Which Lions reserve EDGE should get more playing time vs. the Vikings?
On Sunday, the Detroit Lions enter a new world: life without Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions could go in several different directions in adjusting to a roster without their Defensive Player of the Year candidate. They could adjust their entire scheme. They could trade for a player. They may just end up relying more on their secondary.
But one thing is for certain: someone is going to need to step up. Hutchinson was averaging nearly 90 percent of the defensive snaps, so at a very basic level, someone is about to see more playing time, and it’s almost certainly coming from an edge defender. With no trade coming this week, that means it’s coming from someone currently on the team.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Which Lions edge defender should see more playing time vs. the Vikings?
My answer: For clarity’s sake, I’m not including Josh Paschal and Levi Onwuzurike in this discussion. They’re starters already, and while I wouldn’t be surprised to see both of their playing time increase in the wake of Hutchinson’s injury, I’m more interested in the reserves they plan on playing.
Last week, it was Isaac Ukwu getting the call-up for his first every NFL game and his playing time increased once Hutchinson went down. The undrafted rookie played a total of 39 snaps, but even Dan Campbell admitted that it looked like his first NFL action.
“That was his first taste of real NFL football, so I thought as the game went on, he got better,” Campbell said. “(But) it looked like it was his first NFL game. That’s just the truth.”
Ukwu was their emergency plan last week, but that could certainly change this week. Campbell has also mentioned practice squadders Mitchell Agude, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and Pat O’Connor as options (although O’Connor is more likely to help the interior).
Then, on Friday, Campbell mentioned how James Houston has an opportunity to step up this week.
“I think there’s a chance that he goes to the game here and there may be a place for him,” Campbell said. “He’s been practicing this week and, yeah, there could be a place here, but it’s like everything else. It’s about the reps in practice, what they look like, and then even when you get in the game, what do those look like? And if they’re good and there’s production and discipline, then keep putting him in.”
So out of these options, who would I like to see play more? In an ideal world, it’s the 2022 version of Houston. However, since his rookie season, he hasn’t exactly been the model of “production and discipline.”
I think my answer is Ukwu. It wasn’t a great debut for him against the Cowboys, but like Campbell (and defensive line coach Terrell Williams) said, he did improve as the game went on, and I think he can give the Lions what they need on the edge: a strong, physical presence that can set the edge.
To be quite honest, whoever they put out there this week has a tough assignment. The Vikings boast a pair of strong bookends on their offensive line in left tackle Christian Darrison and right tackle Brian O’Neill. What Detroit needs more than explosive plays from their edge is discipline. And while Ukwu is relatively untested, he showed enough last week to make me believe he’s the best option.
Who’s your choice for top reserve EDGE this week? Vote in the poll below and explain your answer in the comment section below:
