Snap counts—and more importantly, order of lineups—in the preseason can be very telling as to where each player currently stands in the depth chart. So we took a closer look at the participation of individual Detroit Lions players in their preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. Here’s what we found.
Quarterbacks:
- Luke Altmyer: 44 snaps (67%)
- Josh Dobbs: 22 (33%)
- Jared Goff: DNP
Luke Altmyer nearly got the entire game, but Josh Dobbs stepped in during the second quarter. At first, it appeared the Lions may have benched Altmyer after he fumbled, but coach Dan Campbell
clarified after the game that the plan was always to give Dobbs some reps with the “starting” offensive line.
With a strong performance from Altmyer, it’ll be fascinating to see if he can win the backup job over Dobbs, but the fact that Detroit wanted to get the veteran quarterback some early reps in the first half suggests to me that they want to get him ready to be the primary backup.
Running backs:
- Jacob Saylors: 29 (44%) — 3 special teams snaps (12%)
- Kye Robichaux: 21 (32%) — 8 (32%)
- Raheem Blackshear: 16 (24%) — 7 (28%)
- Jahmyr Gibbs: DNP
- Isiah Pacheco: DNP (injury)
- Sione Vaki: DNP (injury)
- Jabari Small: DNP (injury)
Saylors got the start and played extremely well, as he continues to make a strong case to be the team’s RB4 for the second straight season. Unfortunately, his main competition—Jabari Small—is still being held out with what is likely a knee injury. Raheem Blackshear, who was only added recently, got some praise from Campbell after the game, but he’ll need to stack more performances to move his way into the conversation.
And while Sione Vaki didn’t play as he continues to rest following a nose and eye injury, his roster spot is pretty safe after Campbell essentially locked him in as RB3 on Thursday night while praising Saylors.
“We know those two backs (Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco) at the top and we know what (Sione) Vaki is, he’s one of the best special teams players in the league. So, if that fourth running back is going to make it, he’s going to need to help on special teams.”
Wide receivers:
- Dominic Lovett: 32 (48%) — 7 (28%)
- Tay Martin: 30 (45%) — 7 (28%)
- Tom Kennedy: 25 (38%)
- Lucky Jackson: 17 (26%) — 7 (28%)
- Isaac TeSlaa: 17 (26%)
- Tarik Black: 16 (24%) — 7 (28%)
- Cedrick Wilson: 15 (23%)
- Malik Cunningham: 14 (21%) — 8 (32%)
- Greg Dortch: 7 (11%) — 1 (4%)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: DNP
- Jameson Williams: DNP
Isaac TeSlaa got plenty of reps, with the Lions hoping the second-year receiver could shake his slow start to training camp. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Detroit’s WR4, Greg Dortch, barely played any, further cementing his spot on the roster.
Meanwhile, the WR5 battle is continuing to heat up. Dominic Lovett’s play was up and down, with him making a few big catches, a couple drops, and a muffed punt (that he recovered). Meanwhile, Tay Martin had a nice grab, and Tarik Black had Detroit’s only touchdown—and a nice catch called by an iffy pass interference.
It was a quiet day for Tom Kennedy, and his lack of any special teams reps could certainly be notable.
Tight ends:
- Tyler Gordon: 25 (38%) — 7 (28%)
- Jackson Meeks: 24 (36%) — 9 (36%)
- Zach Horton: 22 (33%) — 13 (52%)
- Tyler Conklin: 17 (26%)
- Sam LaPorta: DNP
- Brock Wright: DNP
Tyler Conklin got his feet wet early in the game, which is a good sign for his injury progress. He continues to be the heavy favorite for the TE3 job. Meanwhile, Jackson Meeks got the earliest play of the reserves, suggesting he’s higher on the depth chart than Tyler Gordon and Zach Horton, who played deep into the game.
Offensive tackle:
- Miles Frazier: 66 (100%)
- Blake Miller: 39 (59%) — 3 (12%)
- Larry Borom: 39 (59%) — 3 (12%)
- Colby Sorsdal: 27 (41%) — 3 (12%)
- Penei Sewell: DNP
- Devin Cochran: DNP (presumably injury)
Guard/center:
- Seth McLaughlin: 39 (59%) — 3 (12%)
- Christian Mahogany: 39 (59%) — 3 (12%)
- Mason Miller: 27 (41%) — 3 (12%)
- Michael Niese: 27 (41%)
- Melvin Priestly: 27 (41%)
- Tate Ratledge: DNP
- Ben Bartch: DNP (injury?)
- Juice Scruggs: DNP (injury)
- Cade Mays: DNP (injury)
The first-team offensive line looked like this:
- LT: Larry Borom
- LG: Christian Mahogany
- C: Seth McLaughlin
- RG: Miles Frazier
- RT: Blake Miller
And the second-team offensive line looked like this:
- LT: Miles Frazier
- LG: Melvin Priestly
- C: Michael Niese
- RG: Mason Miller
- RT: Colby Sorsdal
And they didn’t stray from those two lineups the entire game. McLaughlin’s Lions debut was very hot and cold, while it was a tough night for Miles Frazier, who was flagged for holding three times.
