The Detroit Lions lost to the Miami Dolphins 24-17 in Week 2 of the preseason, but the outcome of the game doesn’t matter much. We can tell much more about the team by how individuals performed, and—sometimes just as important—how much and when they played.
So let’s take a look at both the snaps counts from Lions players on Saturday, but also the order in which each player came onto the field.
Quarterbacks:
- Kyle Allen: 35 snaps (51%)
- Hendon Hooker: 34 (49%)
- Jared Goff: DNP
Allen got the start, as an expected part of the rotation. And while each quarterback got equal opportunities, coach Dan Campbell made it clear after the game that Allen is leading the backup quarterback competition. That said, the team plans to give Hooker more looks this upcoming week to see if the third-year quarterback can make a last-ditch effort for the job.
“I’d like to get him some more reps next week. I’m talking about Hooker,” Campbell said. “I mean, we’re going to get them both reps, but maybe we—we might start him out again for that game and let him go with that unit.”
Running backs:
- Jacob Saylors: 31 (45%) — 8 special teams snaps (30%)
- Sione Vaki: 19 (28%) — 5 (19%)
- Craig Reynolds: 12 (17%) — 4 (15%)
- Deon Jackson: 7 (10%) — 12 (44%)
- Jahmyr Gibbs: DNP
- David Montgomery: DNP
Sione Vaki finally made his preseason debut, and he split time with Reynolds with the starting unit. Detroit also continues to get a long look at former UFL star Jacob Saylors, as he makes a strong case for the practice squad. While newly-added Deon Jackson didn’t see much time on offense, he got plenty of opportunities to stand out on special teams. Only two players (Ian Kennelly and Anthony Pittman) played more on teams than he did.
Wide receivers:
- Jackson Meeks: 39 (57%) — 12 (44%)
- Isaac TeSlaa: 35 (51%) — 3 (11%)
- Tom Kennedy: 35 (51%) — 2 (7%)
- Ronnie Bell: 34 (49%)
- Jakobie Keeney-James: 29 (42%) — 2 (7%)
- Dominic Lovett: 19 (28%) — 4 (15%)
- Malik Taylor: DNP (possible injury)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown: DNP
- Jameson Williams: DNP
- Tim Patrick: DNP (injured)
- Kalif Raymond: DNP
Note: Both the NFL official snap counts and PFF credited Kalif Raymond with a single snap, but I’m fairly certain he was not dressed for the night, so I did not include it.
Meeks played the entire first half, and then helped Detroit on the final drive of the game. No one made more use of their snaps than the rookie receiver. The game was split pretty evenly between the six active receivers:
First half:
- Isaac TeSlaa
- Jackson Meeks
- Tom Kennedy
Second half:
- Ronnie Bell
- Jakobie Keeney-James
- Dominic Lovett
While it’s a little surprising to see Lovett’s playing time so small, the seventh-round pick just recently returned from injury, so it’s possible they’re easing him back.
Tight ends:
- Zach Horton: 50 (72%) — 12 (44%)
- Shane Zylstra: 24 (35%) — 8 (30%)
- Steven Stilianos: 10 (14%) — 5 (19%)
- Gunnar Oakes: 0 (0%) — 2 (7%)
- Sam LaPorta: DNP
- Brock Wright: DNP
Very interesting to see Horton basically play the entire game against the Dolphins. Detroit is getting a very long look at the versatile tight end. According to PFF, three of his snaps came at fullback, 26 came inline, 17 were in the slot, and four were lined up out wide. He also got plenty of special teams looks.
Horton is likely in competition with only Zylstra for the TE3 job. While Zylstra only got 24 looks, that is likely because in his fifth season with the Lions, the team is already comfortable in their evaluation of him.
Offensive tackle:
- Dan Skipper: 35 (51%) — 3 (11%)
- Jamarco Jones: 35 (51%)
- Gunner Britton: 34 (49%)
- Giovanni Manu: 34 (49%)
- Penei Sewell: DNP
- Taylor Decker: DNP
The Lions mixed up the tackle lines a bit on Saturday. For one, they moved Dan Skipper to right tackle, likely to test out his versatility, while starting Jamarco Jones at left tackle. Giovanni Manu got demoted to the second team, and only played in the second half after playing the entire game last week. Newly-added Gunner Britton had to step in after Detroit placed Justin Herron on IR after last week’s game.
Guard/center:
- Michael Niese: 43 (62%) -3 (11%)
- Kingsley Eguakun: 35 (51%) — 3 (11%)
- Netane Muti: 35 (51%) — 3 (11%)
- Mason Miller: 34 (49%) — 3 (11%)
- Zach Johnson: 34 (49%)
- Kayode Awosika: 26 (38%) — 3 (11%)
- Tate Ratledge: DNP
- Trystan Colon: DNP (injury)
- Christian Mahogany: DNP
- Graham Glasgow: DNP
- Miles Frazier: DNP (Injured/PUP)
Like the tackles, the guards were split into first and second-team units:
First team:
- LG: Netane Muti
- C: Kingsley Eguakun
- RG: Kayode Awosika
Second team:
- LG: Zach Johnson
- C: Michael Niese
- RG: Mason Miller
A few things of note: Niese took over for Awosika on the two-minute drill in the first half, displaying his versatility. This could have been an injury replacement, but it’s worth noting Awosika did come in for the extra point at the end of the drive.
