First-Half Takeaways: Lions Riding Youth Movement

Read more on the eight major takeaways from the first half of the Detroit Lions' 2022 season.

Through the first nine games of the season, the Detroit Lions have had plenty of ups and downs.

Though the first seven matchups were saturated with losses, Lions head coach Dan Campbell and company have found recent success. As Week 10 in the NFL comes to a close, the Lions sit at 3-6, ahead of a game against the New York Giants.

With 10 weeks in the books, Detroit has learned plenty about its identity. Here are eight takeaways from the first half of the Lions’ season.

Instant returns on the 2022 draft class are good

Though second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson has received the most hype, the Detroit Lions have gotten plenty of usage out of their 2022 rookie class. Four members -- Hutchinson, Josh Paschal, Kerby Joseph and Malcolm Rodriguez -- are defensive starters.

Hutchinson and Rodriguez have been starters since the opener, while Joseph debuted in the starting lineup in Week 4 and Paschal in Week 7.

Hutchinson, the prized Michigan product, leads all rookies with 5.5 sacks through nine games. His 28 pressures are tied for the rookie lead with Kansas City’s George Karlaftis.

Filling in for injured starter Tracy Walker III, Joseph has become a turnover magnet at safety. He’s forced four turnovers, with two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Rodriguez, a sixth-rounder, earned his starting role with his physicality in training camp. Fearless, the Oklahoma State product won the starting linebacker job, with his knack for being in the right place at the right time.

He’s been solid against the run, while struggles against the pass have hindered his progress.

© David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Paschal, meanwhile, took on a large workload on defense instantly, after missing the first six games recovering from hernia surgery.

James Mitchell, Detroit’s fifth-round tight end, has seen an increased role since the trade of starter T.J. Hockenson. Though his contributions have been limited, he’s shown skill as a run-blocker, and has taken advantage of his limited receiving targets.

While this is all good news for Detroit, the better news is that the best player of this class may still be on the way. Wide receiver Jameson Williams has yet to play, as he recovers from an ACL injury, and could be on track for a return in December.

Jared Goff’s days as starting QB may be numbered

In his second season as the starter in Detroit, quarterback Jared Goff has been exposed at times. The turnover issues have yet to go away, as he’s thrown seven interceptions and fumbled five times through nine games.

The veteran was sparked early in the season by the work of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, throwing for 11 touchdowns through four games. However, the momentum appears to have been lost since, as Detroit has surpassed 20 points just twice since Week 4. In that time, Goff has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Goff’s contract becomes more team-friendly following the 2022 season, as his cap hit drops from $41 million to $10 million in 2023, according to Spotrac. 

Detroit has two first-round picks in the upcoming draft, and the likes of Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud could be available to select. With the offense already full of young playmakers, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes could elect to move on from Goff and grab a young quarterback to grow alongside budding stars, like wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Jeff Okudah hitting his stride

After missing all but one game last season due to a torn Achilles, third-year cornerback Jeff Okudah has shown flashes of becoming the player Detroit hoped he’d be when drafting him third overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Through nine games, Okudah has shown plenty of improvement working in Detroit’s secondary. He earned a starting position out of training camp, and has been the team’s best cornerback.

Among his highlight moments thus far have been a 15-tackle performance against Dallas and a momentum-changing pick-six last Sunday against Chicago.

The effort hasn’t been without its flaws, as evidenced by his struggles against DK Metcalf in Week 4. Yet, Okudah’s performance since returning to action in 2022 has been largely encouraging.

Okudah’s stability has also been key. Amani Oruwariye has taken a big step back after a solid 2021 season, in turn igniting a revolving door at the cornerback position opposite the Ohio State product.

Sewell, St. Brown enjoying second-year leaps

Aside from a stretch in which he wasn’t completely healthy, Amon-Ra St. Brown has been Detroit’s most consistent player at the skill positions. His second-year counterpart Penei Sewell has been the most reliable offensive lineman.

The two 2021 draft picks have had solid second years, and are the team's top two Pro Football Focus-graded offensive players. St. Brown is first with an overall mark of 83.2, while Sewell is slightly behind him at 73.9.

Per PFF, Sewell has a pass-blocking efficiency rate of 97.2 through nine games. He’s allowed two sacks, which ranks tied for ninth in the league among tackles who have played at least 300 snaps.

