4 recent Lions draft picks who may be playing their last game in Detroit vs. Steelers

The Detroit Lions will close their preseason against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The Steelers plan to play starters in the game, rooted in having a quarterback competition to sort out. It's fair to assume the Lions will do what they've done in the first two preseason games, and not play their starters.

If any Lions starters do play, they won't play a lot.

So people battling for roles and roster spots will have plenty of opportunity to shine against the Steelers. As head coach Dan Campbell hinted at this week, guys who won't make the Lions' roster will be showcased for possible opportunities elsewhere as every team makes their cuts to 53 players.

But the preseason finale also may be the final opportunity for some recent Lions' draft picks to stick. Being a "Brad Holmes pick" may be regarded as some inherent advantage by some. But that ultimately should not matter as who is worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster is evaluated.

These four recent Lions' draft picks might be playing their last game for the team in the preseason finale.

4 recent Lions draft picks who may be playing their last game for the team vs. Steelers

4. RB Jermar Jefferson, 7th Round (Pick No. 257), 2021

Jefferson offered some glimpses of his potential as a rookie. But then he spent all of the 2022 season on the practice squad, and an injury landed him on IR last season.

So it was out of nowhere when Jefferson was noted as as standout and someone not to discount in the battle for spots on the Lions' running back depth chart early in training camp. But an injury kept him out of the second preseason game against the Chiefs. Assuming he's able to suit up against the Steelers, he's on the wrong side of the roster bubble (if he's even really on the roster bubble at all now).