3 Detroit Lions who did not truly win a spot on the initial 53-man roster

The Detroit Lions made their moves to get down to 53 players (actually 52) on their active roster on Tuesday. That means there's a move coming at some point to add someone, perhaps as waiver claims get processed on Wednesday.

The Lions will have two roster spots likely available, once defensive lineman John Cominsky can be placed on IR. But defensive tackle Kyle Peko, a surprising cut such as there was one, is a likely candidate for that spot.

The Lions kept three undrafted rookies on their initial roster (wide receiver Isaiah Williams, long snapper Hogan Hatten, safety Loren Strickland). All three proved worthy, though Strickland was the most surprising to make it.

However, these three players made the Lions' 53-man roster and it doesn't feel like they really deserve it.

3 Detroit Lions who made the 53-man roster but don't truly deserve it

3. OG Kayode Awosika

Not that offensive line depth isn't an issue for every team, but Awosika making the Lions' roster proves it as an issue for them. He played significant snaps in six games last year (counting the playoffs), starting four (three at left guard; one at right guard), with an overall PFF grade below 55 three times (including both playoff games he played).

In last year's Divisional Round game against Tampa Bay, Awosika allowed seven pressures on 28 pass blocking snaps (according to Next Gen Stats). According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed five pressures on 24 "true pass sets" in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.

The Lions kept 10 offensive lineman, rather than another edge rusher who had earned a roster spot (Isaac Ukwu) or the aforementioned Peko with things looking thin at nose tackle right now. Awosika had to have been one the last few roster spots decided on, with seemingly some deference to having been on the team last year.

2. LB Malcolm Rodriguez

An undisclosed injury sidelined Rodriguez during the preseason, while Ben Niemann shined. So it seemed "Rodrigo" could be on thinner than expected ice for a roster spot, based sheerly on being largely site unseen lately.

It's not that Rodriguez doesn't have something to offer, as a special teamer and if needed for a larger defensive role.

But the Lions seemed to lean into body of work here, which they did with some roster decisions and didn't in others. Even with full acknowledgement that every position group has to be evaluated on its own to some degree, Rodriguez being one of now seven linebackers on the 53-man roster (after Wednesday's awarded waiver claim of Trevor Nowaske) seems odd, if nothing else.

1. EDGE James Houston

After he had a sack in the preseason finale, Dan Campbell hinted at the "hard decision" that was coming regarding Houston. But the head coach's "body of work" note, in terms of practicing against Lions' offensive tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, doesn't have much to stand on lately.

Yes, an ankle injury that cost Houston most of last season. But he was also banged up this camp and preseason (as Campbell also acknowledged). The attempt to make him into something more than an edge rusher was also abandoned. Maybe just for now, but it felt meaningful for a team that values, in so many words, "the more you can do" to take things of someone's plate. They did it similarly with Mathieu Betts, and the 2023 CFL Defensive Player of the Year didn't make the roster.

In the minds of a lot of Lions' fans, and perhaps the Lions themselves, Houston seems to be living off the eight sacks he had over the final seven games of his 2022 rookie season. Last season was an injury-forced mulligan, then he was banged up again this preseason to the point he didn't play in a preseason game that looked important for him.

The sack Houston had against the Steelers in the third preseason game was, essentially, enough to get him a spot on the 53-man roster. Maybe there's something I'm just missing here, and it's not strictly about him being a "one-trick pony". There's something the Lions aren't seeing too, in terms of becoming a more versatile player, they're just not ready to give up yet.