Week 7 marked the first time the Detroit Lions were forced to play without Aidan Hutchinson. Knowing Hutchinson’s league-leading pass-rush production cannot possibly be replaced by one player, the Lions attacked the Minnesota Vikings with a barrage of options at EDGE.
Josh Paschal and Isaac Uwku earned the starting roles, as the Lions continue to adapt to also not having starter Marcus Davenport. Paschal, who bagged the first of Detroit’s four sacks of Vikings QB Sam Darnold, played the most with 52 of 60 snaps. Ukwu, elevated from the practice squad for the second straight week, was next at 34, followed by Levi Onwuzurike at 26, freshly signed Pat O’Connor with 12, rookie Mekhi Wingo 11 and James Houston on the field for 9 reps.
The defense featured five iron men, Lions who played all 60 defensive reps:
S Kerby Joseph
S Brian Branch
CB Carlton Davis
CB Terrion Arnold
LB Alex Anzalone
Paschal might’ve attained that too, if not for having to exit twice for attention from trainers.
Detroit’s defense also opted for more 3-LB looks than normal. Third LB Malcolm Rodriguez played over half the game, getting 32 reps. Jack Campbell played 47 and Trevor Nowaske, the new SAM, repping 14 snaps. Jalen Reeves-Maybin also played 10, and that doesn’t count the (abysmal) fake punt in the first quarter.
Other notes
The starting offensive line, including fill-in RG Kayode Awosika, all played all 57 snaps. Detroit did not use an extra lineman at any point in this game.
The RB snap splits: Jahmyr Gibbs 33, David Montgomery 22, Craig Reynolds 2.
Rookies Ennis Rakestraw (CB) and Sione Vaki (RB) only appeared on special teams.
TE Shane Zylstra, elevated from the practice squad in favor of healthy scratch Parker Hesse, played three offensive snaps and 21 of a possible 31 special teams reps.