Lions depth chart projection after one week of camp

The Detroit Lions are through their first week of training camp. The pads are now on and things are starting to fire on all cylinders. The Lions will make their preseason debut at the end of next week. The season will be here before you know it. Until then, it's time to update our evolving […]

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer

Jul 31, 2023 9:04 AM EDT

Until then, it's time to update our evolving Week 1 depth chart to reflect everything that we learned about this team after the first week of camp. Here's what last weeks edition looked like.

The Lions dealt with some injuries during that first week, but nothing that should change the depth chart drastically. There were some players that stepped up though and there's even a name or two that will make their debut on this list. Let's jump into it.

Offense

Position	Starter	Player 2	Player 3	Player 4
Quarterback	Jared Goff	Nate Sudfeld
Running Back	David Montgomery	Jahmyr Gibbs	Justin Jackson	Jason Cabinda
Left Receiver	Josh Reynolds	Denzel Mims
Slot Receiver	Amon-Ra St. Brown	Kalif Raymond
Right Receiver	Marvin Jones	Antione Green
Tight End	Sam LaPorta	James Mitchell	Brock Wright
Left Tackle	Taylor Decker	Matt Nelson
Left Guard	Jonah Jackson	Logan Stenberg
Center	Frank Ragnow
Right Guard	Graham Glasgow	Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Right Tackle	Penei Sewell	Colby Sorsdal

Ok, here's what changed on the offense since last week. Matt Nelson had a better week than Germain Ifedi. That's not to say that anything is set in stone there, but Ifedi needs to show something more if the vet hopes to make the Lions 53 man roster.

You'll notice that Hendon Hooker is not on the roster He's not going anywhere, but it's becoming more and more evident that he'll start the season on the PUP or NFI list.

The Lions won't be carrying four running backs in this weeks depth chart. The Lions had to make room for other players and the more you think about it, the less four running backs make sense. The Lions have all they need out of the backfield with Montgomery and Gibbs. Jackson can flex in when needed and brings help in the return game.

The Lions will carry in six receivers this week. Seventh round pick Antione Green had a pretty good week and earned himself more reps with the higher teams. That was good enough to get him on the 53 man roster for Week 1.

Defense

Position	Starter	Player 2	Player 3
Defensive End	John Cominsky	Josh Paschal
Nose Tackle	Isaiah Buggs	Brodric Martin
Defensive Tackle	Alim McNeil	Levi Onwuzurike
Edge	Aidan Hutchinson	Romeo Okwara
Weakside Linebacker	Derrick Barnes	Malcolm Rodriguez	Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Middle Linebacker	Jack Campbell	Alex Anzalone
Sam Linebacker	Charles Harris	James Houston	Julian Okwara
Left Cornerback	Jerry Jacobs	Emmanuel Moseley	Starling Thomas V
Strong Safety	Kerby Joseph	Savion Smith
Free Safety	Tracy Walker
Right Cornerback	Cameron Sutton	Will Harris
Nickel	C.J. Gardner-Johnson	Brian Branch

Not too many updates on the defensive side of the ball. Charles Harris has been starting at Sam linebacker during camp, so I made that move to reflect that.

Starling Thomas V has some big fans on the Lions coaching staff, so I moved him onto the 53 man roster and moved safety Brandon Joseph off. Thomas V could very well be the Lions next Jerry Jacobs.

Other than those two moves, things seem to be squared away on defense so far.

Special Teams

Position	Starter
Punter	Jack Fox
Kicker	Parker Romo
Long Snapper	Jack McQuaide

There's no changes on special teams and I don't foresee any comings. The only thing that might change is at kicker. Riley Patterson could potentially steal the job away. Right now it seems to be all Parker Romo's for the taking.