Before training camp, our writers projected starting lineups for every Detroit Lions player on the bubble. Let’s start with the offense.
Bubble Watch has returned!
If you’re not acquainted, every week at Detroit Lions training camp, we track the development of players who are on the team’s roster bubble by projecting which individuals will be added or removed from the squad. This feature is called Bubble Watch. Every week, we’ll revise our selections in light of training camp outcomes, preseason performances, and any roster construction tips from the coaching staff.
This year, Erik Schlitt, Ryan Mathews, Alex Reno, Morgan Cannon, John Whiticar, Max Gerber, Brandon Knapp, Hamza Baccouche, Zac Snyder, and Al Karsten—11 members of Pride of Detroit—will each make one of these weekly predictions. I’ll go into more detail about each position below.
Since the offense is more simpler than the defense, we will start our series with it.
2024 Detroit Lions Bubble Watch, Week 1: Offense
| Player | Jeremy | Erik | Ryan | Alex | Morgan | John | Max | Brandon | Hamza | Zac | Al | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB Nate Sudfeld | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| RB Craig Reynolds | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
| RB Zonovan Knight | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | 1 |
| RB Jermar Jefferson | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| WR Antoine Green | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
| WR Donovan Peoples-Jones | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
| WR Maurice Alexander | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 1 |
| WR Daurice Fountain | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| WR Tom Kennedy | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| WR Kaden Davis | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 1 |
| WR Isaiah Williams | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| TE James Mitchell | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | 10 |
| TE Shane Zylstra | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | IN | IN | OUT | IN | 9 |
| TE Parker Hesse | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | 1 |
| TE Sean McKeon | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| OT Dan Skipper | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | OUT | IN | IN | IN | OUT | IN | OUT | 5 |
| OL Colby Sorsdal | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
| iOL Kayode Awosika | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | 3 |
| iOL Netane Muti | IN | OUT | IN | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | 4 |
| iOL Christian Mahogany | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11
|
Quarterback: Hendon Hooker, Jared Goff are assumed.
Nate Sudfeld received 0 “IN” votes.
It will be difficult to defend having three quarterbacks with Detroit’s current roster, and it is rather doubtful that Hooker will be cut. Nevertheless, the second-year quarterback needs to demonstrate that he’s prepared for the backup role; if not, the Lions might have to rely on Sudfeld, a reliable player, to keep the ship afloat in the event that Goff gets hurt.
Reversing course:
Assumed in: Sione Vaki, David Montgomery, and Jahmyr Gibbs
Craig Reynolds received eleven votes.
Knight of Zonova: 1 vote
Jefferson Jermar: 0 votes
The Lions are probably going to carry at least four running backs, and it’s obvious which four our staff believes to be the best. Would the Lions, nevertheless, think about holding onto a fifth under the new kickoff regulations? Knight appears like the most sensible candidate for that position, and one employee thinks it’s feasible. His aggressive style is ideal for special teams.
Broad receiver:
Assumed in: Jameson Williams, Kalif, Amon-Ra St. Brown Raymond
Antoine Green received eleven votes.
11 votes for Donovan Peoples-Jones
Maurice Alexander: 0 votes
Kaden Davis received one vote.
Tom Kennedy, Isaiah Williams, Daurice Fountain: 0 votes
Once more, our team largely concurs with Detroit’s top five receivers. The more important query is how many of them will they retain, and if a sixth, who will prevail in that match? Alexander has a great deal of versatility on special teams, and he has the ideal skill set to return on the new kickoff. Davis, meanwhile, had a fantastic spring. Thanks to a rookie minicamp audition, he not only got hired, but he also made plays every day at OTAs.
Close to the end:
Assumed in: Brock Wright, Sam LaPorta
James Mitchell received ten votes.
Zylstra Shane: 9 votes
Parker Hesse: one vote
Sean McKeon received none.
There isn’t a unanimous choice for any offensive position but this one. How many tight ends the Lions keep will be one topic of discussion in this case. Whereas all the others had them with four, two employees chose to keep only three. Here, too, the new kickoff regulation might be relevant since athletes with greater size might not be as important as those with shorter reaction times.
However, the majority include both Mitchell and Zylstra. After a sluggish NFL career, Mitchell is entering his third year, but Zylstra has been a reliable contributor in Detroit since 2021. However, Sean McKeon and Parker Hesse have also played in this league for a while, so it wouldn’t be shocking if either made the team.
Attacking tackle:
Assumed in: Giovanni Manu, Penei Sewell, and Taylor Decker
Colby 11 Sorsdal
Dan Skipper: Five
It looks like Sorsdal is switching back to tackle, which might have an impact on the roster. He could take over the OT3 place if he can demonstrate sufficient comfort at his college position, which would threaten Skipper’s spot on the squad. Skipper would probably be safe if Sorsdal was just receiving cross-training in the spring to guarantee his versatility, but it would cost an inside veteran. To put it briefly, Sorsdal appears to be an essential component of Detroit’s offensive line roster construction.
internal offensive line
Assumed in: Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow, and Kevin Zeitler
Mahogany Christian: 11
Muti Netane: 4
Kayode Awosika: Three
Once more, this is a numerical game. On the 53-man roster, eight of our staff members predict the Lions will maintain nine offensive lineman, two believe they will keep ten, and one believes they will keep just eight. As a rookie draft pick, everyone thinks Christian Mahogany will make the squad. Does that mean there’s no longer a need for an experienced, seasoned guard? Although they both bring that, Muti and Awosika have had difficulty on the field. Would the Lions take a chance on benching such players in favor of a less seasoned but perhaps better player?