The Detroit Lions practice squad has been formed. The NFL raised the amount of players a team could have on it's practice squad to 16 this year. The Lions have 17 becasue they have an international player on their roster. 

The Lions practice squad isn't like most practice squads around the league. The Lions tend to elevate their guys a lot through the year to either cover for injury or to just maneuver things around and try guys out. So expect to see some of these guys play in 2023. 

Who's in the group? Let's take a look and get to know these guys.

Chase Lucas

• Position: Cornerback
• Age: 26
• Teams played for: Lions
• Drafted: 2022 7th round pick
• Regular season games played: 6

Lucas is in his second year with the Lions and he has improved a lot from where he initially was as a rookie. Lucas was expected to contend for a roster spot this year after a solid camp and preseason, but he was ultimately edged out by Steven Gilmore. Emmanuel Moseley’s return also didn’t help him. Don’t be surprised to see Lucas at all in 2023. He’s a guy that could be a regular on the roster in 2024. 

Dylan Drummond

• Position: Receiver 
• Age: 23
• Teams played for: Lions
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2023
• Regular season games played: 0

Drummond was the best story of the summer. A guy that went undrafted and and unsigned and then balled out at a tryout during rookie mini camp. He almost made the Lions roster in the end. The story was too good and it’s not over yet. Drummond should definitely play in 2023. Look for the fifth receiver spot to evolve as the season goes on.  

David Blough

• Position: Quarterback
• Age: 28
• Teams played for: Lions, Vikings, Browns and Cardinals
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2019
• Regular season games played: 9

Lions fans are pretty familiar with Blough. He’s now on his second stint with the team after spending last season with the Vikings and Cardinals. He actually started two games for the latter in 2022. I wouldn’t expect Blough to hang around too long this time. When the Lions activate Hendon Hooker as they’re expected to do, Blough should be the odd man out. The interesting thing about Blough is that he seems to be trending in the direction of being a coach some day. Don’t be shocked if you see his name come up in a different way one of these days.

Raymond Johnson III

• Position: Defensive End 
• Age: 24
• Teams played for: Giants and Bengals
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2021
• Regular season games played: 15

The reviews on Johnson have been pretty good. Seems like he’s a player with a lot of upside, he just needs a place to ply his craft. The Lions could be a good place for him to learn and grow. Ultimately I think he’ll find himself somewhere new in 2024 if he’s not signed off the Lions practice squad at some point. The Lions are pretty deep at edge rusher right now. We’ll see how it goes. 

Michael Badgley

• Position: Kicker
• Age: 28
• Teams played for: Colts, Chargers, Titans, Bears, Lions and Commanders
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2018
• Regular season games played: 60

The Lions kicker situation is an interesting one. It seems for now that Riley Patterson is the Lions kicker, but Badgley, who beat Patterson out last year, could probably come on at any time. We’ll just have to sit back and see how things go on Thursday. 

Zonovan Knight

• Position: Running Back
• Age: 22
• Teams played for: Jets
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2022
• Regular season games played: 7

I’m pretty high on this one for multiple reasons. He so young being one of them. At just 22, he’s already shown that he can be a running back in this league some day. This is a work in progress. I truly think Knight is a guy that could be a regular in Detroit for a while if he keeps growing as a player. He should see the field for the Lions this year. 

Maurice Alexander

• Position: Receiver
• Age: 26
• Teams played for: Stars (USFL) and Lions 
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2020
• Regular season games played: 4

Alexander is another guy that could potentially see the field in 2023. The Lions just don’t have a concrete answer at kick returner at this juncture. Alexander has showed that he can thrive in that area. If the Lions don’t make it happen with whoever they decide to put out there, they can make it happen with Alexander. 

Connor Galvin

• Position: Tackle
• Age: 23
• Teams played for: Lions
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2023
• Regular season games played: 0

Galvin is a guy that I’m personally high on. He played so well during the preseason that I had him as my dark horse to make the Lions 53 man roster. He’s a guy that I think could be on the Lions roster in 2024 after a year of working with the Lions coaching staff. I see big things for him. 

Kayode Awosika

• Position: Offensive lineman
• Age: 24
• Teams played for: Eagles and Lions 
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2021
• Regular season games played: 11

Awosika actually started two games for the Lions at guard last season and he while he struggled at times, he didn’t do too bad. He’s a project player for the Lions. Things don’t seem too permanent at right guard for the Lions right now with Vaitai and Glasgow being older players. Perhaps the Lions hope for Awosika is that he can step right in next year. 

Brandon Joseph

• Position: Safety
• Age: 22
• Teams played for: Lions
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2023
• Regular season games played: 0

Joseph was thought to be a guy that could make the roster very early on into the process. Ultimately he got passed by guys during camp and in the preseason. Still. There’s something there with Joseph that’s worth taking another look at. He could be a good special teams guy some day. 

Trevor Nowaske

• Position: Linebacker
• Age: 24
• Teams played for: Lions
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2023
• Regular season games played: 0

I thought Nowaske gave Anthony Pittman a real challenge for his roster spot during the preseason. Pittman won the job, but Nowaske is a guy that is on his tail and could see the field in 2023 if the Lions want to mix things up. He showed some nice prowess in coverage.

Daurice Fountain

• Position: Receiver
• Age: 27
• Teams played for: Colts, Chiefs and Bears
• Drafted: 5th round pick in 2018
• Regular season games played: 8

I don’t really know what to think of Fountain. He’s a little older than your average practice squad guy and he’s been around for a bit now. Bears writers seemed shocked that the Bears let him walk, so there’s something there. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Lions try Fountain out during the regular season, but I don’t think this is a long term thing. 

Quinton Bohanna

• Position: Defensive lineman
• Age: 24
• Teams played for: Cowboys
• Drafted: 6th round pick in 2021
• Regular season games played: 27

I actually like this pick up a lot. Both Isaiah Buggs and Benito Jones are going to be free agents before long. Jones after this season and Buggs after 2024. Bohanna is a guy with some upside and much like both Buggs and Jones did, Bohanna could find himself in a bigger role in Detroit.

Michael Niese

• Position: Tackle
• Age: 25
• Teams played for: Broncos and Buccaneers
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2022
• Regular season games played: 0

I actually don’t know much about Niese. He’s a small school guy that went to Temple and has been a part of some practice squads. He’s got some decent size to him at 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds. Other than that, there’s not a ton of information about him out there. 

Chris Smith

• Position: Defensive lineman
• Age: 23
• Teams played for: Lions
• Drafted: Undrafted in 2023
• Regular season games played: 0

Chris Smith has “project” written all over him. Teams like to keep a guy that they think they can build up over time. Smith is that guy. He’ll probably be on the practice squad next year too until the Lions feel like they can give him a shot at regular season ball. The reviews are good so far. Lions’ Defensive Line Coach John Scott called him a technician. We’ll see where it goes. 

Max Pircher

• Position: Tackle 
• Age: 23
• Teams played for: Rams and Lions
• Drafted: International Pathway
• Regular Season games played: 0

Here’s your international pathways player. The Italian born Pircher has played football in Italy, Germany and Austria. He’s not here in America and is getting his shot with the Lions. It’s not easy for these players to catch on, so the Lions must see something that they can do with Pircher down the road. I look forward to seeing where this goes. 

Note: The Lions still have one more practice squad spot to fill. We'll update this piece to reflect that as soon as the addition is made.

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