3 Detroit Lions who could pull off upsets to make the 53-man roster originally appeared on The Sporting News
With three exhibition contests in the books (Hall of Fame Game and two preseason games), we are inching ever closer to the Detroit Lions making their final cuts.
The Lions will play their final preseason contest on Aug. 23 against the Houston Texans, and four days later they will trim their roster down to the initial 53 on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. ET.
Following preseason Week 2, there are three players in particular who have a shot to make the Lions’ initial 53-man roster despite having the odds stacked against them going into training camp.
Here’s who fits the bill.
WR Jackson Meeks
Meeks has been the Lions’ most productive wide receiver in preseason play, reeling in 10 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. He had his best game in preseason Week 2, when he caught seven balls for 93 yards and a touchdown.
While Meeks has shined, fellow rookie wide receiver Dominic Lovett has failed to grab much attention during exhibition play, and his drops won’t help, either.
Someone else who is vulnerable is veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick, who has missed time with an injury and was struggling before that. That said, we still believe the veteran will get a roster spot, although his role is most definitely threatened by the upstart rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa.
The Lions figure to have four or five locks at wide receiver right now in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa and Kalif Raymond, and Patrick will likely make the cut, also
Knowing that, the Lions may have just one spot up for grabs and we would give the edge to the undrafted free agent Meeks over the draft pick Lovett if that’s the case.
DE Nate Lynn
While Lynn didn’t do much in preseason Week 2, he was an absolute menace in the team’s preseason Week 1 game, where he tallied four pressures and a sack. The week before that, he posted three pressures in the Hall of Fame Game.
During the preseason Week 2 broadcast, general manager Brad Holmes gave Lynn a shoutout for his impressive showing this offseason, which adds more fuel to the fire that the former undrafted free agent could make the cut.
Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad will all be on the initial 53-man roster. From there, a few questions arise.
Josh Paschal, who is on the NFI list, won’t be ready to go until early September, head coach Dan Campbell said earlier in the offseason. Sixth-round pick Ahmed Hassanein is dealing with an injury that Campbell said will force him to miss time.
Currently listed as a fourth-team EDGE on the Lions’ depth chart, Lynn has a strong case to make the initial 53-man roster.
DB Erick Hallett
After having a rough showing in preseason Week 1, Hallett bounced back in a big way in the second preseason game with three tackles and three passes defensed, which earned him the Lions’ highest coverage and defense grades from PFF.
Adding to all that, Hallett displayed his immense versatility, seeing snaps at outside and slot cornerback, and at safety. That kind of positional range will no doubt help his cause further.
The Lions have four locks at corner in Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin. If Khalil Dorsey starts the season on the PUP list, where he is residing now, that could open the door for Hallett.
At safety, Hallett’s competition for one of the final spots are Ian Kennelly, Loren Strickland and Morice Norris. Of course, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph and Avonte Maddox are the locks there.
