The Detroit Lions invested a lot into their rookies this offseason. By opting to keep all but one 2026 draft pick on their active roster, they officially kicked off a youth injection that they're hoping can create some immediate results for them this season.
Week 1 provided some helpful tape on almost all of their rostered rookies, with Derrick Moore and Jimmy Rolder getting no snaps ahead of a shortened week. The team didn't need Moore all that much thanks to a really solid pass rush and run stop game from them against the New Orleans Saints, while their linebacker room and special teams unit seemed set without Rolder.
Here, we'll take a look at the Lions' rookies from Week 1, and areas of improvement we think exist for them this early in the year.
Lions rookie stock report after Week 1 win
T Blake Miller
Miller was a part of Lions unit that allowed just four pressures and one sack on Jared Goff in Week 1, and he had a relatively quiet day overall - that's a great thing for the rookie tackle. He didn't draw any silly penalties, nor did it seem like he was struggling to contain the Saints' very talented defensive front.
Miller popped up on the Lions' estimated practice report with a knee injury, but he finished the game on Sunday and didn't seem too hindered by whatever knee injury he might've suffered. More than likely, the team has listed him as a non-participant in walkthroughs as they rest him ahead of Thursday night.
Detroit's line looked really solid overall, and Miller was a key part of that. Helping keep Goff clean will help to get the Lions' offense on track in the air.
CB Keith Abney II
Talk about getting thrown into the fire.
Abney was plugged into the game late after Rock Ya-Sin had to come off the field for a few snaps, leaving the rookie all by his lonesome against a suddenly potent Saints receiving corp. He had one bad penalty and just two tackles in limited action, and struggled to contain New Orleans' pass game when he was out on the field. He did have one tackle for loss, though.
Again, though, we're talking about a rookie cornerback who got thrown to the wolves because of a brief injury. It'd be silly to judge or grade his performance in this game when the entire secondary was struggling to contain Tyler Shough, Chris Olave, and Devaughn Vele. Hopefully, we get a better look at Abney as the season progresses and against slightly weaker competition.
READ MORE: Jared Goff is not pushing panic button about Jameson Williams after tough Week 1
DT Skyler Gill-Howard
Gill-Howard finished up his first Lions game, and first NFL game, with three tackles total and a part of a very potent Lions defensive front. While he was only really slotted in on 3rd down blitz packages, he was never an issue on defense - that's what you want out of a 6th-round pick that has only improved since arriving in Detroit.
One highlight on the day from Gill-Howard that won't get talked about much thanks to the play leading to an Aidan Hutchinson sack: he and fellow rookie Eric O'Neill managed to take on a plethora of Saints linemen, allowing Hutchinson the room to hit a nasty spin on Kelvin Banks Jr. and land the sack.
This sort of attention being pulled away from Hutchinson is exactly the benefit of having so much talent up front now.
Eric O'Neill
As mentioned above, O'Neill is already a potent piece to the Lions' defense this season. He had three solo tackles on special teams as a gunner, which added to Tay Martin's three tackles on special teams. Both were relentless in their pursuit of the Saints returners, helping secure ideal field positioning for Detroit's defense numerous times.
He, again, is also a factor in blitz packages for defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Like Gill-Howard, he is a wrecking ball in the pass rush, and can be disruptive without necessarily recording a sack or quarterback hit. O'Neill certainly made his presence felt in his NFL debut.
Add us as a preferred source on Google