PITTSBURGH — Three players who helped and hurt their stock in the Detroit Lions‘ 19-9 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday:
Three up
CB Jeff Okudah: Okudah had a strong finish to the preseason to win the No. 2 cornerback job. He started Sunday at left cornerback (opposite Amani Oruwariye), made two tackles (including one for a loss), and broke up a Mitchell Trubisky pass to George Pickens in the red zone. After missing most of last season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, Okudah looks like he will be an important part of the Lions’ defense this fall.
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RB Craig Reynolds: Lions coach Dan Campbell said “there was some separation” on the depth chart at running back Sunday. Jermar Jefferson started and Justin Jackson looked good in his opportunities, but Reynolds was the Lions’ most effective rusher. He had 31 yards on six carries and gave the offense a noticeable jolt when he took over in the second half. Jackson could push Godwin Igwebuike for the No. 4 job, but Reynolds seems secure in his roster spot.
DL Isaiah Buggs: Buggs did not make much of a dent in the box score, with no tackles and one quarterback hurry, but he started at nose tackle and played ahead of undrafted rookie Demetrius Taylor in the defensive line rotation. That doesn’t guarantee Buggs a roster spot, but he’s a proven run-stuffer, and the Lions bottled up PIttsburgh’s rushing game Sunday, holding starting running back Najee Harris to 10 yards on four carries.
Three down
QBs David Blough and Tim Boyle: Campbell said last week he wanted one of his backup quarterbacks to step up and win the No. 2 job, and neither did much when given the chance to play with the first-team offense Sunday. Boyle finished a disappointing 5-for-15 passing and threw his second interception of the preseason early in the second quarter. Blough played better — he led the Lions to their only touchdown with 30 seconds to play — but he struggled to move the first-team offense in two series. Blough should be ahead of Boyle on the depth chart, but the Lions seem like they’ll be looking for an upgrade at the position this week.
CB Saivion Smith: Smith earned second-team reps at cornerback Sunday with a solid training camp, but he had some forgetable moments against the Steelers. On Pittsburgh’s 92-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, Smith got flagged for one pass interference penalty, gave up a 22-yard pass on third-and-6, then got beat for Steven Sims’ touchdown. Given a slim chance to play his way onto the 53-man roster, Smith could not capitalize on his moment.
WR Kalil Pimpleton: A star of last week’s “Hard Knocks” episode, Pimpleton did not help his case when he dropped a potential touchdown from Blough on fourth-and-goal from the 7 midway through the fourth quarter. Pimpleton did catch three passes for 31 yards Sunday, so it wasn’t a terrible day. But with both practice squad and 53-man roster spots on the line, that would-be touchdown is one play Pimpleton would like back.