A look at how the Detroit Lions adjusted after more defensive injuries vs. the Buffalo Bills.
Time to take a closer look at the Detroit Lions’ snap counts in their 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Offense
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff: 79 (100%)
Hendon Hooker: 0 (0%)
After the Lions played 80 offensive snaps last week, they follow it up with 79. That’s a lot of playing time for the offense.
Running backs
Jahmyr Gibbs: 59 (75%)
David Montgomery: 24 (30%)
Craig Reynolds: 0 (1%) — 20 special teams snaps (56%)
Sione Vaki: 0 (0%) — 29 (81%)
Because Montgomery was dealing with an injury and the Lions were forced to abandon the running game, they leaned heavier on Gibbs than they typically do. His 75 percent play rate was the highest of his 2024 season. With Montgomery potentially out for the season, it will be interesting to see if Gibbs becomes the workhorse back or if Reynolds/Vaki becomes the 1B to Gibbs’ 1A.
Tight ends
Sam LaPorta: 77 (97%)
Brock Wright: 18 (23%) — 19 (53%)
Shane Zylstra: 1 (1%) — 22 (61%)
Again, game situation likely dictated how the Lions utilized personnel here. The Lions threw it 59 times to rushing just 15 plays. That meant more 11-personnel (one running back, one tight end), and subsequently significantly less playing time for Wright.
Wide receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 72 (91%)
Jameson Williams: 69 (87%)
Tim Patrick: 64 (81%)
Allen Robinson: 6 (8%)
Maurice Alexander: 0 (0%) — 6 (17%)
And here’s the other half of more 11 personnel. Patrick’s 64 snaps is a season high for him, and Williams’ 69 snaps was second most this season—only behind Detroit’s game against the Buccaneers, when they threw the ball 55 times.
Offensive line
Penei Sewell: 79 (100%) — 7 (19%)
Graham Glasgow: 79 (100%) — 7 (19%)
Taylor Decker: 79 (100%)
Frank Ragnow: 79 (100%)
Kevin Zeitler: 79 (100%) — 7 (19 %)
Dan Skipper: 5 (6%) — 16 (44%)
Christian Mahogany: 0 (0%) — 7 (19%)
Michael Niese: 0 (0%) — 7 (19%)
Colby Sorsdal: INACTIVE
Kayode Awosika: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE
The starting offensive line was finally back together, with Taylor Decker returning to the lineup and playing every snap. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the Lions’ best performance from their front five. Although a congratulations is in order for Dan Skipper for catching a touchdown, and then reportedly going straight to the hospital for the expected birth of his child.
Defense
EDGE
Josh Paschal: 57 (81%)
Levi Onwuzurike: 53 (76%) — 9 (25%)
Za’Darius Smith: 30 (43%)
Jonah Williams: 11 (16%) — 4 (11%)
Al-Quadin Muhammad: 8 (11%)
Paschal saw a ton of playing time upon his return, and it was mostly on the edges. Onwuzurike, too, saw a big load of playing time in his first game back from injury. While the majority of his playing time came on the edge, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll get pushed inside now that Alim McNeill is out for the season.
For the second straight week, Za’Darius Smith saw a very modest amount of playing time. Coach Dan Campbell explained why he had a smaller role last week.
“We took some reps off of him in some areas to where we could really use him at his best, really showcase a few of those reps, the third down reps, second-and-long,” Campbell said. “He still played base downs, and his production was really good. So, we’re trying to be smart with him and maximize the reps that we get out of him.”
Will that strategy continue as the injuries continue to mount?
DT
DJ Reader: 49 (70%)
Alim McNeill: 40 (57%) — 5 (14%)
Pat O’Connor: 29 (41%) — 23 (64%)
Myles Adams: INACTIVE
Brodric Martin: INACTIVE
The Lions went a little light on interior defensive linemen with Paschal, Reader, and Onwuzurike back—all capable of playing on the interior. However, expect Adams and/or Martin to be active next week with McNeill out of the lineup.
Linebackers
Jack Campbell: 70 (100%) — 3 (8%)
Ben Niemann: 44 (63%) — 29 (81%)
David Long: 29 (41%) — 23 (64%)
Ezekiel Turner: 28 (40%) — 29 (81%)
Kwon Alexander: 12 (17%)
Trevor Nowaske: INACTIVE — INJURED
With no Nowaske, it was replacement by committee. Niemann and Alexander got the starts at SAM and WILL linebacker, respectively, but Detroit quickly adjusted strategies and gave a heavy dose of playing time from Long and Turner.
It was a struggle for this entire unit, as the Bills purposely targeted the linebacking corps in the passing game, and Detroit had no answer. Hopefully Nowaske and Alex Anzalone—who is eligible to return from IR this week—get healthy soon.
Cornerbacks
Terrion Arnold: 70 (100%) — 1 (3%)
Kindle Vildor: 49 (70%) — 20 (56%)
Amik Robertson: 24 (34%) — 6 (17%)
Carlton Davis: 16 (23%)
Khalil Dorsey: 2 (3%) — 11 (31%)
Emmanuel Moseley: INACTIVE
This unit took two big hits during the game with Carlton Davis suffering a broken jaw and Khalil Dorsey breaking his leg. That mean it was up to Kindle Vildor to ride out the rest of the game. It will be interesting to see if Vildor gets the start next week, or if the Lions do some mixing and matching. Moseley is likely to be in the mix, and it’s possible Ennis Rakestraw enters the mix if he returns from injured reserve.
Safety
Brian Branch: 70 (100%)
Kerby Joseph: 67 (96%) — 11 (31%)
Jamal Adams: 12 (17%) — 3 (8%)
Brandon Joseph: 0 (0%) — 18 (50%)
Same old usage at safety. Jamal Adams may fit better in the linebacker category, although he took nine of his snaps at outside or slot corner. Either way, when he’s in the lineup, it’s close to the line of scrimmage.
Special teams
Jake Bates: 14 (39%)
Jack Fox: 10 (28%)
Hogan Hatten: 10 (28%)
