The Detroit Lions are inching toward Week 1, and with one preseason game already behind them, the first-round picture is starting to come into focus. Some spots look settled.
Others still have real movement. Ahead of the regular-season opener against the New Orleans Saints, here’s how the starting lineup could shake out.
At quarterback, Jared Goff remains the easy call. He’s locked in as the franchise passer, and the reporting out of camp has been positive. There’s been some thought that he could use preseason reps to get more comfortable in Drew Petzing’s offense, but the safer path may be to keep him out of the exhibition slate entirely and avoid any injury risk.
Jahmyr Gibbs is back after missing the start of camp, and he looks to be ramping up for the season. With David Montgomery traded away, the expectation is that Gibbs takes on a larger piece of the offense and could even push into Offensive Player of the Year territory.
The wide receiver group has a little more intrigue. Amon-Ra St.
Brown and Jameson Williams are firmly in place, but the third spot is not as clear as it once seemed. Isaac TeSlaa has had an uneven camp, even though the talent is obvious.
Greg Dortch, meanwhile, has a path to a meaningful role.
At tight end, Sam LaPorta has started to shake off the rust after a slower opening stretch, which makes sense after the season-ending herniated disk he dealt with last year. Detroit has useful depth here too, with Brock Wright and Tyler Conklin both bringing upside, even if neither matches LaPorta’s impact.
Up front, Blake Miller looks like the favorite to open at tackle. Like any rookie, he’s taken his share of lumps in camp, especially going against Aidan Hutchinson, but that kind of test can pay off down the road. On the other side, Penei Sewell gives the Lions a high-end bookend, and the line looks built to absorb the growing pains Miller may go through.
The interior line is still worth watching. Kayode Awosika had held the left guard job last year, but he wasn’t exactly locked in coming into camp.
He struggled in the preseason game, which was a setback after a strong start to camp. At right guard, Tate Ratledge appears positioned to keep that spot, though Detroit has also used him at center after Cade Mays’ injury.
If the other center candidates don’t elevate their play, Ratledge could slide over.
That’s where Trystan Colon comes in. Acquired in the Montgomery trade, he brings the kind of versatility that lets him play all three interior spots, and that gives the Lions flexibility while Mays is sidelined.
If Colon can’t handle the job, Ratledge could be next in line. Seth McLaughlin had a decent preseason opener, but he’ll need to stack consistent practices to make the 53-man roster and win the job.
Defensively, the Lions’ pass-rush depth stood out in the first preseason game. With Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport not playing, players such as Ahmed Hassanein and Anthony Lucas got a chance to flash. The most likely starting duo to open the year is still Hutchinson and Davenport, but Detroit has plenty of options behind them, including Derrick Moore, Hassanein and bigger edge bodies like Tyler Lacy.
The interior defensive line could be a real strength. Alim McNeill and DJ Reader give the Lions a pairing that fits together cleanly: McNeill brings pass-rush juice, while Reader handles the dirty work against the run.
Sixth-round pick Skyler Gill-Howard is also climbing. The Texas Tech product showed well against the Bengals and flashed real athleticism.
At linebacker, the move toward more nickel defense points to a two-linebacker setup. Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone are the clear top options, with Campbell set to wear the green dot and lead the unit.
Barnes can do a little of everything, which makes him a natural fit alongside him. In 4-3 looks, Devin White could be the next man up, and he’s currently ahead of Malcolm Rodriguez, Troy Reeder and Trevor Nowaske in that competition.
Cornerback has another battle brewing. After Terrion Arnold was let go, Detroit opened up a spot opposite Reed.
Early signs point to Asante Samuel Jr. leading that race. Kelee Ringo hasn’t been steady enough, and Nick Whiteside still has more work to do.
Ya-Sin’s experience gives him an edge, and he was serviceable when called on for the Lions last year. That would give Detroit a solid starting duo to begin the season, with Ringo, Whiteside and Roger McCreary available if injuries hit.
Nickel is another spot where the Lions have options, but the early lean is toward Izien. McCreary may have entered camp as the external favorite, yet Dan Campbell said the team wanted Izien to get work at nickel, and that’s exactly what they’ve done since he missed the start of camp on the Non-Football Illness list. Detroit could also look at rookie Keith Abney there, but Izien’s versatility and ball skills give him the early edge.
Safety is the one area where the Lions may have to lean on depth right away, since Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are expected to miss the start of the season. That leaves Detroit to piece things together, and the proactive additions of Clark and Izien help. With Izien at nickel, Clark and Maddox look like the most likely starting tandem to open the year, while Thomas Harper remains in the mix after starting nine games last season for Detroit.
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