The Detroit Lions were able to find a way to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week Two. Despite the win, here are five players whose stock has dropped.
The Detroit Lions posted a nice bounce-back victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week Two, finding a way to defeat the 2018 playoff team at Ford Field on Sunday, 13-10.
Yet, the contest was far from perfect for the Lions. Riddled with turnovers and penalties, fans of the Pride will find it hard to feel confident about the upcoming schedule which includes games against the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.
If the Lions are going to continue their winning ways, they’ll need some of their more underperforming players to step up their game. With that in mind, here are five Lions whose stock we believe has dropped following Week Two’s win.
Trey Flowers, DE
The Lions signed Flowers to a five-year, $90 million contract in the offseason. And through his first two games in Motown, he’s registered just three combined tackles and a single quarterback hit while playing nearly 60 percent of the defensive snaps. Detroit desperately needs a pass rusher and the fact Flowers played under Matt Patricia’s scheme in New England was supposed to shorten his learning curve. But he’s been nearly invisible.
Jamal Agnew, CB
It’s hard to believe Agnew was an All-Pro special teams returner just two years ago. He simply doesn’t appear to be the same player. Agnew was replaced by Danny Amendola after fumbling the football during a return against the Chargers. There’s a chance he may have lost the job permanently and for good reason.
C.J. Anderson, RB
The hefty Anderson was supposed to provide the Lions with an upgrade over last year’s short-yardage back LeGarrette Blount. After all, Anderson helped the Los Angeles Rams get to the Super Bowl last year by averaging 4.1 yards per carry in the playoffs. But through two games in Detroit, the 28-year old runner has looked sluggish, averaging a very Blount-like 2.7 per rushing attempt. Against the Chargers, Anderson had a measly eight yards on five carries.
Matt Prater, K
There is little doubt that Prater is one of the best kickers in the NFL. And it’s premature to throw up any red flags at this point. But Prater did miss an extra point attempt wide left off a high snap after going a perfect 30 of 30 in 2018. Unfortunately, the 35-year old also missed a 40-yard field goal attempt wide right. We’ve seen consistent kickers in the NFL suddenly lose their edge before. Let’s hope this was a fluke and not a sign of things to come.
T.J. Hockenson, TE
After a stellar debut where Hockenson posted six catches for 131 yards and his first touchdown, his play in Week Two was a reminder he’s still a rookie. Recording one repetition for seven yards on three targets, the Chargers did a good job removing the 2019 first-rounder from the offensive equation. The first-year tight end did himself no favors by committing a costly holding penalty with quarterback Matthew Stafford throwing an interception on the very next play.