Allen Park — With two of three preseason games in the book, let’s take a look at where the Detroit Lions’ roster stands three weeks before the team opens the regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Locks
QB Jared Goff, WR DJ Chark, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Josh Reynolds, WR Kalif Raymond, WR Jameson Williams (non-football injury), TE T.J. Hockenson, TE Brock Wright, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Jamaal Williams, FB Jason Cabinda (PUP), OT Taylor Decker, OT Penei Sewell, G Jonah Jackson, G Halapoulivaati Vaitai, C Frank Ragnow, C Evan Brown, DL Charles Harris, DL Aidan Hutchinson, DL Romeo Okwara (PUP), DL Josh Paschal (PUP), DL Michael Brockers, DL Alim McNeill, DL Levi Onwuzurike, LB Alex Anzalone, LB Chris Board, LB Derrick Barnes, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, CB Amani Oruwariye, CB Jeff Okudah, CB Will Harris, Cb A.J. Parker, S Tracy Walker, S DeShon Elliott, S Kerby Joseph, CB Jerry Jacobs (PUP), P Jack Fox, LS Scott Daly
The thing about locks is there shouldn’t be many, if any surprises. Since the beginning of the offseason program, Wright and Rodriguez are the only two players who have really moved up to solidify their spot in this tier.
Wright, an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame a year ago, logged more than 300 offensive and 100 special-teams snaps as a rookie following a midseason promotion from the practice squad.
A block-first option in college, Wright flashed better-than-anticipated athleticism during his debut season, giving him increased opportunities in the passing game. In his second offseason, he’s grown in both facets of his game and has consistently been taking reps with the first-team offense in two tight end packages.
As for Rodriguez, nothing more than an opportunity to compete is promised to a Day 3 draft pick. But at this point in the process, his rapid rise up the depth chart is well-documented. Not only is he a lock for a roster spot, he’s on track to be a Week 1 starter. That’s something we haven’t seen with a late-round selection in recent memory.
Near locks
WR Quintez Cephus, RB Craig Reynolds, OT Matt Nelson, G Tommy Kraemer, DL Austin Bryant, LB Julian Okwara, LB Anthony Pittman, CB Mike Hughes, S Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB Bobby Price, S CJ Moore, K Austin Seibert
This group mostly consists of quality contributors who have been hampered by injuries and steady special-teams standouts.
With the durability concerns, it can be difficult to get a read on how the team feels about them compared to the heathier options on the roster. Cephus, for example, was drafted by the previous regime and never really fit the skill set vision for the current leadership, but he earned his spot through steady and reliable performance on the practice field.
That said, after missing much of last season with a collarbone injury, and most of training camp with a back issue (sustained while making a high-effort, leaping reception), it’s conceivable general manager Brad Holmes could lean more to a more reliably available option, particularly since Cephus offers next to nothing on special teams.
That’s not the case with the younger Okwara, who logged more than 100 special-teams snaps, while also experiencing a minor breakout as a defender in 2021. But again, durability concerns are part of the equation, and if the choice came down to him or Bryant, who has been red hot all training camp, while putting his own durability issues in the read-view, it’s not a cut-and-dried decision.
Melifonwu, the second year defensive back converting to safety, also fits in this conversation. And if Joseph, this year’s third-round pick, was clearly more ready for a defensive role as a rookie, it might even push Melifonwu to the bubble.
With guys like Reynolds, Moore and Pittman, it’s difficult to ignore how steady they’ve been in their roles, even if they’ll primarily serve as special teamers. There’s always room on a roster for handful of those types of players.
Finally, despite being a little shakier the past two weeks, Seibert’s leg strength makes him the clear leader for the kicking job.
On the bubble
QB Tim Boyle, QB David Blough, WR Trinity Benson, WR Tom Kennedy, TE Shane Zylstra, TE James Mitchell, RB Godwin Igwebuike, RB Jermar Jefferson, G Logan Stenberg, DL John Cominsky, DL Isaiah Buggs, DL Jashon Cornell, LB Josh Woods, LB Jarrad Davis, LB James Houston, S JuJu Hughes
Considering the lists above, and factoring in the handful of players who are destined to remain out with an injury designation to start the year, the team has somewhere around eight jobs still up in the air. That includes the ongoing competition for backup quarterback.
Last year, the Lions kept three quarterbacks, but despite their affinity for both backup options, it’s difficult to see them finding the room for all three this year. Boyle, based on playing time in 2021, as well as his contract, was always the favorite in the process, but Blough has made a strong run at the job through his offseason performance. Most recently, Boyle had the better preseason showing, giving him some momentum heading into the final stretch.
More: David Blough, Tim Boyle still jockeying for position in Lions backup QB battle
This group also consists of guys who have done everything they can to play themselves into a roster spot. That description perfectly fits Kennedy, who has been a steady playmaker in both practice and the preseason contests, catching 12 balls in the two games, including a pair of touchdowns against the Colts. If he offered more on special teams, this wouldn’t even be a conversation.
Sticking with the receiver position, Benson has clearly been better than last year, when he floundered after coming over in a trade right before the start of the season. He plays a lot of roles in practice, including return man and gunner on punt coverage, but hasn’t shown the ability to do any of them well enough above average to command a job.
Like Kennedy, Cominsky is one from this group who is on the cusp of moving up a tier. Playing a heavy workload in the second preseason game, the defensive lineman’s athleticism and effort showed up in a six-tackle showing that included a sack and two total stops behind the line of scrimmage.
More: Lions stock report: Kennedy, Cominsky gaining steam in race for roster spots
Striking distance
WR Maurice Alexander, TE Devin Funchess, RB Justin Jackson, OT Dan Skipper, OT Kendall Lamm, DL Bruce Hector, DL Eric Banks, DL Demetrius Taylor, LB Shaun Dion Hamilton, CB Chase Lucas, CB Saivion Smith, K Riley Patterson
Alexander, Funchess and Jackson all arrived to Detroit after the early portion of the offseason program, but have flashed enough talent in the preseason to put themselves in the conversation for a job.
Funchess, the former Michigan standout and second-round draft pick, is attempting to make the conversion from receiver to tight end. There have been some rocky moments in practice with his blocking and special teams work, but there’s no question he looked like a weapon as a matchup piece in the preseason opener. Unfortunately, his momentum has been curtailed by a stinger suffered during the first of two joint practices with the Colts, sidelining him from Saturday’s preseason game.
Alexander and Jackson both shined in that game, with Alexander logging two long kickoff returns and catching a few passes. He should have had added a touchdown after getting open in the end zone, but Boyle missed high on the throw.
As for Jackson, he has a quality resume, averaging 5.0 yards per carry during his first four seasons, all with the Chargers. And he flashed that rushing ability against the Colts, racking up a team-high 54 yards on seven carries.
Another strong performance in the preseason finale from any of those three will give Detroit’s decision-makers plenty to think about.
Rookies Lucas and Taylor similarly need to put more on tape, both in practice and the last preseason game against Pittsburgh. They have unquestionably flashed their abilities, but are in a tough spot having to climb over more established veteran options. Both presently seem destined for practice squad spots.
Long shots
WR Kalil Pimpleton, TE Derrick Deese Jr., OT Darrin Paulo, OT Obinna Eze, G Kevin Jarvis, CB Mark Gilbert, CB Cedrick Boswell
Here’s a group of young players with too much to overcome this late in the process. But with practice squads expanding to 16 slots in recent years, each guy from this group could land one of those spots for continued development.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers