Cornerbacks, Safeties and Specialists
Cornerbacks (6): Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah, Will Harris, AJ Parker, Mike Hughes, Chase Lucas
PUP: Jerry Jacobs
The starting outside corner opposite Oruwariye seems yet to be determined. While Harris had a couple bad plays gainst the Colts, Okudah was steadier. Hughes seemed to be trending the wrong way, but then he started against Indianapolis. Parker appears locked in as primarily a slot guy, and I gave the rookie Lucas the last spot.
Safeties (5): Tracy Walker, DeShon Elliott, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, C.J. Moore
Joseph has seen a lot of action in the first two preseason games, as he gets acclimated to the NFL still early in his run as a full-time safety (he started his college career as a wide receiver). There have been ups and downs, and it appears the lowlight play from the game against the Colts–a 50-yard touchdown–wasn’t his fault.
I still see people harping on Kerby Joseph for the 50-yd TD & the Colts' replay (on Game Pass) doesn't have an All-22 angle, I went back to the Lions broadcast to get the wide-angle view of the play to explain what happened & why I don't put the fault on the rookie.
— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) August 21, 2022
Thread 1/5
Melifonwu made the move to safety this offseason, but he could surely play some corner if needed. Moore was a core special teamer last year, and he’s now healthy.
Specialists (3): P Jack Fox, LS Scott Daly, PK Riley Patterson
Austin Seibert took a step back in the kicking battle against the Colts, as he battles what appears to be, in the parlance of golf, a bit of a slice. Patterson doesn’t have the same leg strength, but he is reliable (as he showed late last season as the Lions’ kicker).
Final Roster Count: 53