Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jeff Risdon

Updated Lions 53-man roster projection after two weeks of training camp

Detroit Lions training camp will wrap the second week of action on Saturday. It’s a good point to recalibrate the depth chart and reevaluate the 53-man roster projection.

There are a few changes to the prediction after 10 days of practice. Injuries have caused some unfortunate shifts, as have on-field performances — positive and negative. There are some leanings here that reflect what I’ve seen and heard in training camp, too.

Buy Lions Wire

Quarterbacks - 3

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson talks to quarterback Jared Goff (16) and quarterback Nate Sudfeld after practice during minicamp at in Allen Park on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Starter: Jared Goff

Reserves: Nate Sudfeld, Hendon Hooker

The change here is that I think Hooker can make the initial 53-man roster. He’s looked very healthy in his work with trainers during and after practices; you’d never know he was barely nine months out from knee surgery. It might be a case of the Lions keeping him, then putting him on I.R. immediately to go waiver-wire surfing after the roster cutdowns.

 

Running backs - 5

Starter: David Montgomery

Reserves: Jahmyr Gibbs, Justin Jackson, Craig Reynolds, Jason Cabinda (FB)

There are two questions at RB: who wins the No. 3/4 spots, and do the Lions continue to keep Cabinda for a fullback role that they used less than 20 percent of offensive snaps last season?

My current answers (subject to change) to those questions are Jackson and Reynolds sticking, and Cabinda still having a role. Low level of conviction about either answer, however…

Wide receivers - 6*

Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Jameson Williams*

Reserves: Kalif Raymond, Denzel Mims, Marvin Jones

The Williams asterisk is due to his 6-game suspension to start the year. He makes the 53-man roster, then goes away and needs replacing. I’m still not sure the WR who takes that spot during the suspension is currently on the roster, but if he is, it’s UDFA Dylan Drummond. That roster spot could very well go to a different position group, too.

If you’re looking for an upset/off-the-wall prediction, Jones isn’t the roster lock most fans expect him to be. Not saying, just sayin’…

Tight ends - 3

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta practices during training camp at Detroit Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Starter: Sam LaPorta

Reserves: Brock Wright, James Mitchell

The injury to Shane Zylstra largely ended any drama here.

Offensive line - 9

Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker, left, and center Frank Ragnow walk off the field after training camp on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Allen Park.

Starters: LT Taylor Decker, LG Jonah Jackson, C Frank Ragnow, RG Graham Glasgow, RT Penei Sewell

Reserves: OT Matt Nelson, C Ross Pierschbacher, OL Colby Sorsdal, OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai

The only change here is swapping Glasgow into the starting spot and moving Vaitai down to a reserve role. Glasgow looks healthy again, while Vaitai continues to sputter with injuries. If Vaitai doesn’t make it, and that’s a possibility, the choice between versatile veteran Germain Ifedi and much-improved second-year OT Obinna Eze will be an interesting one.

Defensive tackles - 3

Starters: Alim McNeill, Isaiah Buggs

Reserves: Brodric Martin

Some position group had to take a hit by keeping more at other spots, and that could very well be the DT group. The threesome here is locked in; Martin is better than expected as a third-round rookie and figures to play a lot.

The Lions have a few DEs who can put a hand in the dirt and slide inside in packages, too. Josh Paschal, John Cominsky and even Aidan Hutchinson have all done that (and done well) during camp.

Could Levi Onwuzurike, Benito Jones or Christian Covington make it? Sure. But none have proven to be irreplaceable by someone cut from another team who might offer more long-term benefit. None of those guys figure to be claimed off waivers by another team once cut, too.

EDGE - 6

Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson warms up during training camp at Detroit Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Starters: Aidan Hutchinson, Charles Harris

Reserves: Josh Paschal, John Cominsky, James Houston, Romeo Okwara

No change at all here from the previous projection. No reason to change anything.

 

Linebackers - 5

(From left) Lions linebackers Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Alex Anzalone and Malcolm Rodriguez walk off the field after training camp on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Allen Park.

Starters: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell

Reserves: Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jalen Reeves-Maybin

The only change here is dropping Anthony Pittman and keeping just five. Pure conjecture on my part that the Lions will value keeping an extra running back in the special team role that Pittman has capably occupied in recent years. Reeves-Maybin has repped ahead of Pittman in LB drills, so he gets the edge.

UDFA Trevor Nowaske still has a shot at usurping that final spot if he thrives in preseason. And he might…

Cornerbacks - 5

Detroit Lions cornerback Cam Sutton practices during training camp at Detroit Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Starters: Cam Sutton, Jerry Jacobs, C.J. Gardner-Johnson (slot)

Reserves: Will Harris, Starling Thomas

PUP: Emmanuel Moseley

Moseley is again the wild card with his ongoing knee issue. He’s still not activated from the PUP and hasn’t taken a single practice rep with Detroit’s defense.

Harris and Brian Branch (now listed at safety) are both capable of playing any DB spot, which gives the positional flexibility to keep one less reserve.

For the final spot, I opted to keep Thomas over fellow UDFA rookie Steven Gilmore based on athletic potential. That spot is certainly up for further competition.

Safeties - 5

Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker III shakes hands with safety Kerby Joseph after practice during training camp at Detroit Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park on Monday, July 24, 2023.

Starters: Tracy Walker, Kerby Joseph

Reserves: Brian Branch, Saivion Smith, Ifeatu Melifonwu

The top three are locked in, and there will be packages where Walker, Joseph and Branch are all on the field together. Branch has been excellent in Joseph’s “robber” safety role when he’s not playing in the slot.

Smith has solidified his roster spot in camp in my opinion, both on defense and in special teams. Melifonwu is No. 53 of 53 and shouldn’t feel safe to make it.

Specialists - 3

Lions punter Jack Fox, left, talks to long snapper Jake McQuaide after practice during minicamp at Allen Park on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Kicker: Riley Patterson

Punter: Jack Fox

Long snapper: Jake McQuaide

Fox as the punter is the only established position. Camp competitions are ongoing at kicker and long snapper, with both spots very much undecided heading into the preseason.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.