The Lions are down to the last pieces of their practice squad puzzle, and while the roster is largely set, there are still a few spots where Detroit could use some insurance before Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints.
As of Tuesday, the team had filled 15 of its 16 practice squad spots. Fourteen of those players spent training camp with the Lions, a sign that Detroit clearly valued the group it brought through the summer. Even so, there are still a handful of places where another addition would make sense.
Wide receiver is one of them. Detroit kept only four receivers on the active roster, which leaves the group a little thin, especially if the Lions want a specific type of player. One possible target would be someone with return experience after the team cut veteran Greg Dortch, who then signed with the Bills' practice squad.
The Lions did keep veteran receiver Tom Kennedy on the practice squad, and he remains a flexible option if the team needs a promotion during the early part of the season. But Detroit still lacks much proven punt return experience on the active roster, so adding a fifth receiver who fits that role would not be a surprise.
Guard is another area worth watching. That battle never really took shape in camp after Ben Bartch's injury and Juice Scruggs' move to center left Christian Mahogany without much real competition. Mahogany is likely to open the year as the starting left guard.
That said, nothing is ever locked in with this team. The Lions operate like a meritocracy, and they can still push Mahogany during the regular season. Bartch, Miles Frazier, Seth McLaughlin, Mason Miller and Elijah Klein all remain in the mix in some form, giving Detroit multiple internal options if it wants to keep stirring the pot.
Cornerback could also use more stability. The Lions have veterans at the top, but there are a lot of untested players behind them. Ennis Rakestraw and Keith Abney are about to get their first real NFL opportunities, and the way they handle those snaps could define the group.
Because of that, Detroit would make sense to add a veteran corner on the practice squad as early-season protection. Nick Whiteside is already there, and he had looked like a roster lock early before fading later in camp.
Kicker rounds out the list. Jake Bates has been clutch for most of his two years with the Lions, but training camp was uneven, and he finished it by missing two extra points Saturday.
Detroit has shown plenty of faith in Bates, going through the offseason without bringing in another kicker. Even so, it would not be a bad idea to use the final practice squad spot on one and keep some competition around Bates during the season.
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