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The next round of downsizing will take place on Tuesday. At 4 p.m. ET that day, the Lions must again reduce their roster from five players to 80 players for the final preseason game later this week.
According to Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was instructive for him as a talent assessor. Obviously unhappy with the team’s performance in the first half, Campbell said some players have proven themselves to be on this list, while others clearly haven’t.
“There are guys who may have been left out and have a chance to be part of this team. And then there are some that everyone thought maybe they were going to succeed and they will not succeed ”, Campbell said by Chris Burke of The Athletic.
Saturday’s performance is one way of predicting some of the downsizing. Another way is to look at the number of snaps in the game. If a roster bubble player has barely played, that’s not a good sign. If they’ve watched it for a long time, it’s probably because the team is intrigued. So let’s take a closer look at the number of snaps on Saturday.
Offense:
Quarterbacks
David Blough: 36 (59% of plays)
Tim Boyle: 25 shots (41%)
Tim Boyle started and played in the third quarter, generally a good sign for his roster chances. However, David Blough significantly overtook him simply because he kept readers alive longer. Boyle has only had one practice that spanned more than five games. Meanwhile, Blough’s three records lasted for seven or more plays.
Ball carriers
Godwin Igwebuike: 20 (33%) – 8 special team snaps (32%)
Craig Reynolds: 17 (28%) – 3 (12%)
Dedrick Mills: 13 (21%) – 3 (13%)
Jermar Jefferson: 11 (18%) – 9 (36%
Jason Cabinda: 7 (11%) – 7 (28%)
Javon Leak: 0 (0%) – 2 (8%)
The four players likely vying for the RB3 spot – Igwebuike, Reynolds, Mills and Jefferson – split the time almost equally, although the order of appearance should be noted. Jefferson was first, then Milles, then Igwebuike, then Reynolds.
As for Javon Leake, it looks like his time on this list is not long. He only got two special teams snaps and his two kicking returns totaled just 26 yards.
Tight ends
Alizé Mack: 33 (54%) – 2 (8%)
Brock Wright: 22 (36%)
Darren Fells: 15 (25%) – 2 (8%)
The Lions’ tight competition has shrunk considerably due to injuries. At this point, it’s literally a two-man race. Alize Mack continues to see the pitch ahead of Brock Wright, and it can’t be a good sign that Wright was taken off special teams this week after playing more than a dozen shots there last week.
Wide receivers
Tom Kennedy: 42 (69%) – 1 (4%)
Geronimo Allison: 30 (49%) – 6 (24%)
Quintez Cephus: 21 (34%) – 9 (36%)
Breshad Perriman: 21 (34%)
Victor Bolden: 13 (21%)
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 11 (18%) – 1 (4%)
Damion Ratley: 11 (18%)
Javon McKinley: 9 (15%)
Darius Jennings: 6 (10%) – 3 (12%)
Surratt sage: 3 (5%)
While Tom Kennedy continues to make the most of his time, a guy like Victor Bolden doesn’t. Bolden’s playing time is running low and he’s been taken off special teams altogether, an intimidating sign for his roster chances. Perriman, Cephus and Ratley made their preseason debuts after overcoming injuries, but Cephus was the only one to register a reception against the Steelers.
Offensive tackles
Matt Nelson: 61 (100%) – 2 (8%) **
Dan Skipper: 40 (66%) – 2 (8%)
Penei Sewell: 21 (34%)
Darrin Paulo: 0 (0%) – 2 (8%)
Nelson played every snap on Saturday on the left tackle, replacing Taylor Decker. That’s probably a good sign for him, even though Dan Skipper looked decent on the other side. Penei Sewell got about half of the game, which would have been more snaps if the offense had had anything to do with it.
Darrin Paulo is in trouble.
Guards / centers
Evan Brown: 61 (100%) – 2 (8%)
Logan Stenberg: 50 (82%) – 2 (8%)
Tommy Kraemer: 50 (82%) – 2 (8%)
Halapoulivaati Vaitai: 11 (18%)
Jonas Jackson: 11 (18%)
Evan Heim: Did not play
Well, the Lions have clearly made a decision on the save center. Evan Brown played there the entire game, after the Lions decided to eliminate Evan Heim entirely. Obviously, it looks like Heim won’t be making the next round of cuts.
