By Jason Berndt
The Detroit Lions are set to begin training camp, with rookies reporting this week and the full squad scheduled to begin on July 29th. Optimism is high for this team coming off a 9-8 record a year ago, winning 8 out of their last 10 games. Things seemingly looked to have turned a corner. The Lions are favored by many (including Las Vegas) to win the NFC North division this year. The optimist in me really wants this to happen. The realist in me remembers it is still the Detroit Lions, a team that hasn’t won a division since 1993 and a playoff game since 1991. However, there are a few factors that indicate this turnaround can happen this season. Entering training camp, the Lions have very few question marks regarding their starters on both sides of the ball. The majority of players that fill out the remaining roster spots will be determined on pure backup/rotation roles, or abilities to play on special teams. Before camp begins, let’s break down the current roster and depth chart to see where this team truly is. Let’s begin with the offense.
Quarterbacks: Jared Goff, Nate Sudfeld, (R) Hendon Hooker, (UDFA) Adrian Martinez
There is not much question here that Jared Goff is your starter here barring an injury or a heavy decline in play. Rookie Hendon Hooker will likely begin the season on the injured list as he’s still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered playing for Tennessee last season. Nate Sudfeld is likely the backup, but as we saw last season the Lions cut both of their backup QBs before the year due to poor play in the preseason, so anything is possible. Adrian Martinez is a long shot to make the 53-man roster but could be signed to the practice squad.
Running backs: David Montgomery, (R) Jahmyr Gibbs, Jermar Jefferson, Jason Cabinda, Craig Reynolds, Mohamed Ibrahim, Greg Bell
Montgomery signed a 3-year $18 million contract in the offseason to replace Jamaal Williams. Needless to say, he’ll see the bulk of the snaps as long as he’s healthy throughout the season. Last year for Chicago he had 201 carries for 801 yards running behind an underwhelming Bears offensive line, so those numbers are sure to go up or stay consistent. He will see the majority of goal line carries as did Williams last year, allowing him to break the franchise rushing touchdown record with 17. First round pick Jahmyr Gibbs out of Alabama, will see the field quite a bit. Either in the backfield or at any of the receiver positions, Gibbs is a potential playmaker for offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Jason Cabinda will be the primary fullback, which leaves the reserve positions to Jefferson and Reynolds. Ibrahim and Bell will likely be cuts or practice squad players, and the staff will have to decide to carry three or 4 running backs which would then come down to Jefferson or Reynolds as the third back.
Receivers: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones Jr., Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Maurice Alexander, (R) Antoine Green, Trinity Benson, Tom Kennedy, (UDFA) Chase Cota, (UDFA) Dylan Drummond
Jameson Williams will not play the first six games due to a gambling suspension but will certainly be among the top four receivers upon his return in October. Jones, Jr. signed a one year deal to return to Detroit and will see the majority of the offensive snaps with St. Brown. Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds both played rolls last season and will be in the mix for playing time especially during Williams absence. That leaves Benson, Kennedy and some undrafted free agents to vie for an additional spot. Both Kennedy and Benson remain from last year but spent the majority of time on injured reserve or the practice squad.
Tight End: (R) Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, James Mitchell, Shane Zylstra
This position is wide open heading into training camp. LaPorta, a second-round pick, will get every opportunity to win the starting job as a rookie. At the very least, he will see significant playing time for head coach Dan Campbell, himself a former tight end. James Mitchell, a fifth-round selection in 2022 will have to take a huge step forward, otherwise Brock Wright will see additional time at the spot as he did last season once T.J. Hockenson was dealt to Minnesota. If the Lions decide against carrying four tight ends that final spot will be between Zylstra and Mitchell.
Offensive Line: (C) Frank Ragnow, (LG) Jonah Jackson, (RG) Halapoulaivaati Vaitai, (LT) Taylor Decker, (RT) Penei Sewell
Reserves: (C/G) Graham Glasgow, (G) Logan Stenberg, (T) Matt Nelson, (G/T) Germain Ifedi, (R-G) Colby Sorsdal, (UDFA-T) Ryan Swoboda, (T) Connor Galvin, (T) Obinna Eze, (T) Darrin Paulo, (T) Max Pircher, (G) Kayode Awosika, (C) Ross Pierschbacher
The starting five is set, barring an injury or a last-minute coaching decision. Glasgow is returning to the Lions after a few seasons with the Denver Broncos and will contribute as a primary backup at either guard or center position. Stenberg and Nelson saw significant playing time last year and will certainly be huge insurance players as well as extra linemen for goal line or jumbo sets. The remaining players in camp will battle for a couple spots, or time on the practice squad.
