Training camp is nearing an end, with the Detroit Lions' final preseason contest coming two days prior to roster cuts and their official 53-man roster being due. They still have some question marks along their offensive line, specifically at center and left guard, while it seems like their secondary probably has a shape headed into this last preseason bout against the Indianapolis Colts.
Detroit's 53-man roster math is feeling a little tougher as of late, with a few rookies really popping off the page for them in preseason. Decent depth is never a bad thing, especially when the Lions struggle immensely with injuries last season and had to rely on various 'Legions of Whom' to carry them to the end.
After their second preseason contest, we've got some new predictions for their 53-man roster.
Lions 53-man roster predictions following Week 2 of preseason
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK (3)
Jared Goff, Josh Dobbs, Luke Altmyer
Last time we predicted the Lions' 53-man roster, we left Altmyer out of the equation. Detroit did not carry three quarterbacks into the 2025 season, but they also had a very reliable backup in Kyle Allen sitting behind Goff on the bench.
Altmyer and Dobbs are still dueling for the QB2 role, and both have had their moments in preseason. Altmyer, especially, has been a pleasant surprise for the Lions as a UDFA. He hasn't looked shaken up by pressure as much as you'd think, while Dobbs did not look like the far and away obvious QB2 in his first preseason start for the Lions.
They should carry all through into the year, with Altmyer as their emergency backup.
RUNNING BACK (3)
Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Jacob Saylors
Gibbs is obvious here, and the Lions are likely comfortable letting Pacheco be his backup until he proves the inability to bounce back from a bad 2025 season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Saylors has done more than enough to show he's a reliable rusher for Detroit, and has some strong qualities as a potential punt returner. Although, that might just be Tom Kennedy's and Sione Vaki's role to split.
WIDE RECEIVER (5)
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett, Greg Dortch
With an injury potentially marring Cedrick Wilson Jr.'s ability to compete for the teams' open WR3 role, we go with Lovett and Dortch to fill those gaps. This is probably one of the easier rooms to project, with the Lions investing a lot of time into TeSlaa as their likely Kalif Raymond replacement. Although, if he continues to struggle in preseason, we could see Lovett become an x-factor.
TIGHT END (3)
Sam LaPorta, Tyler Conklin, Jackson Meeks
Assuming LaPorta is good to go for Week 1, we push Wright out of the equation in this roster prediction. Meeks has just looked too interesting as a tight end addition for the Lions' offense, and he's also a great special teams member. That's an invaluable trait if you're on the roster bubble for Detroit, as they continue to hammer home the importance of having dual threats like that.
Meeks' great Week 2 - which included a critical punch out on a punt return that helped to seal a close game against the Washington Commanders - pushes him up here.
LEFT TACKLE (2)
Penei Sewell, Devin Cochran
This is another easy room to figure out, and thank goodness for that. Sewell is the teams' All-Pro savior on their offensive line right now, and his durability will be key for their success this year. Cochran's been having a decent preseason, as well, so we feel good about slotting him behind Sewell.
LEFT GUARD (2)
Christian Mahogany, Miles Frazier
Frazier had a better preseason outing than he had in Week 1, but it doesn't feel like he can do much to leapfrog Mahogany as the starting guard right now. With Ben Bartch's concussion, he does feel like a lock to be the LG2 to begin this season.
CENTER (2)
Cade Mays (OUT), Juice Scruggs
Mays will be out for some time, so the starting job goes to Scruggs as a result on this depth chart. He's getting and earning snaps there in training camp, with McLaughlin having a pretty down game against Washington in Week 2.
Tate Ratledge might factor in as an answer here, but only in an emergency. If they are truly invested in Ratledge as a backup center, though, that could mean McLaughlin misses out on the roster.
RIGHT GUARD (2)
Tate Ratledge, Colby Sorsdal
Ratledge was the highest-graded player on offense for the Lions in Week 2 of the preseason, and fans should be excited about the idea that he's developing into a true blue-chip lineman for Detroit. That would immediately stabilize this unit. He's also being considered a potential answer at center for the Lions, although it's tough to imagine them moving him when he's playing this well at right guard.
RIGHT TACKLE (2)
Blake Miller, Larry Borom
Miller and Borom seem to still be battling for the starting job, but Miller's been improving so steadily that it's hard to imagine him taking a step back and relinquishing his momentum to Borom. Both are solid options at the position, with Miller having had a great Week 1 but a so-so Week 2. Still, the rookie should get the nod here, with Borom acting as a swing tackle on the year.
READ MORE: Lions have 3 sneaky trade targets hiding on Ben Johnson's Bears
TOTAL ON OFFENSE: 24
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE END (4)
Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Wonnum, Derrick Moore, Ahmed Hassanein
Moore and Wonnum looked great against the Commanders, combining for two sacks and two tackles for loss. Moore also forced a fumble at one point in the game, although it was recovered by Washington. Still, you saw the potential for an unbelievably disruptive defensive end unit.
Hassanein earns the nod here to round out the room thanks to a great training camp and an excellent Week 1 showing - although, we could see a world where players like Eric O'Neill or Tyler Lacy join the party, depending on their Week 3 performances.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE/NOSE TACKLE (5)
Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, Skyler Gill-Howard, Mekhi Wingo
McNeill and Williams have a ton of hype coming out of training camp, and that is exciting for the Lions on the pass rush front. They need a lot more pressure up the middle this season, and McNeill can provide just that if he's really back to his pre-ACL tear form. Gill-Howard, the Lions' 6th round pick from this year's draft, has also shown his ability to do that consistently.
Onwuzurike looked good in Week 2 of the preseason, while Wingo factors as a third string option for the Lions and this oft-injured front.
LINEBACKER (5)
Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, Devin White, Damone Clark
While the potential for rookie Jimmy Rolder is obvious, he might be missing too much time in training camp to make his mark on this roster. We would go with Erick Hunter here to round out that room as a result, but there's totally a possibility that Detroit brings Rolder on anyway until he's healed up from his hamstring injury.
Damone Clark and Devin White are also sneakily great depth additions made by the Lions in free agency, and both should make this roster as backups.
CORNERBACK/NB (5)
D.J. Reed, Rock Ya-Sin, Nick Whiteside, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Keith Abney II
McCreary had a bounce back of sorts against the Commanders in Week 2, showing up his ability to clean up receptions with solid tackling. He prevented a lot of chunk gain plays with that, and showed off his ability to be a decent outside corner for the Lions, at the very least. If he wants to stick to the roster, though, he'll need another positive outing in Week 3, as well as a decent week of camp.
Abney is a bit of a gamble at the nickel, but if the team is starting him in preseason, then they must trust him moving forward to snag the job outright. Time will tell, but get ready for some annoying rookie missteps at the position if this is the plan.
SAFETY (4)
Avonte Maddox, Chuck Clark, Christian Izien, Thomas Harper
Izien is a versatile defensive back who could shift back to the nickel as a backup to Abney once Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph return. As for Harper, they may keep him on board, but he could be the odd man out once those two come back. Assuming they begin the year on the IR, Maddox and Clark are the likeliest starting safeties for the first four weeks of the season.
TOTAL ON DEFENSE: 23
SPECIAL TEAMS (6)
PK: Jake Bates
P: Jack Fox
H: Jack Fox
PR: Greg Dortch, Tom Kennedy
KR: Tom Kennedy, Jacob Saylors,
LS: Hogan Hatten
Dortch showed some stuff in Week 2 against the Commanders on returns, while Kennedy is the kind of big man that special teams coordinator Dave Fipp wants to utilize on returns this season. Saylors is also great at shedding tackles, making him valuable with this unit.
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