The use here made the depth of the Lions’ offensive line very clear: Outside of the five starters, the Lions appear to value Matt Nelson, Dan Skipper, Evan Brown, Logan Stenberg and Tommy Kraemer (Edit: Oops, I forgot Tyrell Crosby). If the Lions keep 10 linemen, that’s all. If they only keep nine, one of those players is eliminated.
Defense:
EDGE:
Julien Okwara: 37 (58%) – 9 (36%)
Austin Bryant: 35 (55%) – 9 (36%)
Charles Harris: 23 (36%)
Robert McCray: 22 (34) – 9 (26%)
Berry consumption: 14 (22%)
With Charles Harris back in the game after taking time off last week (for some reason), it becomes a three-way race for two or three reserve roles behind starters Trey Flowers and Romeo Okwara, both of whom were out. Saturday. Julian Okwara appears to be a shoo-in, leaving Bryant and Harris to fight for the last place or two.
Defensive tackle
Bruce Hector: 32 (50%) – 6 (24%)
Brown Miles: 24 (38%)
Jason Cornell: 20 (31%) – 6 (24%)
Levi Onwuzurike: 17 (27%)
Kevin Strong: 15 (23%) – 6 (24%)
PJ Johnson: 15 (23%)
Alim McNeill: 14 (22%)
For the second week in a row, Hector led inside defenders in snapshots, as he continues to make a good impression. However, it’s interesting to see Kevin Strong’s playing time go down dramatically. Has he already earned a spot based on his performance at camp and Week 1 of the preseason, or has he had to make room for Levi Onwuzurike’s debut? Something to watch out for.
Linebackers
Jahlani Tavai: 39 (61%) – 11 (44%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 39 (61%) – 10 (40%)
Derrick Barnes: 25 (39%) – 12 (48%)
Anthony Pittman: 20 (31%) – 16 (64%)
Tavante Beckett: 5 (8%) – 9 (36%)
With the starters, the Lions basically rolled with just two units in linebacker. Tavai and Reeves-Maybin played for more than half of the game, giving themselves every chance to make a good impression (and waste it). Barnes and Pittman were the next two and looked a lot more comfortable, albeit against the Steelers’ saves.
Beckett did the very last practice of the game, replacing Pittman. Considering Tavai’s place on the roster is definitely up for grabs, it doesn’t look like Beckett is the player who could threaten him. Pittman appears to be in a better position with the coaching staff.
Cornerbacks
AJ Parker: 30 (47%) – 4 (16%)
Mike Ford: 27 (42%) – 13 (52%)
Jeff Okudah: 25 (39%)
Amani Oruwariye: 25 (39%)
Ifetu Melifonwu: 21 (33%) – 10 (40%)
Jerry Jacobs: 20 (31%) – 10 (40%)
Bobby Price: 16 (25%) – 11 (44%)
Nickell Robey-Coleman: 16 (25%) – 4 (16%)
It’s time to get serious about AJ Parker. Not only did he represent with the first secondary team on Saturday, but he recorded the most shots of any cornerback. He also led the team in tackles, including two for losses, and registered a defended pass. The Lions’ nickel job may be up for grabs with Mike Ford transitioning to the outside corner and Nickell Robey-Coleman still slowly. Even though these two players are on the squad, Parker could not only make the roster, but start on Sunday. Not bad for an undrafted rookie.
Security
Jalen Elliott: 34 (53%) – 19 (49%)
CJ Moore: 28 (44%) – 14 (56%)
Will Harris: 25 (39%)
Tracy Walker: 25 (39%)
Alijah holder: 16 (25%) – 8 (32%)
Dean Marlowe: DNP
After the game Dan Campbell specifically mentioned Jalen Elliott as someone who stood out in a positive way, so he may be someone to watch out for. I don’t know what to make of the fact that Marlowe won’t be playing on Saturday as many thought he was the team’s third safe on the depths board. Being perhaps the oldest player in the room, the Lions just didn’t need to watch him any longer.
Special teams
Scott Daly: 7 Special Teams Snaps (28%)
Jack Renard: 7 (28%)
Randy Bullock: 3 (12%)
Zane Gonzalez: 3 (12%)
The kickers part ways on Saturday snaps. Each managed to score an extra point and each was responsible for two kick-offs. However, it should be noted that it was Bullock who pulled off the all-important kick attempts in play.
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