Special Teams K/P/LS: (K) Michael Badgley, (P) Jack Fox, (LS) Jake McQuaide, (K) Parker Romo, (K) Riley Patterson, (LS) Scott Daly
The only question mark here would be if Michael Badgley were to perform poorly during training camp and the preseason. He was reliable last year for the Lions going 24-28 in field goal attempts, along with being a perfect 33-33 in extra points. Riley Patterson is returning after being released from Jacksonville, and he performed well at the end of 2021 with Detroit. I know, it’s the kicker position but fans will discuss it after every missed field goal or extra point so it’s worth discussing now. Parker Romo will be in camp, but the other two will battle it out for the only spot on the roster. Jake McQuaid is a lock for the long snapper position.
As for the defense, this group should be much improved heading into this season. If second year players Aidan Hutchinson, Malcolm Rodriguez, James Houston, and Kerby Joseph continue progression and don’t suffer a sophomore slump, then the acquisitions the Lions made in the offseason should just supplement them.
Defensive Line: (Edge) Aidan Hutchinson, (DE) John Cominsky, (DT) Alim McNeill, (DT) Isaiah Buggs
Reserves: (Edge) Romeo Okwara, (Edge) Charles Harris, (Edge) Josh Paschal, (DT) Levi Onwuzurike, (DT) Benito Jones, (R-DT) Brodric Martin, (DL) Christian Covington, (DT) Demetrius Taylor, (DL) Chris Smith, (DE) Zach Morton, (DL) Corey Durden
The rotation (barring injury) is set. The only question with the defensive front is third-year defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike. A second round pick a couple seasons ago, this is certainly a make-or-break season for him entering year three. He starts training camp injured yet again, so that might make a decision on him easier. If rookie tackle Brodric Martin impresses the coaching staff during camp then that will certainly spell the end for Onwuzurike. The return of injured lineman Charles Harris and Josh Pashal from last season will give Detroit an improved pass rush and rushing defense, and if they can stay relatively healthy the D-line should be formidable throughout 2023.
Linebackers: (LB) Alex Anzalone, (R-MLB) Jack Campbell, (OLB) James Houston, (MLB) Malcolm Rodriguez, (OLB) Derrick Barnes, (OLB) Julian Okwara, (OLB) Jalen Reeves Maybin, (LB) Anthony Pittman, (UDFA) Trevor Nowaske
First round pick Jack Campbell should definitely improve this group. The question will be how fast he can pick up the NFL game? Second-year Malcolm Rodriguez will certainly battle for playing time in the middle. Alex Anzalone will be the captain of the defense. He can play inside or out, allowing flexibility to allow those other players to see the field in certain spots. James Houston will be looking a bigger role than just a pass rush specialist on third downs, and Barnes and Okwara will look to improve to get their shots. It’s a good problem to have but it’s a good, solid group of linebackers. Reeves Maybin and Pittman can provide some depth and contribute on special teams. If Campbell turns out to be a stud as hoped, there could be a surprise cut late in camp or during the season.
Secondary: (CB) Cameron Sutton, (CB) Jerry Jacobs, (CB) C.J. Gardner Johnson, (S) Tracy Walker III, (S) Kerby Joseph
Reserves: (CB) Will Harris, (CB) Emmanuel Mosely, (R-CB/S) Brian Branch, (S) Ifeatu Melifonwu, (S) Brady Breeze, (UDFA-S) Brandon Joseph, (CB) Savion Smith, (CB) Jarren Williams, (UDFA-CB) Starling Thomas V, (CB) Khalil Dorsey
This group seemingly improved the most in the offseason and needed to. The numbers in the secondary last season were among the worst in the NFL, thus leading to a trade that saw former #3 overall pick Jeff Okudah shipped to Atlanta. This group should be much better in containment, pass defense, and run support. Sutton, Gardner Johnson, and Mosely were free agent acquisitions that should see the bulk at corner, as well as Jerry Jacobs. Tracy Walker III returns from a season ending Achilles injury a year ago and was the captain of the secondary before he went down. He, along with second year star Kerby Joseph should take the majority of snaps at safety, with rookie Brian Branch from Alabama filling in as a backup or at a nickel spot. The two returners of question are Harris and Melifonwu. They both will have to play well in camp and the preseason to reward them with a spot on the roster. Special teams might play a deciding factor on if one or both will remain. The others on the list of course will battle for the same spots as well as a shot at the practice squad.
Like any team, health will have to play an important role in the success of the Lions this year. The difference is now they have depth in positions they did not have before, and players have certainly bought into coach Dan Campbell’s philosophy and work ethic. Now that Aaron Rodgers is out of the division in Green Bay, Minnesota perceivably took a step back, and Chicago is continuing to rebuild, Detroit could pounce and make a huge statement by taking control of the division for the first time since 1993.
