Lions roster battles to watch in the final preseason game

It’s been a recurring theme since training camp started: who will emerge as the No. 4 wideout behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond? Several weeks later, no one is real sure who the answer is–and that includes the Lions themselves.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Daurice Fountain, Tre’Quan Smith, Kaden Davis and Isaiah Williams have all had moments where they looked like they could be the solution. Smith’s season-ending injury takes him out of the running.

Fountain and Peoples-Jones are effectively the same type of wideout, bigger and stronger targets. Davis has length and speed but not strength. All three have battled drops throughout camp. Williams, an undrafted rookie from Illinois, is smallish and much more of a slot-type, which isn’t where the Lions seem to be looking for that No. 4 spot to play. There’s always the chance the team could keep five, too, though that seems less likely by the day with the current cast.

As Dan Campbell has said, in one form or another, in several different press conferences in the last month:
“Someone go win the job.”

It could very well be that both Dorsey and Vildor make the final 53-man roster. Both have played well enough all summer to earn spots; in my eyes, Vildor and Dorsey have both outplayed last year’s Week 1 starter at outside CB, Jerry Jacobs, at any point in Jacobs’ career.

Vildor and Dorsey both figure to play extensively against the Steelers, and not just on defense. Dorsey is also competing for a kick return spot, while Vildor has quietly become a key member of the kickoff and punt coverage units in camp and preseason. Dorsey is part of the first-team on those units, too.

I am of the firm belief that the Lions are keeping four tight ends, but that’s certainly not set in stone for Detroit. That means there are four guys fighting for potentially just one job, but far more than likely, it’s two:

Parker Hesse
James Mitchell
Sean McKeon
Shane Zylstra

All four have compelling arguments to make it, and they are all diversely skilled enough that it could come down to what the Lions desire from the spot as much as which player(s) they prefer.

This No. 2 vs. No. 3 quarterback “battle” is more about semantics and appearances than anything else. Hooker is the developmental younger QB, while Sudfeld the grizzled journeyman veteran. Both will remain on the roster in one form or another once the regular season begins.

It would be nice if Hooker could prove he’s worthy in the coaches’ eyes of being the unquestioned No. 2 behind Jared Goff. That hasn’t happened yet. The Pittsburgh game is his last chance to do it, or else it seems very likely the Lions roll into the regular season with Sudfeld ahead of Hooker if Goff has to miss a snap in the regular season.

Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport are the starters at EDGE. Josh Paschal has stepped up, embracing his “power” role and taken hold of the No. 3 spot with a (mostly) solid summer.

That leaves Mitchell Agude, James Houston, Isaac Ukwu and Mathieu Betts all scrambling for that final spot or two. Right now, that seems to be the team’s pecking order, but it’s a complicated one. Agude has been playing more of the SAM role, a spot where both Houston and Betts fizzled quickly during camp. Undrafted rookie Ukwu is the most athletic of the bunch and that freaky speed and strength has consistently done more in training camp and preseason than he showed at Ole Miss or James Madison in college. Pat O’Connor is the best fit in terms of desired size and length, and he’s had his moments in recent practices, too.

Going against a Pittsburgh offensive line depth that might be the worst the Lions see all year, this is a great chance for someone to shine here.

Brian Branch moving to full-time safety changes the depth chart, pushing Ifeatu Melifonwu out of the starting lineup. “Iffy” is in zero peril of being cut, but he’s battling second-year Brandon Joseph for the No. 3 safety role, and based on rep counts with the first team throughout camp, Joseph is definitively winning that battle.

Then there’s veteran CJ Moore, back after missing 2023 due to a gambling suspension. He’s gunning for a special teams spot more than a safety role, but that’s one of 53 that may or may not exist.

Note: Melifonwu has not practiced since the Chiefs game with an Achilles injury and might not play.

Probably the most volatile battle still to play out. Fourth-round rookie Giovanni Manu is safe as one of the reserves based on his high-end athletic potential and draft capital, but he’s the only one.

Colby Sorsdal has been all over the map as the second-string right tackle. Most offensive tackle plays result in draws where neither the offense nor defense wins or loses. That’s not Sorsdal’s game, for better or worse. His frequent win are majestic, his equally frequent losses are terrifying. A calm, nondescript game from No. 75 might be the best for Sorsdal, who is competing with vet Dan Skipper–who isn’t likely to play due to injury–and recent addition Jamarco Jones.

Inside depth is even more up in the air. It feels like undrafted rookie Kingsley Eguakun has cemented a spot, but that’s from the outside looking in. Kayode Awosika, Michael Niese, Jake Burton (who has quietly played well since joining mid-camp) and UDFAs Duke Clemens and Bryan Hudson are all fighting for status.

Yes, the Lions still have a long snapper battle ongoing. Daly is the incumbent and appears to have a legit lead, but Hatten’s undeniable athletic gifts and versatility–he can also play LB in a pinch–keep it from being decided. For Hatten, a strong game might convince the Lions to be the exceedingly rare team that burns a practice squad spot on a long snapper if he doesn’t beat Daly.