Indianapolis — Here’s a look at who is trending up and who is trending down coming out of the Detroit Lions’ preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
► Stock up: Wide receiver Tom Kennedy
What more can we say about Kennedy’s performance since the start of camp? After pacing the league in receptions and receiving yards the first week of the preseason, he shook off a quiet start Saturday to catch five balls. And though those grabs only went for 24 yards, two were touchdowns, besting tight coverage both times.
Fittingly, it was Kennedy who corralled an onside kick at the end of the game to seal the victory.
► Stock down: Safety Kerby Joseph
Coach Dan Campbell noted Joseph, a rookie and third-round draft pick, stood out when the coaching staff reviewed the tape from last week’s preseason opener. That will likely be the case again this week, but in a less positive way.
Joseph got off to a shaky start against the Colts, missing a third-down tackle that led to a drive-extending conversion. He also found himself out of position in coverage on multiple snaps, most notably on a 50-yard touchdown reception where he got his eyes caught in the backfield and lost his coverage assignment on the play.
► Treading water: Kicker Austin Seibert
Seibert held serve in the battle to be Detroit’s kicker, but he did nothing to extend his lead. He made his first two field goal attempts, from 28 and 40 yards, but neither ball looked to come off his foot particularly clean. His best strike came on a 55-yard effort, but it ended up clanging off the right upright for his only miss on the day.
► Stock up: Quarterback Tim Boyle
Boyle came in to start the second half and immediately led a seven-play, 61-yard touchdown drive. He only threw three passes during the series, but the final one was noteworthy. Not only did he draw the Colts offside with a hard count on the third-down snap, he capitalized on the free play to deliver a clean ball to Kennedy down the seam that put the Lions up seven.
After a couple of nonproductive drives, Boyle came back to start the fourth quarter and marched the team 85 yards on 18 plays, completing multiple well-placed throws on third down to extend the possession. He should have had a touchdown to cap it, but he misfired high to an open receiver in the end zone before handing it off for a score on the ground.
► Stock down: Offensive tackle Kendall Lamm
A mid-camp addition, Lamm was the first offensive lineman off the bench for the Lions. After a shaky start to his time in Detroit, he appeared to be knocking off the rust and finding a groove during this week of joint practices, but Saturday’s game was a clear step back. He allowed multiple quarterback pressures, struggling to the first step of multiple Colts edge rushers.
► Treading water: Quarterback David Blough
Blough did more good than bad, but he likely ceded some ground to Boyle in the backup quarterback competition. Blough completed nearly 73% of his 22 throws in the first half, but it’s tough to get excited about 16 completions for 76 yards. He also misfired on a handful of throws, including a forced ball into tight coverage that was deflected and intercepted.
► Stock up: Return man Maurice Alexander
Another mid-camp addition, Alexander served as the primary return man in this contest, snapping off big gains of 61 and 45 yards when bringing back kickoffs. After earning All-USFL honors with Philadelphia this winter, he’s managed to maintain that momentum across leagues, giving the Lions something to think about as they weigh their options for the role.
Additionally, Alexander showed he can contribute as a pass catcher. He hauled in three of the four passes his direction for 18 yards. The fourth should have been a touchdown. He was open in the end zone, but Boyle sailed the throw 6 feet over the receiver’s head.
► Stock down: Cornerback Mark Gilbert
Signed off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad as a rookie last season, Gilbert has flashed his playmaking potential during camp, but this game won’t do anything for his already slim chances of making the roster.
Gilbert got beat a handful of times, most notably on a pair of catches in the second quarter, with the second resulting in a 15-yard touchdown catch. He also had a missed tackle later in the contest.
► Stock up: Defensive lineman John Cominsky
The Commish, as he’s been dubbed by Detroit’s coaching staff, did exactly what was expected when he was given a massive workload against the Colts. The big-framed, athletic lineman showcased the nonstop motor that’s propelling him toward earning a roster spot, racking up a team-high six tackles (two for a loss) and a sack.
► Stock up: Linebacker Derrick Barnes
Barnes didn’t get a ton of run on defense, but he frequently made his presence felt during the Colts’ first possession, tallying three tackles on run plays where he fired aggressively downhill into the run lane. Those three snaps resulted in gains of zero, 1 and 2 yards.
On special teams, he also flashed his ability to make a play, dropping the return man at the 18-yard line on the opening kick of the second half.
► Stock up: Running back depth chart
Craig Reynolds got the start and remained on track for a roster spot with an efficient 37 yards on seven carries, while chipping in a 5-yard reception on his lone target in the passing game. He eventually gave way to Justin Jackson and Godwin Igwebuike, who combined for 86 yards on 14 carries, with Jackson delivering a couple of long gains and Igwebuike scoring the winning touchdown from 2 yards out.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers