Lions' Bubble Watch after Loss to Jaguars: Offense

Evaluating Lions' roster bubble after second preseason game.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. The Lions have plenty of them to make, as they look to cut down their roster to 53 players ahead of the August 29 roster cutdown deadline.

Through two preseason games, certain "bubble" players have done enough to warrant a roster spot, while others have done the complete opposite.

Let's take a look at the individuals who are on the bubble on the offensive side of the ball.

Quarterback

• Adrian Martinez
• Nate Sudfeld

With Teddy Bridgewater now in the fold, both Martinez and Sudfeld are firmly on the bubble. Neither Martinez or Sudfeld have had a hugely strong preseason, and Sudfeld is coming off a performance against the Jaguars in which he threw another interception.

At this present juncture, I don't see either aforementioned quarterback making the Lions' 53-man roster out of camp.

Running back

• Craig Reynolds
• Jermar Jefferson
• Devine Ozigbo
• Benny Snell

The Lions' third-string running back gig is still up for grabs. But, at this point, I'd give the job to Reynolds. He didn't have a stellar performance on the ground, by any stretch, on Saturday against Jacksonville (eight rushes for 13 yards). However, he did receive the bulk of the carries, and also added four receptions for 29 yards as a pass-catcher.

Reynolds has two other things also working in his favor: He's had success running the football the past two seasons (averaged 4.4 yards a carry in 2022 and 4.2 yards per carry the year before). Additionally, none of the other running backs above have done enough to warrant taking the job from Reynolds.

At this point, I believe the Kutztown University product claims the No. 3 spot on Detroit's running backs depth chart.

Kirthmon F. Dozier, USA TODAY NETWORK

Wide receiver

• Dylan Drummond
• Trinity Benson
• Maurice Alexander
• Chase Cota
• Avery Davis
• Jason Moore

Of the receivers above, I believe Cota has done the most to warrant a roster spot heading into Week 1 of the regular season. The Oregon product has proved to be multi-dimensional throughout the preseason, impacting the game as both a punt returner and a pass-catcher. He recorded four catches for 60 yards in Week 1 of the preseason, and accounted for the Lions' only score Saturday against Jacksonville.

To me, Cota is gaining steam to make the roster, and could lock up a spot with a solid performance Friday in Carolina.

Yet, you can't rule out Drummond, whom the Lions' coaching staff has shown affection for throughout training camp. You'd like to see him be more productive than he was Saturday (when he had two drops). However, there's no denying the fact that the undrafted free agent has a chance to make Detroit's season-opening roster.

Tight end

• Darrell Daniels
• Daniel Helm

With rookie Sam LaPorta, second-year pro James Mitchell and third-year pro Brock Wright being bonafide locks, I don't envision either Daniels or Helm making the Lions' roster out of camp.

LaPorta and Mitchell have put together strong showings in camp, and Wright still makes more sense as a third option at the position than either Daniels or Helm.

So, unless LaPorta, Mitchell or Wright suffers an injury before the end of camp, I believe that both Daniels and Helm basically have a zero percent chance to earn a roster spot.

Offensive lineman

• Kayode Awosika
• Bobby Hart
• Germain Ifedi
• Matt Nelson
• Obinna Eze
• Darrin Paulo
• Max Pircher
• Ryan Swoboda
• Brad Cecil
• Alex Mollette
• Conor Galvin

Detroit's reserve offensive linemen – Matt Nelson, Bobby Hart, Brad Cecil and Germain Ifedi (along with rookie Colby Sorsdal) – each suited up Saturday, and experienced their fair share of struggles.

Nelson was beaten for a sack on the Lions' first offensive snap of the afternoon. Meanwhile, Cecil was nearly bull-rushed into Bridgewater, on the fumbled exchange between the veteran passer and Reynolds late in the first quarter.

The rest of the Lions' offensive line didn't fare much better against Jacksonville, as Bridgewater and Sudfeld were constantly under duress. Additionally, the line failed to open up many holes, and Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson and Benny Snell proceeded to collectively run for 3.1 yards a carry.

Despite his inefficient play Saturday, I believe that Nelson still has a solid opportunity to make Detroit's roster out of camp. And, it stems from his decent play as a backup offensive lineman in years past.

In my opinion, the rest of the team's reserve linemen will have an uphill battle to earn a spot on the season-opening roster.