5 Detroit Lions who played themselves off the roster in the preseason opener

Preseason games are never solely about the score, thankfully for the Detroit Lions after a 14-3 loss to the New York Giants in their preseason opener Thursday night. At times though, with the context of mostly backups/future roster cuts playing, positive player performance can be overblown.

That said, a good performance in a preseason game is surely better than the opposite.

With that in mind, these five Lions played themselves off the roster in the first preseason game.

5 Detroit Lions who played themselves right off the roster in the first preseason game

5. DB Morice Norris

Norris, the undrafted rookie out of Fresno State, was simply unable to carry a solid camp showing so far into a game setting. Giants running back Eric Gray juked him into oblivion on a 48-yard touchdown run. Giants tight end Tyree Jackson also beat him for a near touchdown on a fairly simple route.

Norris is already a dark horse to make the Lions' 53-man roster. His notably poor showing on Thursday night all but removed any notion he'll make it.

4. TE James Mitchell

Mitchell exists firmly on the roster bubble as the Lions narrow to who will fill out the tight end depth chart behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. The third-year man played plenty against the Giants (20 offensive snaps), with zero targets and a notable whiffed block on Sione Vaki's 15-yard run (h/t to John Whiticar of Pride of Detroit for noticing that).

Mitchell (#82) ends up in the middle of screen, "blocking" for Vaki, and barely gets hands on a Giants' defender who was lined up to be erased from the play.

Whatever latent potential Mitchell may have can't pay his "earn a roster spot" bills for much longer with nothing to show for it. The second preseason game will be a big one for him, but he is being overtaken in the tight end position battle by those who are showing they can simply do more (and do it better) to add value.