Lions depth chart prediction after second preseason game

Two preseason games down for the Detroit Lions and one to go. The Lions depth chart and 53 man roster are starting to come into focus a little more every single day. Just like last week when we had a lot of changes, we've got more changes today after a few waivers and some revelations […]

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer

Aug 21, 2023 8:18 AM EDT

Two preseason games down for the Detroit Lions and one to go. The Lions depth chart and 53 man roster are starting to come into focus a little more every single day.

Just like last week when we had a lot of changes, we've got more changes today after a few waivers and some revelations from the Lions preseason game against the Jaguars.

Here's this week depth chart and 53 man roster prediction.

Offense

Position	Starter	Player 2	Player 3
Quarterback	Jared Goff	Teddy Bridgewater
Running Back	David Montgomery	Jahmyr Gibbs	Craig Reynolds
Left Receiver	Josh Reynolds	Antione Green
Slot Receiver	Amon-Ra St. Brown	Kalif Raymond
Right Receiver	Marvin Jones	Chase Cota
Tight End	Sam LaPorta	Brock Wright	James Mitchell
Left Tackle	Taylor Decker	Germain Ifedi	Matt Nelson
Left Guard	Jonah Jackson
Center	Frank Ragnow
Right Guard	Graham Glasgow	Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Right Tackle	Penei Sewell	Colby Sorsdal

The first thing that might come to your mind is that the Lions no longer have a fullback. Jason Cabinda has looked really rough during the preseason. Every time he's a chance to do something with the ball, he wasn't able to catch it. The Lions can realistically have a tight end come in and play that role anytime they want to use a full back.

I have both Chase Cota and Antione Green making it this week. This is tentative becasue the Lions may go looking for receiver depth this week and that could wind up changing things. I went with Cota over Drummond becasue while Drummond has looked good in camp, he hasn't been able to put that on tape in preseason games. I think he's definitely a practice squad candidate. Cota has looked good when given the chance and showed on Saturday that he can do some things on special teams. Green is here because the Lions have no X receiver now that Mims is gone.

The offensive line changed a little in the sense that they have five tackles instead of four guards. I think this could very well change before we do our depth chart next week.

Defense

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

Not a ton of changes here. Julian Okwara is out. There's just too many guys ahead of him and the Lions can use that spot for other players. Anthony Pittman being one of them. Pittman is just such a good special teams player that you have to include him.

There's some shakeup in the secondary this week. It's pretty clear now that Emmanuel Moseley is not going to be ready to go when the season starts. That makes way for Starling Thomas to move up in the depth chart and open up a spot for Steven Gilmore. The undrafted rookie had a great second preseason game that saw him come up with an interception and a really nice pass break up. He also saw a ton of time Saturday. Lastly, Dan Campbell raved about him.

Then there's Brady Breeze. I had him on the practice squad last week. This week I have him on the 53 man roster since a spot opened up now that the Lions don't have a fullback anymore. Breeze has shown some stuff during camp and the preseason and he should be a nice special teams presence on this team.