5 Detroit Lions who should play more after the bye week

4. RB Jermar Jefferson

Jefferson has struggled to crack the Lions’ lineup so far in his rookie season, active for just two of eight games. He was in uniform Week 8 against the Eagles with Jamaal Williams (thigh) out, and he scored his first NFL touchdown as the Lions avoided being shut out.

Jefferson will not and should not take major playing time away from D’Andre Swift or Williams. But he’s got some ability (27 rushing touchdowns and a 5.7 yards per carry average over three seasons at Oregon State), and if the Lions have any more blowout games he should get looks in those situations. Another angle to get him on the field is as a kickoff or punt returner, and the coaching staff should explore those possibilities.

3. Anyone But Will Harris

Tracy Walker has legimately been the Lions best defensive player over the first eight games this season. But Harris has been an abject disaster at the other safety spot, equally bad in pass coverage and as a run stopper.

A sign of a shift away from Harris came in Week 8. He played just over half of the defensive snaps (33) against the Eagles, while Dean Marlowe played 39 snaps. Bobby Price also played eight snaps, after playing zero defensive snaps over the prior two games. Blowout or not, Harris was due to see the field way less and he did.

Harris should be relegated to special teams duty after the bye week. Anyone who replaces him alongside Walker can’t be any worse.