Mason Miller’s move from tackle to guard may be just as much about numbers as it is performance. Miller has struggled at tackle, but Detroit is also just shorthanded at the guard position after losing Keaton Sutherland during joint practices. Zack Johnson played the entire second half despite signing with the team on Thursday.
Defensive end:
- Nate Lynn: 33 (49%) — 9 (33%)
- Isaac Ukwu: 33 (49%) — 5 (19%)
- Mitchell Agude: 23 (34%) — 12 (44%)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad: 20 (29%)
- Ahmed Hassanein 10 (15%)
- Aidan Hutchinson: DNP
- Marcus Davenport: DNP
Detroit had to adjust on the fly after Hassanein—who started in the second half—suffered an injury just 10 snaps into his afternoon. Campbell wasn’t definitive after the game, but noted that rookie defensive end may miss a little time after his injury.
That left more opportunities for Lynn, Ukwu, and Agude to make plays out there. For Al-Quadin Muhammad to only get 20 snaps is indicative of how safe his roster spot likely is, especially if Hassanein is out for an extended time.
Defensive tackle:
- Myles Adams: 44 (65%)
- Keith Cooper Jr.: 40 (59%) — 7 (26%)
- Chris Smith: 30 (44%) — 4 (15%)
- Brodric Martin: 22 (32%)
- Pat O’Connor: 17 (25%) — 1 (4%)
- Tyleik Williams: DNP
- DJ Reader: DNP
- Roy Lopez: DNP
Pat O’Connor seems relatively safe after playing in just the first few series, then having the rest of the afternoon off. Everyone else was seemingly sprinkled throughout the rest of the game.
That being said, it’s worth noting that Cooper (EDGE), O’Connor (4i), and Smith (NT) got the start, while Adams (3T) and Martin (NT) rotated in later in the game. Both rotations played into the second half, however.
Linebacker:
- Anthony Pittman: 36 (53%) — 13 (48%)
- Ezekiel Turner: 31 (46%) — 6 (22%)
- DaRon Gilbert: 27 (40%) — 12 (44%)
- Trevor Nowaske: 26 (38%) — 10 (37%)
- Grant Stuard: 26 (38%) — 10 (37%)
- Zach Cunningham: 21 (31%) — 5 (19%)
- Jack Campbell: DNP
- Alex Anzalone: DNP
- Derrick Barnes: DNP
- Malcolm Rodriguez: DNP (Injured/PUP)
After seeing just two snaps last week, Pittman got a full load of playing time on Saturday, both on defense and special teams. However, he remains firmly in the last unit.
The starters:
- Nowaske: SAM
- Cunningham: MIKE
- Stuard: WILL
Next up:
- Pittman: WILL/MIKE
- Turner: WILL
- Gilbert: MIKE
Cornerback:
- Erick Hallett: 44 (65%) — 5 (19%)
- Nick Whiteside: 33 (49%)— 11 (41%)
- D.J. Miller: 30 (44%) — 2 (7%)
- Tyson Russell: 28 (41%) — 9 (33%)
- Avonte Maddox: 22 (32%) — 1 (4%)
- Allan George: 21 (31%) — 3 (11%)
- Luq Barcoo: 20 (29%) — 4 (15%)
- Terrion Arnold: DNP
- D.J. Reed: DNP
- Amik Robertson: DNP
- Khalil Dorsey: DNP (Injured/PUP)
The rotation at cornerback was a bit tough to read. Hallett and Whiteside started as the outside cornerback, but Whiteside was replaced by Miller on the second drive. Allen George and Luq Barcoo were the next to come in for the second quarter, but Whiteside and Hallett would return before the end of the half. Rotations would continue throughout the entire second half, as well.
Most notable of this group was the versatility of Hallett. Here’s how his snaps were split up, per PFF:
- DL: 2
- Box: 7
- Slot: 5
- Wide corner: 14
- Safety: 16
That kind of versatility matters, especially when you put up three pass breakups in the game.
Safety:
- Ian Kennelly: 49 (72%) — 16 (59%)
- Rock Ya-Sin: 35 (51%) — 10 (37%)
- Loren Strickland: 27 (40%)— 12 (44%)
- Morice Norris: DNP (injury)
- Brian Branch: DNP
- Kerby Joseph: DNP
It’s hard to ignore just how much Kennelly is playing, and the fact that he continues to rep ahead of Strickland both in practice and in the game. That much appears to have been earned, so if the Lions opt to keep a fourth safety beyond Branch, Joseph, and Ya-Sin, Kennelly has to be considered the favorite for the job.
Specialists:
- Jack Fox: 10
- LS Hogan Hatten: 10
- Jake Bates: 7
Too much punting.
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