John Cominsky is battling to make the Detroit Lions amidst a crowded and uncertain defensive line. The veteran put his best foot forward in the Lions’ 27-26 preseason win over the Colts in Indianapolis.
Cominsky started at defensive end opposite Austin Bryant while the starters sat out. Both Bryant and Cominsky turned in stellar games against the overmatched Colts reserve offensive tackles. Bryant bagged two sacks while Cominsky added another as both lived in the Colts backfield all afternoon.
“We started to get a feel of what the protection was,” Cominsky said after the game. “So we just started doing some twist games and guys starting to come into their own and get comfortable rushing the passer. Everybody’s starting to get into the groove.”
It wasn’t just the pass rush where Cominsky and the Lions defensive line grooved on Saturday. They also bottled up the Colts run game, allowing just 30 yards on 18 carries. Cominsky bagged a tackle-for-loss among his team-leading six stops, a figure that also included his sack. The run defense was a priority.
“We knew we needed to improve,” Cominsky told reporters. “The Falcons were able to get a couple of good runs. We want to take pride in stopping the run so we took the necessary adjustments. Everybody showed up in their gap … the running backs had nowhere to go.”
Cominsky did his damage primarily from the outside in Indianapolis, but he’s also been effective when kicking inside throughout camp. It’s that versatility that attracted the Lions to claim him off waivers from the Falcons earlier this offseason.
With all the injuries on the Lions defensive front, it’s that versatility and effectiveness in doing multiple things well that makes Cominsky a real asset. Second-round rookie Josh Paschal, last year’s second-rounder in Levi Onwuzurike and veteran Romeo Okwara are all capable of playing the same role, but they’re all hurt. Paschal and Okwara are both on the PUP list and appear unlikely to start the season on the active roster, while Onwuzurike continues to struggle with a back/hip injury that dates back to his college days.
Cominsky is quickly proving to be a savvy acquisition. He’s played his way from a variable on the roster bubble into a solid, useful player who should see some reps in the regular season. Saturday’s strong performance should cement his spot on the initial 53-man roster.
