The Detroit Lions are set to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA this Saturday night in their second preseason matchup of the year. This will be yet another opportunity for fans of the Pride to get a preview of what’s to come from their new-look Lions before entering the regular season.
Here are three names on the offensive side of the ball we’ll be watching very closely in this exhibition …
Breshad Perriman, WR
While Breshad Perriman is a name that was recently included as part of the wide receiver depth chart one insider believes is already set as a top-four wideout on the team, he has yet to make his preseason debut.
The hope is that Perriman plays against the Steelers this Saturday so fans will have a chance to gauge his performance as someone who has a chance to have a big impact on the upcoming season within a very thin positional group.
Craig Reynolds, RB
The hero of the Lions preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills, running back Craig Reynolds rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown on just six carries averaging 8.2 yards per attempt.
What made the performance all the more impressive is the fact Reynolds did so despite having signed with the team the day before. He was literally introducing himself to coaches on the sideline and players in the huddle.
With all the introductions out of the way and a full week of practice under his belt, we are looking forward to seeing if Reynolds can continue his positive momentum against the Steelers on the road and maintain his status as an underdog every fan can root for.
Penei Sewell, OT
Gauging the play of offensive linemen isn’t always easy. Especially without access to the All-22 game film. But we’d still love to see some highlights from the Lions’ first-rounder, offensive tackle Penei Sewell, in his second preseason outing. The highly-touted rookie is hyped to be the best offensive linemen in his draft class and we’d love to see more tangible evidence of it through him stonewalling and pancaking defenders or as an agile, athletic run blocker.