We're one preseason game in the books, and the Detroit Lions' roster is already beginning to take shape.
Fantastic performances out of EDGE Ahmed Hassanein and running back Jacob Saylors have increased their odds of making the Lions' 53-man roster. In turn, that tightens the available spots remaining for those still on the roster bubble.
We're entering crunch time in training camp and the preseason, and with only two preseason games to go, players on the roster bubble need a good showing against the Washington Commanders on Saturday to remain in the roster mix.
3 Lions that have to step it up against the Commanders
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
The best ability has always been availability, which has been one of the biggest struggles for cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. throughout his career.
Rakestraw did leave the Lions' loss to the Cincinnati Bengals with a contusion, but has thankfully returned to practice and should be good to go going forward. Prior to his injury, Rakestraw played 22 snaps leading to a horrendous 29.3 grade on Pro Football Focus to which Rakestraw responded to on Sunday, saying, "They don’t know what they’re talking about anyway."
Saturday against the Commanders would be the perfect opportunity for Rakestraw to prove PFF wrong in a wide-open CB competition. Show the Lions that their abysmal 2024 draft class can still be saved, and that they didn't go 0-2 at drafting corners in the first two rounds.
Miles Frazier
Guard/tackle Miles Frazier did himself little favors in the Lions' loss against the Bengals, with three first-half holding penalties. Not that Christian Mahogany made that much of a better case for the Lions' starting left guard spot, but Frazier fell well short of setting himself from the pack at guard or at tackle.
Making matters worse for Frazier was the emergence of undrafted free agent rookie guard Melvin Priestly, who walked away with the third highest PFF grade among Lions' offensive players (66.9). Frazier was already competing against Mahogany and veterans like Juice Scruggs and Ben Bartch, but now an UDFA rookie has deservedly joined the conversation at guard.
Frazier's saving grace could be the injury to center Cade Mays. Mays' injury may open up a right guard spot on the depth chart if the Lions elect to move Tate Ratledge to center while Mays recovers. Frazier was primarily a RG in college, and has gotten looks at the position during training camp.
A rebound performance against the Commanders, especially in his potential RG snaps, would be a massive boon to Frazier's prospects this season. Doing so would also give the Lions the flexibility to possibly commit to Ratledge at center, and create a pathway to start in another part of the line. But another abysmal performance could leave Frazier the odd man out, regardless of position.
Joshua Dobbs
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs hasn't been back with the Lions for long, after his immediate signing following the abrupt Teddy Bridgewater retirement, but his time back could be a short one.
Dobbs is presumed to have the QB2 spot locked in, given his veteran status and history starting for offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Yet, Dobbs wasn't all too impressive in his few drives against the Bengals, going 4/8 for 32 yards passing.
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That could be chalked up to him only just rejoining the team, and he should have the chance to prove that was the case against the Commanders. He may need to, as UDFA rookie Luke Altmyer had a solid overall outing in his preseason debut, playing a high majority of the team's snaps at QB and leading the offense to their lone touchdown drive.
If Dobbs doesn't play well on Saturday, and Altmyer trends in a positive direction, that QB2 spot starts to enter toss-up territory. Since the Lions aren't likely to bring more than two QBs to their 53-man roster, the journeyman QB will need to step up and secure the QB2 spot or risk a return to free agency.
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