St. Brown is Detroit’s leading receiver in both catches and yards, with 49 catches for 518 yards. In addition, he’s had three carries for 70 yards. The fourth-round pick is proving to be a steal, as only first-rounders Jaylen Waddle and Ja’Marr Chase have more receiving yards among members of the 2021 draft class.

Swift’s durability a cause for concern

Running back D’Andre Swift has been mostly limited since suffering an ankle injury in the season-opener. He received a light workload in Week 2, then reaggravated his ankle injury and suffered a sprained shoulder in Week 3.

The running back missed three games before returning in Week 7, but has received a total of just 13 carries in his return.

When active and healthy, Swift has shown the ability to be a game-changer. He ran for 144 yards against Philadelphia, the only game this season where he has been fully healthy.

The third-year back has yet to put together a full season. In recent weeks, he’s been frustrated with the limited role that the Lions have given him. It’s clear that the limitations placed on him are out of concern, as the young running back works back from multiple injuries.

How Detroit deploys Swift throughout the rest of the season will be intriguing. Jamaal Williams has performed well as the top back, but hasn’t made the plays Swift has made when healthy.

Swift’s contract is due up at the end of the 2023 season, so his future is in question. The remainder of the 2022 season will be telling as to how the ball-carrier fits in Detroit’s future plans.

Wide receiver depth looming large

The Lions have been riddled with injuries throughout the first half of the season, with no position feeling the heat more than the wide receivers.

Starters Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds and DJ Chark have each missed at least one game. St. Brown has been able to stay relatively healthy, missing only Week 4. Chark has been out since Week 3, and was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 22. Meanwhile, Reynolds has missed Detroit’s last two games.

Additionally, key depth piece Quintez Cephus has been out since Week 4, and also remains on injured reserve.

In the absence of these players, Kalif Raymond and Tom Kennedy have seen larger roles than initially expected. Raymond is the team’s third-leading receiver with 302 yards, while Kennedy ranks fifth with 150.

Maurice Alexander and undrafted rookie Stanley Berryhill Jr. have also received playing time. Detroit’s offense is at its best when it has Chark and Reynolds available, but steady performances from Raymond and Kennedy have kept the struggling ship afloat. 

Detroit has also leaned on its tight ends more in recent weeks, even after the Hockenson trade. Brock Wright, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra have each caught touchdowns in the red zone, within the last two weeks.

Defensive line sparked by youth movement

The decision to make veteran defensive end Michael Brockers inactive following the bye week has indicated Campbell's and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s commitment to the youth up front.

With Brockers on the sideline, the likes of Paschal, John Cominsky and Alim McNeill have seen increased playing time. Paschal and Hutchinson have bookended the line each of the last three games, while McNeill and Isaiah Buggs completed Detroit’s four-man front.

Cominsky continues to see plenty of reps, too. After being claimed off waivers in the offseason, the 26-year-old has proved himself as a valuable player rushing the passer. He missed three games with a hand injury, but has notched 13 pressures in his six games played. 

Third-year EDGE Julian Okwara and second-year tackle Benito Jones also have earned increased roles. Okwara delivered a two-sack day against the Bears Sunday.

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Though wins don’t come easy, Campbell’s team always competes

Detroit has just three wins to its credit, but has been moments away from multiple more. A late-game collapse against Minnesota took away a victory, while just one forced punt could’ve been the difference in a 48-45 shootout loss to Seattle.

Aside from a shutout loss to New England in Week 5 and a fourth-quarter debacle against Dallas in Week 7, the Lions have been within one score of their opponent in each loss this season.

Campbell wants his team’s foundation to be grit. To his credit, the team has shown plenty of its trademark characteristic throughout the 2022 season.

Campbell is not without his flaws, as late-game mistakes have continued to doom Detroit. The unraveling against Minnesota was largely his doing, with his decision to attempt a field goal on fourth-and-short giving the Vikings a short field for their game-winning drive.

Even if Detroit struggles through its second half and the two-game win streak becomes a flash in the pan, there is evidence of Campbell’s message seeping through to his players.

Should fortuitous bounces fall in favor of Detroit through its final eight games, what was a largely negative perspective of Campbell’s efforts through the early part of his tenure could change.