Quick takeaways from the 1st Lions unofficial depth chart

In case you haven’t been paying attention to the last couple of weeks, Brian Branch is now a full-time safety. He’s been a first-team safety all offseason. This is the first time seeing it in a depth chart format, however, and that still requires a little processing.

Kerby Joseph listed as the other starting safety, with Ifeatu Melifonwu on the second-team line, is a situation where the “starting” usage depends more on the opposing team’s personnel than Joseph being definitively ahead of Melifonwu, too.

Prized free agent DT DJ Reader hasn’t appeared in a practice session yet, other than running up Mt. Patricia and working with trainers. He’s on the PUPlist and figures to remain there through the preseason, meaning he won’t play.

Yet there he is on the starting line, next to Alim McNeill. That’s respect for the veteran, an indication the Lions still view him as the starter once he’s fully recovered from his torn quad.

Kindle Vildor was vilified after an untimely gaffe in the Lions NFC Championship Game loss in San Francisco, one that made many fans believe his time in Detroit was done. Vildor has had a solid summer, however, and he’s listed as a second-team outside CB–which is consistent with what we’re seeing in practice. He’s ahead of Steven Gilmore and Khalil Dorsey at the spots, and they all could very well be competing for the same, singular roster spot.

Kalif Raymond is the third starting WR on the depth chart, along with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. As is the case with a lot of spots, notably RB, Raymond’s status in the starting lineup is more dependent on the specific opponent than being clearly above other options on Detroit’s roster, but Raymond has repped exclusively with the first-team offense all throughout training camp. He’s the only wideout amongst a group that includes Daurice Fountain, Tre’Quan Smith and Donovan Peoples-Jones who can claim that status.

The Lions have four tight ends competing for one, or perhaps two spots behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. This first depth chart indicates Parker Hesse and Shane Zylstra are ahead of James Mitchell and Sean McKeon. That too is consistent with what pecking order we’ve seen in practices.

With Branch moving out of the slot, there is a battle going on for who winds up starting in the nickelback role. Amik Robertson gets the nod on the first depth chart, ahead of Emmanuel Moseley. The duo have roughly split the first-team reps in camp, with Ennis Rakestraw occasionally sliding in as well.

It’s a battle to keep watching. Robertson has experience in the slot from his time with the Raiders but proved much more capable playing on the outside. Moseley has been an outside corner throughout his NFL career with the 49ers and is coming off two torn ACLs.

The Lions coaching staff, including Dan Campbell, has insisted all summer that there is a real battle between Hendon Hooker and Nate Sudfeld for the backup QB spot behind Jared Goff. Hooker and Sudfeld have moved interchangeably between the second-team and third-team offenses all camp, though Hooker does tend to start there.

Sudfield earning the destination as the No. 2 for the Giants game is another sign that the Lions are not just handing the gig to Hooker, who has been occasionally outstanding but consistently inconsistent.