on this list yet again—and for good reason. O’Neill’s role was more limited in his second preseason outing (he played a whopping 38 snaps against the Bengals to just nine against the Commanders according to Pro Football Focus), but he made the most of his time on the field. He completely took over Washington’s final drive, forcing Craig Reynolds to bounce outside on second down, recording a run stuff on third down, before finally helping force an incompletion on fourth down with his pressure on the quarterback.
O’Neill is doing everything he can to make this roster, but the numbers game may be too difficult to overcome. With Aidan Hutchinson, D.J. Wonnum, Derrick Moore, and Ahmed Hassanein ahead of him at edge, coupled with Tyler Lacy, Levi Onwuzurike, and Gill-Howard along the defensive line, there simply isn’t space for him on the 53 without sacrificing depth elsewhere. O’Neill is arguably the 54th player on this roster right now. At the very least, he should be a slam-dunk pick for the practice squad—assuming he clears waivers, of course.
