Detroit Lions Week 2 Preseason Defensive Depth Chart

Reviewing potential Detroit Lions Week 2 preseason defensive depth chart.

Last week, many pundits and fans alike were surprised when veteran Romeo Okwara played into the fourth quarter of a preseason game. 

"A lot of it is he’s coming off the injury from last year, and it never truly felt like he got back from it at the end of last year," Dan Campbell explained. "Which history would say most of those guys, it’s going to take close to a year to get back to where you feel like or move like you were before. 

"I think that was some of it, and it was also just a placement of where we were at, we can’t sit everybody. Look, he’s having a good camp, but so is (Josh) Paschal, and so is (John Cominsky) Commish, and you’ve got (Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch and Charles (Harris) and you can’t sit everybody. And so, I think that’s where it is."

The depth along the defensive line has clearly given the coaching staff more comfort heading into the start of the 2023 season. 

Related: Week 2 Preseason Detroit Lions Offensive Depth Chart

Against the Jaguars, linebacker Trevor Nowaske and EDGE rusher Julian Okwara are also looking to build off of their solid performances against the Giants. 

Here is a look at how the defensive depth chart could look, heading into Week 2 of the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field.

Defensive line

• Alim McNeill
• Isaiah Buggs
• Brodric Martin
• Levi Onwuzurike
• Benito Jones
• Christian Covington
• Cory Durden
• Chris Smith

EDGE

• Aidan Hutchinson
• Josh Paschal
• John Cominsky
• Charles Harris
• James Houston
• Romeo Okwara
• Julian Okwara

Linebackers

• Alex Anzalone
• Derrick Barnes
• Jack Campbell
• Malcolm Rodriguez
• Jalen Reeves-Maybin
• Anthony Pittman
• Trevor Nowaske

Cornerback

• Cameron Sutton
• Jerry Jacobs
• Starling Thomas V
• Steven Gilmore
• Khalil Dorsey
• Colby Richardson
• Emmanuel Moseley (PUP)

Safety

• Kerby Joseph
• Tracy Walker
• Ifeatu Melifonwu
• Saivion Smith
• Brady Breeze
• Brandon Joseph

Nickel/Slot

• C.J. Gardner-Johnson
• Brian Branch
• Will Harris
• Chase Lucas