Lions' Depth Chart following Offseason Regimen
Minicamp and Organized Team Activities are in the rearview mirror. Now, the Detroit Lions are barreling full-speed ahead, toward the start of training camp.
The team's offseason workouts offered a brief glimpse at a team facing high expectations for the 2023 season.
Training camp will officially commence near the end of July, and run through the end of the preseason in late August. At its conclusion, the Lions' current 90-man roster will be whittled down to its final form of 53 players.
Here's an updated look at the depth chart, as the Lions journey toward training camp.
Quarterback
Starter: Jared Goff
Backup: Nate Sudfeld
Reserve: Adrian Martinez (UDFA)
Injured: Hendon Hooker
Hooker will likely begin the season as an inactive, which paves the way for Sudfeld to maintain his role as Goff's understudy.
Running back
Starter: David Montgomery
Backups: Jahmyr Gibbs, Jermar Jefferson, Jason Cabinda (FB)
Reserves: Craig Reynolds, Mohamed Ibrahim, Greg Bell
Might Jefferson finally break through in his third season? He was impressive in camp and appears to be back in favor with the staff after spending all but one game on the practice squad.
Also, look for Montgomery to do the majority of the between the tackles work. Gibbs will be an exciting gadget player who contributes both on the ground and as a receiver.
Wide receiver
Starters: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones Jr.
Backups: Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Maurice Alexander, Antoine Green
Reserves: Trinity Benson, Tom Kennedy, Chase Cota (UDFA), Dylan Drummond (UDFA)
Suspended: Jameson Williams (six games)
Williams was inconsistent during his reps at minicamp and through OTAs. He'll need a strong bounce back at training camp.
Reynolds and Jones will provide solid veteran pop, with St. Brown emerging as one of the league's best play-making wideouts.
Tight end
Starters: Brock Wright, Sam LaPorta
Backups: Shane Zylstra, James Mitchell
Reserve: Derrick Deese Jr.
With the Lions' affinity for two tight end sets, expect Wright and LaPorta to get plenty of snaps together. Each will play a part in Detroit's power-run scheme.
Where LaPorta will especially excel is in the play-action game that the Lions' run game will set up. He's shown immense potential through the offseason and will be viewed as a key part of the passing game.
Offensive line
Starters: Frank Ragnow (C), Jonah Jackson (LG), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (RG), Taylor Decker (LT), Penei Sewell (RT)
Backups: C Brad Cecil (UDFA), C/G Graham Glasgow, G Logan Stenberg, T Matt Nelson, G/T Germain Ifedi
Reserves: G Colby Sorsdal, T Ryan Swoboda (UDFA), T Connor Galvin, T Obinna Eze, T Darrin Paulo, T Max Pircher, G Kayode Awosika, C Ross Pierschbacher
There's little new info here as far as the starting lineup goes. If everyone remains healthy, the front line will be among the league's best.
Sorsdal and Stenberg will be competing for a reserve guard role, while Nelson should be relatively safe as the swing tackle based on experience and body of work.
Defensive line
Starters: Aidan Hutchinson (EDGE), Alim McNeill (DT), Isaiah Buggs (DT), John Cominsky (DE)
Backups: EDGE Romeo Okwara, EDGE Charles Harris, DL Christian Covington, DT Brodric Martin, DT Benito Jones
Reserves: EDGE Josh Paschal, DT Demetrius Taylor, DL Chris Smith, DE Zach Morton, DL Corey Durden
Injured: DT Levi Onwuzurike
Buggs remains the incumbent starter, but Martin could very well work his way into meaningful snaps. His size can't be taught, so he could earn playing time by mastering the fundamentals.
The Lions have been strongly emphasizing the importance of stopping the run, so finding the best options on the interior is paramount throughout training camp.
Linebacker
Starters: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, James Houston (OLB)
Backups: Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, Julian Okwara (OLB)
Reserves: Jalen Reeves Maybin, Anthony Pittman, Trevor Nowaske (UDFA)
Campbell won't be handed the starting position, that much is for certain. He's been hard on himself throughout the offseason as he adapts to the speed of the game.
Barnes has been taking first team reps in what could be his final shot to crack the starting lineup. Campbell gets the edge ahead of training camp for the savvy he demonstrated in college.
Secondary
Starters: CB Cameron Sutton, CB Jerry Jacobs, Nickel C.J. Gardner Johnson, S Tracy Walker III, S Kerby Joseph
Backups: CB Will Harris, CB Emmanuel Mosely, CB/S Brian Branch, S Ifeatu Melifonwu
Reserves: S Brady Breeze, S Brandon Joseph (UDFA), CB Savion Smith, CB Jarren Williams, CB Starling Thomas V (UDFA), CB Khalil Dorsey
After a strong rookie season, a breakout could be in store for Joseph. He had a strong showing during offseason workouts, and hasn't lost his edge or knack for finding the football.
Another question facing this secondary is where Branch will fit. The rookie was one of the best tacklers at the college level last season.
For a defense that has struggled to finish tackles in the open field, this skill will help immensely.
Special teams
Starters: K Michael Badgley, P Jack Fox, LS Jake McQuaide
Backups: K Parker Romo, K Riley Patterson, LS Scott Daly
Fox is the only player of the three that's truly safe. McQuaide has veteran experience, and is a legit threat to Daly. Meanwhile, Badgley will have to compete with Romo and Patterson, in a battle that will likely be settled at the end of camp.
