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3 most important players on the Detroit Lions who are not starters

By Brad Berreman

Sep 26, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) looks down as he walks off the field after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jamaal Williams (30) looks down as he walks off the field after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Abbie Parr/Getty Images
Credit: Abbie Parr/Getty Images /

2. CB/S Will Harris

Harris has been a bane of Lions’ fans existence as strictly a safety by position label. But he seemed to have found a comfortable and more functional spot when pressed into duty at cornerback last season. He’s lined up for a hybrid role this year, eloquently labeled earlier this offseason by head coach Dan Campbell as “cafety” (cornerback/safety mix).

Harris led the Lions’ defense in snaps played in 2021 (1,012), and he was second on the team in tackles (93). None of that will be happening again–the most snaps, over 1,000 snaps or 90-plus tackles–if things go as planned. If the season started today (with everyone healthy–looking at you, Jeff Okudah), Harris wouldn’t be among the five defensive backs on the field for the first defensive snap Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

With a lesser role on defense, Harris would go back to playing more special teams and being a core guy there for the Lions  (more than 250 special teams snaps in both 2019 and 2020). He isn’t a starter at this point, as much as that label can be meaningful if you still play a lot, but Harris seems to be well-regarded by the coaching staff and his role as a symbol of the culture that’s being built is important.

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