With just hours to go before the Detroit Lions kick off their preseason against the Cincinnati Bengals, it's a good time to take stock of how their rookies have been performing so far in training camp based on reports from those on the ground.
With injuries beginning to see an uptick, there's going to be a larger focus on rookies and their ability to step up in this contest - especially on defense. The Lions' secondary and their defensive line are where we should be gluing our eyes most for rookie movement.
Cincinnati plans on playing starters for some time in this one, but likely not for long. This should give the Lions' rookies a good taste of both legitimate NFL-caliber offensive and defensive play, and then a more leveled-out playing field. Here's a look at where the Lions rookies stand through a two weeks of training camp, and with a preseason game right around the corner.
Detroit Lions rookie stock report ahead of game vs. Bengals
OT Blake Miller
Miller has gotten a lot of praise for his intelligence so far in training camp. Reporters have noted that, while he's not looking like a starting right tackle just yet, he's doing a great job of learning from his mistakes in reps and not making the same mistake twice in coverage. That's what you want from a rookie lineman being groomed to take over from someone like Penei Sewell at right tackle.
From a recent writeup quoting Miller from Tim Twentyman, the Lions' team reporter:
"They are both phenomenal rushers and you have to be near perfect to block both of them. For me, when I'm trying to work (on) something in my game, I know, 'Hey, I probably should keep doing it or shouldn't keep doing it based on how the rep goes (against those two).' They are great competition and iron sharpens iron. They get me better and I'm very grateful to have those guys on my team to be able to go against every day."
Larry Borom continues to press Miller for the starting role, which is exactly why he was signed in the offseason. They see potential for Borom, and he's also versatile enough where he can be swapped out along the line in a break glass in case of emergency situation. Miller isn't as versatile, so him getting right tackle down pat is going to be his focus through August.
Verdict: Miller is slowly learning the role of NFL right tackle, but needs more time and reps to get the job down.
EDGE Derrick Moore
Moore got injured early on in training camp, suffering a strain that was reportedly minor. He still hasn't been fully back at training camp, but rather working out on the sideline with trainers, per Pride of Detroit's Jeremy Reisman back on August 9. We shouldn't anticipate seeing him during this preseason game, so that leaves players like Ahmed Hassanein, Tyler Lacy, and Payton Turner with more reps.
Verdict: Injury has hampered Moore's ability to step up in training camp, but hopefully by next week, he'll be fully participating in camp again ahead of their next preseason game.
READ MORE: Lions' joint practice decision looks better by the day amid training camp brawls
LB Jimmy Rolder
Rolder is also injured, although his injury status seems a lot more dire than Moore's. He's yet to return to practice, so there's nothing new to report on the Michigan standout. With Devin White having gotten signed in his, and Malcolm Rodriguez's, place, there's a good shot that even a late camp return for Rolder won't do him much good as it pertains to making this roster.
Verdict: Rolder's injury, and Devin White's play in training camp, might force him onto the Lions' roster bubble.
CB Keith Abney II
Abney hasn't made a ton of noise in training camp, but to be fair, the Lions' depth in their secondary has been one of the nicer surprises ahead of this season kicking off. As a result, he's struggled to stand out amongst a pack that features Nick Whiteside, Rock Ya-Sin, and D.J. Reed. Preseason will offer him a fantastic opportunity to showcase what he's learned about the nickel back position in defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's system.
Nolan Bianchi, a Lions beat reporter for Detroit News, shared this from Campbell this past week regarding Abney:
"He's pretty headsy for a rookie. Nickel position's not the easiest...he'll do exactly what you tell him to do. You give him one of the finer details...and man, he does it. He hits his landmarks in zone drops. ... That's always gonna give you a chance."
Abney was praised after getting drafted for his powerful tackling, his intensity on the field, and how hard he worked to kill plays. In a Lions system led by Campbell, that'll always play.
Verdict: Abney might need some excellent preseason showings to solidify a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster, especially at the nickel.
DT Skyler Gill-Howard
After a slow start to training camp, it sure sounds like Gill-Howard is beginning to hit his stride as a pass rusher and a solid run stopper for the Lions. The sixth-rounder earned major praise from MLive's Benjamin Raven for an excellent day at camp on August 10, with the writer sharing:
"Gill-Howard popped twice with that twitchiness we've heard about since the Lions drafted him in the sixth-round back in April. The rookie got some chances higher in the order, and made the most of them. Gill-Howard got through reserve center Michael Niese to get in quarterback Luke Altmyer's face for the pressure on a quick slip out of the slot to Tom Kennedy. Not long after. he emerged from the middle of the line to finally get the sack on Altmyer."
Detroit Free Press reporter Dave Birkett also recently did a write-up on Gill-Howard, where the rookie shared that he strives to emulate the play of Aaron Donald. That's a great player to study, especially with Gill-Howard a bit on the smaller side for a defensive tackle. If he can just keep making plays and work his way solidly into that second-team defense in camp, that's a big win. But, inconsistency remains a flaw.
Verdict: Gill-Howard could end up being one of the better bounce back stories out of training camp if he can keep improving as a pass rusher with the second-team defense.
DE Tyre West
West has been barely mentioned throughout training camp, and that's a bad thing for his chances at making the 53-man roster. With so much talent on the Lions' defensive line headed into this season, it was always a long shot that West would be anything other than an insurance policy to stash on the teams' practice squad.
That continues to be the feeling I'm getting from reading literally nothing about West, although maybe a good few preseason showings can change his fortune.
Verdict: West feels like the most obvious practice squad candidate for Lions out of entire rookie class. Gill-Howard is a close second.
Add us as a preferred source on Google