The Detroit Lions are set to host the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, and their latest depth chart reflects a roster still being sorted out as the week unfolds.
At quarterback, Jared Goff remains the starter, with Josh Dobbs backing him up. The running back room is unchanged at the top, led by Jahmyr Gibbs, with Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors behind him.
The receiving group includes Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Tay Martin and DeAndre Carter, who was signed to the active roster this week. Detroit’s tight ends are Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin and Jackson Meeks.
On the offensive line, the Lions list nine players, with projected starters and reserves separated on the chart. The reserve group includes C/G Juice Scruggs, OT Larry Borom, G/T Miles Frazier and C Seth McLaughlin, who is injured.
Up front on defense, the interior line features Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Skyler Gill-Howard, Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhi Wingo. On the edge, Aidan Hutchinson anchors the group, joined by DJ Wonnum, Tyler Lacy, Derrick Moore, Eric O’Neill and Ahmed Hassanein.
At linebacker, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez headline the unit, with Trevor Nowaske, Jimmy Rolder and Amen Ogbongbemiga also listed. Devin White is on injured reserve with an arm injury.
The secondary has D.J. Reed, Roger McCreary, Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey and Rock Ya-Sin, who is listed with a hamstring issue but not given an injury designation.
At safety, Brian Branch has been activated from the PUP list after dealing with an Achilles issue, and he is joined by Keith Abney, Chuck Clark, Christian Izien and Bishop Fitzgerald. Kerby Joseph remains on PUP/eligible to return with a knee injury, while Thomas Harper has been placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Detroit’s specialist trio remains Jack Fox at punter, Jake Bates at kicker and Hogan Hatten at long snapper. Bates is handling kickoffs, Fox is the holder, DeAndre Carter is listed as the punt returner, and the kick return duties are shared by Jacob Saylors and Carter. Khalil Dorsey and Tay Martin are the gunners, with Christian Izien also listed, and Sione Vaki is the personal protector.
In Other News...
Lions Face A Trade Deadline Temptation That Could Change Their Pass Rush
Even with the Lions leading the NFL in sacks, there is still room to wonder whether the pass rush can get even better before the trade deadline. ESPNs Bill Barnwell floated a deal that would send draft picks to the Chargers for edge-rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback Donte Jackson, a move aimed at helping Detroit in the two places it could most use extra support.
Aidan Hutchinson and DJ Wonnum have given the front a strong foundation, but the appeal of a proven veteran like Mack is obvious if Detroit wants to keep piling up pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Barnwells logic also ties into the state of the secondary, where injuries have left the Lions thin and made any upgrade at corner worth a look, which is why the idea has enough traction to linger as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Alim McNeill Is Giving Lions Fans A New Reason To Trust This D-Line
The Lions are heading into their matchup with the Packers with their inactive list already drawing attention, and it includes defensive end Ahmed Hassanein. While Detroit sorts through its weekly lineup decisions, the bigger defensive storyline has been Alim McNeill, who has turned in a strong season after working his way back from a torn ACL and looking like a stabilizing force up front.
Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has singled out McNeill for the way he has influenced both the pass rush and the run defense, a welcome development for a unit that has needed more consistency on the interior. For a Lions front trying to establish trust week after week, McNeills impact has become one of the clearest reasons to believe this group can hold up when the games get tight. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Have One Defensive Problem The Deadline Could Force Them To Address
The Lions have spent plenty of time sorting through their defensive identity, but one issue keeps hanging around: cornerback play. Even with the secondary getting healthier and the pass defense showing signs it can be stabilized, the group still lacks the kind of man-coverage corner who can make the whole scheme easier to trust when the pressure rises.
Brian Branchs return at safety should help Detroit in the back end, but it does not erase the need at corner. That is why the trade deadline remains worth watching, with the Lions still weighing whether to make a bigger move to shore up a spot that has too often been asked to hold up on its own. [Read more 🡒]