The Detroit Lions concluded their preseason with a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but did their players do enough to secure their spots amid tough roster decisions?
As the Lions enter the roster cutdown phase, the performances from these crucial preseason games could determine who makes the 53-man roster, ends up on the practice squad, or has to find a new team. Here are some key takeaways before the final roster decisions are made.
**Hendon Shines**
Whether he secures the QB2 position or not, Hendon Hooker has demonstrated the skills that made him an exciting college player and a valued draft pick. In his first preseason start, Hooker showed significant progress against the Steelers, both in the air and on the ground. He threw for 114 yards and a touchdown to Jake Funk, and his impressive 93 rushing yards were particularly notable.
Hooker stands out as one of the more mobile quarterbacks the Lions have had recently. He could be an intriguing future option if Jared Goff gets injured, though it’s uncertain if Hooker will immediately be given the backup role. While Hooker’s ability to scramble helps mitigate some issues, he is still developing his pocket presence. Meanwhile, Nate Sudfeld did not play, with Jake Fromm taking his place, which might suggest that the Lions have seen enough from Sudfeld—whether this is favorable or unfavorable for his roster spot remains to be seen. Fromm performed well in his brief appearance but is unlikely to surpass Sudfeld.
**Backup Offensive Line Struggles**
The backup offensive line had a rough game, allowing five sacks and struggling to protect the quarterback. Hooker faced intense pressure, with four sacks occurring in the first quarter alone. The line improved in the second half, but that was against less formidable opposition and partly due to Hooker’s mobility.
Colby Sorsdal, in particular, has underperformed this preseason, failing to meet expectations despite being shifted between guard and tackle. With Giovanni Manu and Christian Mahogany also on the roster, the Lions may not need more developmental players. The competition for an interior depth spot between Kayode Awosika, Michael Niese, and Kingsley Eguakun remains open, though Awosika’s absence from the game might suggest that the team is already familiar with his capabilities.
**Wide Receiver Situation Unclear**
Evaluating the wide receiver group has been challenging with backup quarterbacks and inconsistent offensive line play. Maurice Alexander led in receiving yards, but most of his production came with Fromm at quarterback. Jalon Calhoun finished second in receiving yards, yet his contributions came late in the game.
The prominent receivers had quiet performances. Isaiah Williams had just one catch for 17 yards and contributed to an interception thrown by Hooker. Donovan Peoples-Jones failed to catch any of his three targets and appeared to have issues with his positioning. Daurice Fountain had a difficult but catchable deep pass that he missed, which could have bolstered his case. Kaden Davis had two catches for 27 yards, which was not particularly impactful.
Williams may be the only receiver who has played his way onto the roster this preseason, leaving the Lions with a challenging decision on receiver depth.
**The Summer of Summers**
Linebacker Ty Summers, despite being with the Lions for a short time, has made a strong impression. He delivered an outstanding defensive performance against the Steelers with eight tackles, one-and-a-half sacks, and a special teams tackle.
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