Final Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection: Two spots belong to players who aren’t even on the team yet
Detroit’s toughest decisions come at running back, cornerback and defensive line, while two offensive-line spots are reserved for additions from outside the building.
The Detroit Lions are about to cut their roster down to 53 men, and after watching every practice at training camp and every preseason game this summer, it’s time to make the final call. Detroit has a preseason finale Saturday in Indianapolis, but by the time the team gets back, it has less than 24 hours to trim the roster to 53 by the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Sunday. Training camp is over. Thursday was the last practice, and next week the Lions shift into game prep for the New Orleans Saints in Week 1.
At this point, the Lions know who they’re keeping and who they’re not. I would not expect any starters to play Saturday. I would not expect to see many players who are locks for this roster, either.
So let’s break it down position by position.
Quarterback (2)
In: Jared Goff, Luke Altmyer
Out: Joshua Dobbs
Skinny: This is one of those positions I’m not 100% confident on. I believe that when the waiver wire opens Monday, the Lions will go looking for a veteran quarterback. If they find one, Altmyer could be cut and brought back on the practice squad.
You have to understand something about training camp standouts. The players you think are really good are not as valuable as you think they are. Altmyer is good, and I think he could develop into something. But the rest of the league is not looking at him like he’s a must-claim on waivers. Nobody is putting a claim on Luke Altmyer. He’ll clear waivers, and the Lions will get him right back on the practice squad.
Running Back (4)
In: Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki Jacob Saylors
Out: Trayveon Williams, Jabari Small, Roydell Williams
Skinny: I was wrong about Vaki. I can admit that. I overestimated how much the injuries would matter. At the end of the day, with Isiah Pacheco potentially missing Week 1, Vaki is going to get a chance to be the RB2 for this team for the first time ever. He’s also a really good special teams player and that’s just hard to get rid of.
Wide Receiver (5)
In: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Greg Dortch, Tay Martin
Out: Malik Cunningham, Tom Kennedy, Lucky Jackson, Dominic Lovett, Tarik Black
IR: Lawrence Keys, Kendrick Law, Cedric Wilson
Skinny: Tay Martin is everything the Lions want out of a fifth wide receiver. He may never make the game-winning catch, but you might see him throw the block that springs the game-winning touchdown. You might see him force a fumble on special teams or make a huge tackle on coverage units.
Ask Dan Campbell. He cares about this stuff. It doesn’t matter that Martin has only had one or two catches this preseason. What matters is that when Josh Dobbs ran for that 50-yard touchdown Saturday against Washington, it was Tay Martin who sprung the block that made it happen. That matters way more than a reception total. Somebody who can be a really good special teamer and do the dirty work? That’s why Martin makes the team.
Tom Kennedy will likely land on the practice squad. It was down to Kennedy and Dortch for the punt return job, and I’m pretty sure Dortch is getting it.
Tight End (4)
In: Sam LaPorta, Tyler Conklin, Brock Wright, Jackson Meeks
Out: Thomas Gordon, Zach Horton,
IR: Miles Kitselman, Anthony Firkser
Skinny: The Lions don’t need four tight ends, but it’s hard to say no to Meeks. He had an undeniable game Saturday. He forced a fumble that ended the game, and that’s the kind of thing that wins roster spots. When you’re the fourth tight end, it’s about blocking, special teams, and making plays that change outcomes. Meeks has done all of that. Plus, when the Lions get into 12 and 13 personnel, I believe they’ll start working him in. You could have situations where he lines up at tight end and shifts to receiver, changing the entire outlook of a play.
Offensive Line (9)
In: Penei Sewell, Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, Blake Miller, Larry Borom, Miles Frazier, Juice Scruggs, Free agent, Free agent
Out: Giovanni Manu, Melvin Priestly, Colby Sorsdal, Michael Niese, Mason Miller, Ben Bartch, Seth McLaughlin, Devin Cochran, Gus Hartwig
PUP: Cade Mays
Skinny: This is the biggest takeaway from the entire 53-man roster. Two of these spots belong to players who are not even on this team right now.
Giovanni Manu is done. He had one practice this entire summer and has been on the NFI ever since. Colby Sorsdal, I just don’t see it anymore. Ben Bartch was supposed to compete for the starting left guard job, but he’s been injured all summer. Seth McLaughlin is a practice squad guy after Juice Scruggs came in and ate his lunch.
As Campbell mentioned Tuesday, that guard job is wide open, and he’s still not just giving it to Mahogany. If the Lions can claim somebody off waivers, find someone in free agency, or make a trade, that changes the entire picture. I think the Lions want a guy who can start and a guy who can push Mahogany. Maybe Mahogany starts Week 1, but maybe somebody comes in who’s so good that the Lions have to make a change by Week 2.
Defensive Line (9)
In: Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Tyliek Williams, Derrick Moore, D.J. Wonnum, Ahmed Hassanien, Skyler Gill-Howard, Tyler Lacy, Levi Onwuzurkie
Out: Eric O’Neill, Myles Adams, Anthony Lucas, Chris Smith, Mekhi Wingo, Tyre West, Ben Stille,
IR: Payton Turner
Skinny: I love Eric O’Neill, and I think there’s some potential there, but it’s practice squad potential right now. Same for Tyre West. Ben Stille would be the 10th defensive lineman if the Lions carried that many, but you can’t keep everybody. Campbell said Tuesday he wishes he could carry all these guys. Stille is going to be a hard cut.
Linebackers (5)
In: Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske, Devin White
Out: Erick Hunter, Troy Reeder, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Joe Bachie
PUP: Jimmy Rolder
IR: Damone Clark
Skinny: This one could be a hard one for the Lions because I think Bachie could make it, but I’ve got some stuff going on with safety that pushes him out. It’s really all going to depend on how that goes. I could see him making it if it goes the other way.
Cornerbacks (7)
In: D.J. Reed, Keith Abney, Roger McCreary, Rock Ya-Sin, Khalil Dorsey, Nick Whiteside, Christian Izien
Out: Ryan “Bump” Cooper, Ennis Rakestraw, Ekow Boyd-Doe, Eric Scott
Skinny: Ennis Rakestraw is out. I just can’t find the spot unless the Lions carry eight cornerbacks.
Nick Whiteside has outshined Rakestraw in every category this summer. Khalil Dorsey is one of the best special teams players in the league and possibly the best gunner. He’s shown up on defense all summer too. McCreary can play inside and outside. Keith Abney isn’t going anywhere. So where does Rakestraw fit? If you carry eight corners, then who doesn’t make it elsewhere on the roster? I have to go with my seven.
Safety (5)
In: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Chuck Clark, Avonte Maddox, Thomas Harper
Out: Aamaris Brown, Dan Jackson, Jason Taylor
Skinny: You might be saying, “But Mike, Branch and Joseph are both on PUP.” I understand that. But if Detroit brings them into the regular season on PUP, it has to wait four games to get them back. The Lions have been saying all summer that both Branch and Joseph could return by the end of August. I’m thinking the Lions may activate these guys right before the Saints game. Just because they’re on the roster doesn’t mean they play right away, but if you feel confident they could play early, why stuff them on PUP and wait four weeks?
Chuck Clark and Avonte Maddox are going to be two capable starters in the meantime. And I know three safeties looks thin, but Izzy can play safety, McCreary can play a lot of that nickel role. There will be different packages and setups that keep this secondary flexible.
Special Teams (3)
In: Jake Bates, Jack Fox, Hogan Hatten
Out:
Skinny: Nothing changing here. Don’t see any change in this department for a long time.
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