Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell didn’t have much to say when asked whether his starters would see playing time in the team’s preseason opener against the New York Giants, but after conducting a pair of joint practices with the opponent this week, it’s a safe bet most of the starting lineup will be glued to the Ford Field sideline Friday night.
Similarly, early-round draft picks in line for bigger roles, such as Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta, likely won’t play much, if at all. No, this preseason tilt will be used more as a proving ground for players without clearly defined roles or guaranteed jobs.
With that in mind, here are five players we’ll be watching closely against the Giants:
Wide receiver Dylan Drummond
Drummond hasn’t just been one of this year’s best camp stories, but one of the more unpredictable offseason rises in a decade. Undrafted and initially ignored by the league’s 32 teams immediately after the event, the former Eastern Michigan standout earned an invite to Detroit’s rookie minicamp as an uncontracted tryout player. He impressed there and hasn’t stopped impressing, rising to the challenge of new levels of competition each step of the way.
Drummond has recently found his way into regular reps with the second-team offense, where he’s been one of quarterback Nate Sudfeld’s most reliable targets. Drummond plays both inside and outside, has a surprisingly good grasp on the offense, despite his lack of experience, and pairs crisp route-running with reliable hands.
Lions fans should get a long look at the young receiver, both on offense and special teams, as he continues his push for a roster spot. He’s probably still on the wrong side of the bubble, given the depth Detroit has at the position, but if he continues to progress and perform, his case could become undeniable.
Cornerback Starling Thomas V
Unlike Drummond, Thomas enters Friday’s game on track for a roster spot. The undrafted cornerback out of UAB has impressed with his speed and physicality on the outside, drawing the majority of his practice reps with the second-team defense, as well as the top coverage units on special teams.
In the joint practices with the Giants, Thomas validated the confidence the Lions have placed in him, breaking up multiple passes and coming down with an interception. But he also had moments where he showed the need to tighten his technique, including a snap where he didn’t turn his head around on a fade route into the end zone that resulted in a touchdown for the receiver.
Thomas has also developed a reputation for not backing down from anyone. That’s led to a couple of post-whistle scraps. Obviously, you can’t let your emotions get the best of you in a game, when it could result in a back-breaking, 15-yard penalty. So, it will be important to see Thomas keep his cool throughout the preseason, showing he won’t be a liability if he’s ever pressed into regular-season action.
Defensive tackle Brodric Marin
Lions leadership made it clear from the jump that they view Martin as more of a long-term project than a short-term solution, but the 6-foot-5, 330-pound behemoth has flashed enough explosiveness during his debut offseason that there could be more first-year playing time and production than originally assumed.
Martin has seen some work with the first-team defense, not because he’s pushing for a starting job, but because the Lions wanted to see how he’d fare against the team’s stellar offensive line. Within that, there have been some eye-opening moments where Martin has handily won a rep against two-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow.
Martin is undeniably powerful, but every review of his developmental progress notes the need for improved pad level to achieve the desired level of consistency. And the player has also acknowledged he needs to better his conditioning, which will help him stay low deeper into games.
All that said, don’t be surprised to see Martin makes an impressive play or two, giving fans a sense of his potential.
Guard Colby Sorsdal
It can be difficult to grasp the progress of an offensive lineman when watching camp practices live. The best thing that can be said about Sorsdal is he rarely shows up in my notes, meaning he’s not regularly being beaten as a blocker.
A college right tackle, he’s making the transition to guard as a rookie. The majority of his reps have come with the second-team offense, with Kayode Awosika seeing opportunities with the starters ahead of Sorsdal when there has been the need for an injury replacement.
Realistically, not a lot will be expected of Sorsdal this season. Like Joe Dahl or Logan Stenberg in recent years, the first-year focus will be on development. The Dahl comparison is even more appropriate when you factor in the switch from tackle to guard.
Friday’s matchup with the Giants will give us a sense of how the position change is going for Sorsdal, and how he’s progressing with the different footwork and spacing of playing inside, as well as the responsibility of getting on the move as a pulling blocker.
Linebacker James Houston
Houston had a remarkable rookie season. As a midseason callup, he racked up a staggering 8.0 sacks while seeing just 140 defense snaps across seven games. Still, he’s been something of an afterthought in his second training camp, primarily seeing practice time with the third-string defense.
Even last season, when Houston was bursting on the scene, Lions coaches knew he wasn’t ready to be an every-down player. That’s why a healthy Charles Harris was immediately reinstalled as the starter this offseason. And Houston’s limitations against the run have also kept him behind players like John Cominsky and Josh Paschal on the depth chart.
The Lions are still trying to figure out what Houston can do on the field. He’s been working more off the ball and on special teams, with an understanding that his potent ability to get after the QB is there when needed in obvious passing situations.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers