The Detroit Lions are still sorting out some of their biggest preseason mysteries, and the second exhibition game Saturday against the Washington Commanders should provide another round of clues.
A few of those questions sit right in the heart of the roster. Detroit has not locked down starters at right tackle, EDGE, outside cornerback, or nickel corner, and the answers there could shape how the team opens the season.
At right tackle, rookie Blake Miller is the leading candidate to win the job. But veteran Larry Borom, a Birmingham (Mich.) Brother Rice High School product, remains in the mix and is not fading away.
The edge-rushing picture leans toward D.J. Wonnum.
The offseason addition is considered the favorite to start opposite Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson, especially with first-year pro Derrick Moore dealing with an injury early in training camp. Still, Ahmed Hassanein has forced his way into the conversation.
Hassanein, a second-year pro and a sixth-round pick in 2025, has put together a strong start to camp and carried that momentum into Detroit’s preseason opener against the Bengals. The Boise State product was one of the standout performers in that game, finishing with a game-high two sacks.
One of them came against Pro Bowl QB Joe Burrow on Cincinnati's first drive of the game. If he keeps that pace going, the EDGE battle opposite Hutchinson gets a lot more interesting.
The secondary remains unsettled as well. Detroit has a clear opening on the boundary opposite returning starter D.J.
Reed, and the situation only got more complicated after Terrion Arnold was released earlier this offseason. For now, veteran DB Rock Ya-Sin looks like the frontrunner to handle that spot.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. had a chance to push for the job when camp opened, but the third-year pro has had a rough summer. His preseason game against the Bengals included a physical issue, and he also struggled in coverage, which has hurt his chances of starting opposite Reed in Week 1.
Inside, the slot battle is still live. Offseason pickup Roger McCreary has had his own issues in camp, while rookie Keith Abney II has made a strong case. Abney, the first of Detroit’s two fifth-round picks in April, turned in an impressive coverage outing against the Bengals and could be the one who grabs the Week 1 nickel job if he keeps building on that performance Saturday.
Safety is another area where the Lions are bracing for a delayed answer. Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are both on the physically unable to perform list because of knee and Achilles injuries, respectively, and both are set to miss at least the first month of the season.
That leaves Detroit likely turning to Avonte Maddox and Chuck Clark as the starting safeties to begin the year.
Campbell and company still have time to sort through the depth chart, and Saturday’s matchup with Washington should offer another chance to separate the contenders from the rest.
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