4 Position Battles to Watch in Lions' Preseason Finale

Evaluating position battles up for grabs in the Lions' final preseason game.

The Detroit Lions' preseason finale carries plenty of intrigue. 

Even if Dan Campbell elects to sit the majority of his starters, there's still plenty to see when the Lions take the field Friday in Carolina. In particular, the final few available roster spots will be up for grabs. 

Players have their final opportunity to flex their muscle in the preseason finale. Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes will evaluate the results and attempt to assemble the best version of the final roster that they can. 

Here are four position battles to watch in Friday's preseason finale. 

Offensive tackle

Matt Nelson vs. Germain Ifedi

The Lions need to address their offensive tackle depth. Nelson has held the role for the last two seasons, but has struggled throughout the preseason. 

Ifedi, meanwhile, is a former first-round pick who has become a journeyman in his NFL career. His experience alone makes him a worthwhile candidate, but he has added to his case with a strong camp.

Ideally, the winner would only be used in jumbo packages requiring an extra blocker. However, injuries have prevented Detroit's starting five offensive linemen from playing a single snap together the last two seasons. 

As a result, finding reliable depth is paramount at this position. 

Backup cornerback

Starling Thomas V vs. Chase Lucas vs. Steven Gilmore

This battle has become one of the most intriguing that camp has had to offer. Thomas and Gilmore, both UDFAs, have been solid throughout camp. 

Gilmore, in particular, has popped on defense, securing an interception in the loss to Jacksonville. Thomas has struggled at times defensively by being too aggressive with his hands.

Lucas is the incumbent, as a seventh-round pick in 2022. He saw little time last season, and struggled in the preseason opener but has bounced back strongly. 

Special teams will be a deciding factor in this battle among others. Thomas has seen time as a returner, a sign that the coaching staff wanted to see what he was capable of. 

Expect all three to be tested in numerous areas in the finale. Lucas may have the leg up, given his experience. However, both undrafted rookies have made strong cases.

Third running back

Devine Ozigbo vs. Benny Snell vs. Craig Reynolds

Like the secondary, this battle will likely be decided by special teams contributions. All three have been contributors in that facet throughout their careers. 

Reynolds is the name most familiar to Lions fans, as he has spent parts of the last two seasons on the roster. However, Ozigbo and Snell are legitimate threats to unseat the incumbent back. 

A former fourth-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Snell entered the league with legitimate acclaim. However, his workload lessened each of the last two seasons as a result of Najee Harris' emergence. 

Though the former Steelers back may be the most proven, he's not a lock to win the job. The Lions may be searching for someone to handle return duties or work as a personal protector on their punt team. 

As shown by Justin Jackson last season, the third running back will be asked to play a legitimate role. Detroit wants to feel good about its backfield options, so expect this battle to come down to the wire. 

Should Campbell and company not be satisfied, the organization could be in the market for a running back on the waiver wire in the coming days.

Kicker

Riley Patterson vs. Parker Romo

Patterson has established himself as the heavy favorite in this battle with a consistent training camp. The Lions liked him enough to trade for him early in the offseason and he has lived up to the billing.

Romo has an outside shot thanks to his big leg. If given the opportunity to take a deep kick on Friday, he could make things interesting with a long make. 

However, the odds are stacked against the XFL product making the final roster at this stage of training camp.