The Detroit Lions bubble pressure meter is back for Week 2, and the picture is getting clearer for the 40 or so players fighting for roster spots in training camp. Some guys moved up. Some guys moved down. Three players got removed from the list entirely because they’ve all but locked in their spots on the 53-man roster. Let’s break it down.

Offense

QB Luke Altmyer	🟡 Watching
RB Jacob Saylors	🟡 Watching
RB Sione Vaki	🟠 In Danger	Change
RB Raheem Blackshear	🟡 Watching
RB Jabari Small	🟡 Watching
RB Kye Robichuax	🟠 In Danger
WR Cedrick Wilson	🟡 Watching
WR Dominic Lovett	🟡 Watching
WR Malik Cunninham	🟡 Watching
WR Tarik Black	🟠 In Danger
WR Tay Martin	🟠 In Danger
WR Lawrence Keys	🟡 Watching
WR Tom Kennedy	🟡 Watching	Change
TE Nick Muse	🟡 Watching
TE Jackson Meeks	🟢 Safe
TE Zach Horton	🟡 Watching
TE Thomas Gordon	🟠 In Danger
OT Giovani Manu	🔴 Must Have Big Week
Michael Niese	🟠 In Danger
OL Ben Bartch	🟠 In Danger	Change
OL Juice Scruggs	🟢 Safe
OT Devin Cochran	🟠 In Danger	Change
OT Colby Sorsdal	🔴 Must Have Big Week	Change
OT Melvin Priestly	🟠 In Danger
OL Mason Miller	🟠 In Danger	Change

Sione Vaki moves to ‘in danger’ on offense

The biggest offensive change this week is Sione Vaki sliding from “watching” to “in danger.” There are a few reasons for that. First, running back Jahmyr Gibbs came back to practice on Thursday. Once Gibbs gets rolling again, first-team reps dry up for everyone not named Gibbs or Isaiah Pacheco. Second, Jacob Saylors looked good in Vaki’s absence. Vaki took a poke to the eye on Monday and broke his nose, so he’s going to be out for a stretch. In that time, he’s lost the opportunity to take first-team reps, and Sailors has started filling that void.

I’m not saying Vaki is at the “must have a big week” level yet, but when he comes back, he’s going to have to show he can be the special teamer everyone knows he can be. He’s also going to have to prove he can stay healthy and take advantage of whatever reps he gets at running back. The Lions just added Raheem Blackshear, too. It keeps getting more dangerous for Vaki. I can’t ignore it anymore.

Tom Kennedy and the receiver battle

I moved Tom Kennedy from “safe” to “watching.” I felt like he was safe initially, but Dominic Lovett is starting to move his way up. I’ve had Lovett at “watching,” and I’m keeping him there for now. Malik Cunningham has started to look pretty good out there. Lawrence Keys was looking good until he got hurt, unfortunately.

Could I put Kennedy back in “safe”? Probably. He’s probably going to be here in some way, shape, or form, likely on the practice squad. I just don’t know if it’s a 53-man roster thing anymore. He’s still taking reps at kick returner, but Greg Dortch looks good there, and Lovett is starting to show up. The walls are closing in on the idea of Tom Kennedy making the 53-man roster and playing a major role.

The offensive line is sorting itself out without Ben Bartch

Ben Bartch is in danger. He’s still on the sideline. He still hasn’t practiced. Juice Scruggs is getting all the reps. Miles Frazier is getting all the reps. Michael Niese is out there. Melvin Priestley is moving into guard reps now. It’s just not looking good for Bartch, and the thing coming in was always that he can play well, but his injury history damns him. The longer he’s not out there, the more figured out things get without him. The Lions want their starting five figured out, and I don’t think they’re going to want to keep waiting.

I also moved Devin Cochran and Mason Miller to “in danger” and Colby Sorsdal to “must have a big week.” All of those are in response to Frazier getting tackle reps. That tells me Detroit is thinking about a guy who can come off the bench and play any position. The tackle projects were Giovanni Manu and Sorsdal. Now Frazier has moved himself into that conversation. You get one year of Larry Borom as the swing tackle, Frazier spends a season showing he can take that role over, and when Borom’s contract is up, Frazier slides in. I just don’t see any of these guys fighting that off at this point.

Defense

Edge Payton Turnner	🟠 In Danger
Edge Tyre West	🟡 Watching
Edge Eric O’Niell	🟠 In Danger
Edge Anthony Lucas	🟡 Watching	Change
DT Mekhi Wingo	🟠 In Danger
DT Levi Onwuzurkie	🟡 Watching	Change
DT Chris Smith	🟠 In Danger
DT Myles Adams	🟡 Watching
DT Aidan Keanaaina	🟡 Watching
LB Trevor Nowaske	🟠 In Danger	Change
LB Devin White	🟡 Watching	Change
LB Erick Turner	🟡 Watching
LB Joe Bachie	🟡 Watching	Change
CB De’Shawn Rucker	🟠 In Danger
CB Aamaris Brown	🟠 In Danger
CB Khalil Dorsey	🟡 Watching
S Dan Jackson	🟡 Watching
S Loren Strickland	🟠 In Danger

Anthony Lucas drops, Levi Onwuzurike climbs on defense

I had Anthony Lucas at “safe.” I’m moving him to “watching.” I bought into a lot of hype going into training camp, but now that I’m watching him practice, I’m starting to think he could be stashed on the 53-man roster without actually landing a spot where he’d play. The whole thing with him has always been whether he can put it all together as a run setter and a pass rusher. That’s what we’re waiting to see.

Levi Onwuzurike moved up from “in danger” to “watching.” Things are starting to come together for him. I’m not ready to call it safe yet. I need to see him stay healthy and do more. I don’t have him above Tyler Lacy, who has that job locked down. But Onwuzurike is doing enough to show he could make this 53-man roster.

At linebacker, I moved Trevor Nawaski to “in danger” after the Lions signed Devin White. Malcolm Rodriguez is so safe I don’t even have him on the list. White has a good chance to make this roster, and his addition pushes Nawaski further down the line. Eric Turner is in a similar spot. I’m watching him, but he could probably be in “in danger” too. Joe Bachie moved from “in danger” to “watching” because he’s looked pretty decent the last two weeks. I don’t have Bachie in a realm where I think he’ll make the roster and be a big-time contributor, but he’s gone from camp body to potential practice squad contributor. That’s a solid summer so far.

3 players removed from the bubble entirely

Nick Whiteside

Tyler Lacy

Ahmed Hassanein

Here’s the big one. I told you when we started this thing that we would remove players, and this week we removed three. Nick Whiteside, Tyler Lacy, and Ahmed Hassanein are all off the bubble watch. I’ve got all three making the roster.

Whiteside has been a revelation, making plays every single day. Lacy, where has this guy been? We saw him last year, and he played well. I think he’s going to play a lot more this year. Hassanein is coming on more and more every single day. You can see what he can be, and it’s exciting. He’s going to be a good big end with pass rush ability, good at stopping the run. Dan Campbell style, dude. Emotion, passion. You can see it on the field. I can’t say no to the guy. He’s going to make it.

We’ll be back next week after the first preseason game of the year with an updated bubble pressure meter. Let’s see how things shake out.

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