Detroit Lions 53-man roster projection after Week 2 of the preseason

In a game that screamed "preseason", the Detroit Lions lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 25-7 on Saturday. Two days of joint practices meant most projected starters on both sides did not play, and the overall level of play showed it.

But that lack of prominent players on the field yielded opportunity for those who did play, as the Lions moved toward whittling down from 90 players to a final 53 heading into the season. Some definitely seized the opportunity, while others fell short or just didn't especially distinguish themselves.

It's still easy to write most of the Lions' final 53-man roster in ink. But there are still some battles, across positions as numbers are determined, for the final handful or so of spots. Possible additions at a couple spots, as other teams make their own roster decisions, could alter the equation.

But as currently constructed, here is a new 53-man roster projection for the Lions after their second preseason game.

Detroit Lions' 53-man roster projection after Week 2 of preseason

Quarterback (2)
Jared Goff
Teddy Bridgewater
(Hendon Hooker-PUP)

Bridgewater's Lions' debut was pretty rough in spots, working behind the second-string offensive line. But some kinks were certainly expected, and Nate Sudfeld did nothing to maintain the "competition" for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.

Hooker still seems like a lock to start the season on the PUP list, as Dan Campbell suggested a timeline to activate him is not even on the radar right now.

Running Backs (5)
David Montgomery
Jahmyr Gibbs
Craig Reynolds
Benny Snell
Jason Cabinda (FB)

The Lions seemed to reveal who will be the No. 3 running back on Saturday, as Reynolds played every offensive snap in the first half and got 12 touches. His eight carries weren't especially fruitful, due to lackluster (to put it mildly) blocking up front (just 13 yards), but it was a little better in the passing game (four catche for 29 yards, on six targets).

The question here is how many more running backs the Lions keep, and who they are. Cabinda's role is more intangible than noticeable on the field, but he has value. Campbell has said special teams will be important to this position battle, and Snell was a core special teamer for the Steelers the last couple seasons.

Wide Receivers (6)
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Marvin Jones
Kalif Raymond
Josh Reynolds
Chase Cota
Dylan Drummond
(Jameson Williams-suspended)

Weighed against other positions, there's a battle for either one or two spots here. Cota had another good performance against the Jaguars, with a touchdown among his two receptions and a nice 28-yard punt return. He is becoming a roster lock.

Drummond's star has faded some with Cota's emergence, and he did have a rough drop on Saturday. But on the idea a sixth wide receiver is kept on the 53, he gets the nod.

Tight Ends (3)
Sam LaPorta
James Mitchell
Brock Wright

It's possible the Lions keep four tight ends, with Darrell Daniels as No. 4 and strictly a blocker. But the three standing locks here remain.

Offensive Line (9)
Penei Sewell
Taylor Decker
Frank Ragnow
Graham Glasgow
Jonah Jackson
Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Colby Sorsdal
Germaine Ifedi
Bobby Hart

As is the case for every team in the league, offensive line depth is a huge concern for the Lions. The options to add someone are of course not robust at this point, but if anyone is added they will have an opportunity to crack the last could spots here. Sorsdal is a lock.

Defensive Line/Edge (10)
Aidan Hutchinson
Alim McNeill (DT)
John Cominsky
James Houston
Charles Harris
Romeo Okwara
Josh Paschal
Isaiah Buggs (DT)
Brodric Martin (DT)
Levi Onwuzurike (DT)

No huge surprises here, probably. Onwuzurike has been healthy to this point, and while he wasn't nearly as good in the second preseason game as he was in the first he tentatively gets the nod here. Julian Okwara did not follow his three-sack preseason opener with another noticeable showing (one quarterback hit over 45 defensive snaps), so he doesn't make the cut.

Linebackers (5)
Alex Anzalone
Jack Campbell
Malcolm Rodriguez
Derrick Barnes
Jalen Reeves-Maybin

Keeping Anthony Pittman as a sixth linebacker lingers as a possibility, as the last few roster spots are determined and numbers at every position come into play. But compared to previous projections, I went with five linebackers here.

Cornerbacks (5)
Cameron Sutton
Jerry Jacobs
Will Harris
Starling Thomas
Steven Gilmore
(Emmanuel Moseley-PUP)

Thomas looked good in some run as a kickoff returner against the Jaguars, and in general on special teams, which only further cemented his spot on the roster despite a lesser day on the defensive side. Fellow UDFA Gilmore allowed a big play early in the game, but he showed the perfect cornerback mentality (a short memory) by rallying to make a play right after. He also nabbed an interception.

Moseley is trending hard toward starting the season on the PUP list.

Safeties (5)
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Kerby Joseph
Brian Branch
Tracy Walker
Ifeatu Melifonwu

A thing to watch here is Melifonwu, who (along with fellow competitor Saivion Smith) left the game against Jacksonville with an injury. Dan Campbell suggested he may be out for the preseason finale against Carolina. In battles for one of the last few spots on the 53, missing that game will hurt whoever misses it.

Specialists (3)
PK Riley Patterson
P Jack Fox
LS Scott Daly

These three are easy locks. Nothing more to say, unless something happens to Patterson to open the door for a different kicker.