First-round pick Blake Miller got plenty of work in the game, and Campbell was optimistic about his debut, although he ceded his full judgment until he got a look at the replay of the game.
“I felt like my eyes were never on he or Larry (Borom) and that’s a positive,” Campbell said. “That’s a pretty good sign that they’re handling their business. We didn’t have any issues on the perimeter.”
Defensive end:
- Anthony Lucas: 50 (71%)
- Eric O’Neill: 38 (54%)
- Ahmed Hassanein: 29 (41%) — 9 (36%)
- Tyler Lacy: 13 (19%)
- Aidan Hutchinson: DNP
- DJ Wonnum: DNP
- Payton Turner: DNP (injury)
- Derrick Moore: DNP (Injury)
Lucas played both early and late in the game, so it’s hard to get a read on his status with the team, but the biggest story from this group is Hassanein. He tallied a sack on his very first snap, and followed it up with another in the second half, as he moves closer and closer to a roster lock.
Eric O’Neill was also forced to play a ton and started making an impact late in the game.
Meanwhile, presumed starter Tyler Lacy only played a little early in the game, as the Lions were shorthanded at this position.
Defensive tackle:
- Skyler Gill-Howard: 38 (54%) — 4 (16%)
- Myles Adams: 36 (51%)
- Chris Smith: 29 (41%) — 4 (16%)
- Levi Onwuzurike: 15 (21%)
- Mekhi Wingo: 14 (20%)
- Ben Stille: 13 (19)
- Tyre West: 4 (6%) — 2 (8%)
- Tyleik Williams: DNP
- Alim McNeill: DNP
Onwuzurike and Smith got the start, but neither made much of an impact right away. Wingo came in shortly thereafter and suffered an injury that may place him in concussion protocol.
That gave way to more opportunities for Gill-Howard, and he ran with it. He produced a few big plays, including a pressure that led to a fourth-down intentional grounding call and an impressive chase down of quarterback Josh Johnson to force a third-down stop.
Linebacker:
- Erick Hunter: 43 (61%) — 12 (48%)
- Joe Bachie: 27 (39%) — 14 (56%)
- Trevor Nowaske: 27 (39%)
- Troy Reeder: 22 (31%) — 10 (40%)
- Devin White: 22 (31%)
- Amen Ogbongbemiga: 13 (19%) — 9 (36%)
- Jack Campbell: DNP
- Derrick Barnes: DNP
- Malcolm Rodriguez: DNP (injured)
- Damone Clark: DNP (injured)
- Jimmy Rolder: DNP (injured)
White and Nowaske got the start, but what I find most interesting here is that Nowaske didn’t get a single special teams rep. Is that a sign Detroit already trusts him in that role and doesn’t want to risk further injury? Or do they trust the special teams skills of guys like Bachie and Reeder more?
Undrafted rookie Erick Hunter got a ton of playing time during the game and flashed both his strengths and weaknesses.
Cornerback:
- Keith Abney: 46 (66%) — 13 (52%)
- Roger McCreary: 39 (56%) — 6 (24%)
- Nick Whiteside: 33 (47%) — 12 (48%)
- Christian Izien: 26 (37%)
- Bum Cooper: 24 (34%) — 4 (16%)
- Ennis Rakestraw: 22 (31%) — 1 (4%)
- Khalil Dorsey: 16 (23%)
- D.J. Reed: DNP
- Rock Ya-Sin: DNP
Izien got some early work at nickel, then slid back to safety with the deeper reserves. Meanwhile, rookie Keith Abney played a ton of snaps at nickel after Izien dropped back to safety.
The outside cornerback starters were Nick Whiteside, who quickly logged a nice pass breakup on a deep shot, and Ennis Rakestraw, who was picked on early by Joe Burrow and left with an injury that is thankfully not considered serious.
When Rakestraw left, McCreary came in and played relatively well. But it may not be a good sign for him that he was playing all the way into the fourth quarter.
Safety:
- Aamaris Brown: 46 (66%) — 11 (44%)
- Thomas Harper: 39 (56%) — 12 (48%)
- Dan Jackson: 24 (34%) — 10 (40%)
- Chuck Clark: 12 (17%)
- Loren Strickland: 9 (13%) — 11 (44%)
- DNP: Avonte Maddox
- DNP: Brian Branch (injury/PUP)
- DNP: Kerby Joseph (injury/PUP)
It was certainly a bit surprising to see veteran Chuck Clark get some brief playing time to open the game, but he didn’t stay long. Perhaps the Lions just wanted him to get more reps in the system since he’s lining up to be a Week 1 starter.
Thomas Harper was the other starter, which is continuing to cement his place as safety four behind Izien.
Based on how late he played in the game, 2025 draft pick Dan Jackson has a lot to overcome in order to crack this roster.
Specialists:
- Jack Fox: 8
- LS Hogan Hatten: 8
- Jake Bates: 6
Good job, Jake Bates.
