The Lions head to Arizona in Week 5 with something simple in front of them: get a road win, climb back over .500 and head into the bye with better footing than they had after the loss to Carolina. Detroit has already dropped its first two games away from home, and the Cardinals present a tougher test than their 1-3 record might suggest.
Dan Campbell’s updated depth chart shows a few clear themes. The offense keeps leaning on familiar names, the line is settling in, and the injury picture still leaves a few spots worth watching.
Jared Goff has been one of the steadier quarterbacks in the league so far. He hasn’t turned the ball over, ranks third in passing yards behind Dak Prescott, who played on Thursday, and Bryce Young, and is one of only three starters who have played in all four games without throwing an interception.
In the backfield, Jahmyr Gibbs remains the lead option, with Sione Vaki backing him up and Jacob Saylors in reserve. Isiah Pacheco is on injured reserve.
Gibbs has continued to drive the offense on the ground, while Vaki has been getting the bulk of the work when Gibbs comes off the field. His pass protection has improved since the start of the year, and that has earned him more trust and more snaps.
Detroit’s receiving group stays fronted by Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa, with Tom Kennedy and Tay Martin behind them.
Kendrick Law remains on injured reserve. Williams and TeSlaa have both started to find their rhythm after slower openings, and TeSlaa is coming off a career-best game.
St. Brown continues to be the engine, sitting fourth in the league in receptions through four weeks.
At tight end, Sam LaPorta is listed as the starter with Brock Wright behind him and Jackson Meeks and Tyler Conklin in reserve. LaPorta’s start has been solid despite the questions surrounding his future.
He caught a touchdown against the Panthers and has 22 catches through four games. Wright, meanwhile, is coming off a rough outing that included a fine and two penalties.
Up front, the tackle spots have stayed stable. Penei Sewell is starting on the left and Blake Miller on the right, with Larry Borom backing them up.
Gio Manu is inactive because of a non-football injury. Sewell and Miller are together for a third straight game, and Miller keeps showing growth in his rookie season while Sewell continues to play like one of the best tackles in football.
The interior line brings a few more moving parts. Christian Mahogany is at left guard and Tate Ratledge at right guard, with Miles Frazier behind them.
Ben Bartch is out with a foot injury for a third straight game, which leaves Mahogany without much challenge on the left side after the competition Campbell wanted hasn’t really taken shape. Ratledge has been steady on the right.
Juice Scruggs remains the center with Seth McLaughlin behind him and Tate Ratledge listed as a reserve. Cade Mays is out with a wrist injury, though he returned to practice earlier in the week.
He won’t play against Arizona, but he could be back after the bye, which would create an interesting situation for Scruggs. For now, the veteran has been dependable and could still factor at left guard or at least give the line more depth.
On defense, Tyleik Williams is questionable with a foot issue, though he told reporters he plans to play. Alim McNeill stays alongside him on the line, with Skyler Gill-Howard, Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhi Wingo behind them. McNeill is coming off another strong game and has three sacks on the season, a pace that already puts him ahead of his career best.
The edge rush group features Aidan Hutchinson and D.J. Wonnum as starters, with Tyler Lacy and Derrick Moore backing them up and Eric O’Neill and Ahmed Hassanein in reserve. Payton Turner is on injured reserve.
At linebacker, the starting group is Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez, with Trevor Nowaske, Jimmy Rolder and Amen Ogbongbemiga behind them and Devin White in reserve. Damone Clark is on injured reserve.
The Lions have moved away from White after using him as a starter in the first two weeks, and that lines up with Rolder’s increased role. The team appears comfortable leaning on the younger player and on Nowaske in certain packages.
The secondary has a few absences, but also some clarity. D.J.
Reed and Roger McCreary are listed as the starters at corner, with Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Keith Abney behind them and Khalil Dorsey in reserve. Rock Ya-Sin is out with a hamstring issue.
Ya-Sin’s status seems to point toward another start for either McCreary or Rakestraw, and Rakestraw appears to have the edge after showing better moments, including a pass breakup last week. Abney could also see more work at corner or safety.
Detroit won’t have to deal with Marvin Harrison Jr., who is inactive with the expectation that he’ll be traded early next week.
At safety, Chuck Clark and Christian Izien are the starters, with Jalen Mills elevated from the practice squad and Bishop Fitzgerald behind them. Brian Branch is out with an Achilles issue, Kerby Joseph remains on the PUP list, and Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper are both on injured reserve.
Clark and Izien have both given the unit veteran stability, and Izien has looked like one of the Lions’ best offseason additions. Mills is up for the third and final time, which means the team will have to decide whether to keep him on the active roster going forward.
Branch returned to practice and could be back after the bye, a development that could make Mills - and maybe Fitzgerald - less necessary.
Special teams stays unchanged. Jake Bates is the kicker, Jack Fox handles punting, and Hogan Hatten is the long snapper.
Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors are the kick returners, with Kennedy also listed as the punt returner. Bates remains perfect on field goals and extra points through four weeks.
In Other News...
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Lions Suddenly Have A Linebacker Decision Fans Will Notice
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Lions Week 5 Inactives Bring One Huge Defensive Twist
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What stands out most for Detroit, though, is the defensive wrinkle up front. Tyleik Williams is active and expected to start against the Cardinals, giving the Lions a fresh look in the middle of their defensive line at a time when every rotation decision matters. It is the kind of move that can quietly reshape the tone of a game before the first snap, even if the biggest answers will have to wait until the matchup unfolds. [Read more 🡒]