3. CB Mike Hughes
For much of camp and into the first preseason game, Hughes was pushed toward the roster bubble based on just not showing out very much. But then he got more significant run in the second preseason game against the Colts.
The preseason finale looks to be big for Hughes. He isn’t likely to be a significant special teams contributor, so he’d have to be the No. 1 nickel/slot corner over AJ Parker. When he plays against the Steelers will be as telling about his status as how well he plays.
2. RB Godwin Igwebuike
Campbell has declared Igwebuike as the Lions’ kickoff returner “right now.” He served in the role last year, and was fine (24.9 yards per return). Being a known entity there, he has not returned kicks in the preseason.
On Thursday, via Pride of Detroit, Campbell talked about Igwebuike and punt returner Kalif Raymond.
"Yeah, I mean I think we’ve got a real good feel of what we have in Leaf (Raymond) and Godwin to an extent. And so, I think it’s more about, ‘OK, we know what those players are and what they can do.’ And so, now let’s see if somebody catches our eye or we believe can really surpass that. Which is honestly—that’s hard to find in one or two preseason games. But you just want to see if there’s something there.”"
Maurice Alexander certainly had a eye-catching performance in the second preseason game against the Colts. He had return duties all to himself, with four kickoff returns totaling 152 yards (long of 61 yards).
Alexander was signed by the Lions just after camp started. He led the USFL in kickoff return yardage in the first year of the rendition of the league, by both average (31.5 per return) and total yardage (787).
Igwebuike was broadly a core special teamer as well for the Lions last year, which would give him an edge to lock down a roster spot. But there is a path where Alexander makes it hard to not make him the No. 1 kickoff returner, and then a special teams coverage guy/RB4 or 5 (Igwebuike) becomes more replaceable and possibly expendable.