Ahead of every Detroit Lions game in 2025, we will provide readers with an updated depth chart of the team’s roster based on what we are seeing at practices.
For this preseason game against the Houston Texans, the Lions plan on continuing to rest their starters—they rested 28 players against the Chargers, another 31 against the Falcons, and 30 against the Dolphins—especially with another joint practice earlier this week. It’s also worth keeping in mind that in previous years’ final preseason games, the Lions have rested even more players than normal, giving bubble players extra time to show their value, while also resting more contributors they don’t want to risk injury. So with that in mind, expect at least the top third of the roster to be on the sidelines for this matchup.
To help out your game viewing experience, here are a few keys to keep in mind when exploring this depth chart:
- Player’s numbers are listed (in parentheses)
- Projected starters—who are not expected to play—are bolded
- Injured players are italicized
- An asterisk* identifies rookies
- The Lions have the following duplicate numbers: 36, 40, 41, 43, and 52
Quarterbacks (3)
Jared Goff (16)
Kyle Allen (8)
Hendon Hooker (2)
It’s Hendon Hooker’s turn in the rotation to start, but coach Dan Campbell has already declared Allen as the leader for the QB2 job. Hooker still has a chance to pry the No. 2 job away from Allen, but it’s more likely that he’s playing to try and convince coaches to keep all three quarterbacks on the roster.
Lions coach Dan Campbell shared his thoughts on keeping three quarterbacks, and while he remains open to the idea, he also certainly made it sound like it was not his preferred route to take.
“If you do that (keep three quarterbacks), you lose depth, what, D-line or O-line? Or receiver, or defense back, or linebacker, or – you get the point,” Campbell explained on Thursday. “So, how important is that relative to the other positions? Look, call it what you want, when you have a year like we did last year, you get affected a little bit by it. It has an effect on the way you think. Depth, depth, depth. We’ve got to make sure that we have the depth.”
Running back (6)
Jahmyr Gibbs (0)
David Montgomery (5)
Craig Reynolds (13)
Sione Vaki (33) — Injury (undisclosed)
Jacob Saylors (48)
Deon Jackson (36)
Vaki leaving practice early on Thursday certainly throws a wrench into the works for Reynolds, who may have to pick up the slack. However, with this being the final preseason game, it also wouldn’t be surprising if the Lions played it safe with Reynolds and didn’t play him at all, instead letting Saylors and Jackson battle it out for the entirety of the game.
Wide receiver (11)
WR-Y Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)
WR-Z Jameson Williams (1)
WR-X Tim Patrick (12)Kalif Raymond (11)
Isaac TeSlaa* (18)
Jackson Meeks* (83)
Tom Kennedy (85)
Dominic Lovett* (19)
Ronnie Bell (10)
Jakobie Keeney-James* (80)
Malik Taylor (86) — returned to practice this week (undisclosed)
All preseason, the Lions have rested their top four receivers and held an open competition amongst their depth. However, it’s possible the Lions elect not to play TeSlaa, as he’s done enough to prove he’ll be a valuable regular-season contributor. Most eyes will be on Meeks and Lovett, who will be battling for WR6, while also making their case to coaches for why they should also keep WR7.
Tight end (6)
TE Sam LaPorta (87) — returned to practice this week (undisclosed)
TE Brock Wright (89)
TE Shane Zylstra (84)
TE/H-B Zach Horton* (40)
TE Steven Stilianos (43)
TE Gunnar Oakes (41)
The TE3 battle is still up for grabs, and while it looks like the veteran Zylstra has held off UDFA rookie Horton, this is a battle that could come down to the wire.
Projected offensive line (16 + 1)
LT Taylor Decker (68)
LG Christian Mahogany (73)
C Graham Glasgow (60) — injured (lower leg) — Report: “Minor issue, no long-term concern”
RG Tate Ratledge* (69)
RT Penei Sewell (58)
Projected starting offensive line for this game
LT Jamarco Jones (72)
LG Netane Muti (52)
C Kingsley Eguakun (65)
RG Kayode Awosika (74)
RT Dan Skipper (70)
Projected reserves
LG (T) Zack Johnson (77)
C (G) Michael Niese (62)
RG (T) Mason Miller* (63)
RT Gunner Britton (78)
C/G Trystan Colon (67) — injured (elbow)
Injured list:
G Miles Frazier* (71) — Active/PUP, target return date: September/October
Last year, Skipper got the veteran rest treatment after winning the OT3 job, and with that role seemingly his again, it’ll be interesting to see if he rests again. Manu looks headed for the OT4 role, but Jamarco Jones will be playing to convince coaches they need to keep a fifth offensive tackle.
On the interior, Awosika and Muti appear to be battling it out for a reserve guard role, while Eguakun appears to have pulled away from Niese. The rest of the group is likely working toward a spot on the practice squad.
Defensive end (7 + 1)
Aidan Hutchinson (97)
Marcus Davenport (92)
Al-Quadin Muhammad (96)
Nate Lynn (57)
Ahmed Hassanein* (61) — injured (pectoral) — will avoid surgery
Isaac Ukwu (45)
Mitchell Agude (50)
Injured list:
Josh Paschal (93) Active/NFI, target return date: September (“could be a little later than we’d hoped”)
Hassanein will miss this game due to injury, while Muhammad could miss for veteran protection reasons. Lynn, Ukwu, and Agude will all be fighting for attention, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them get a lot of playing time against the Texans.
Defensive tackle (9 + 1)
NT DJ Reader (98)
3T Tyleik Williams* (91)
NT Roy Lopez (51)
DL Pat O’Connor (95)
DL Mekhi Wingo (94) — Activated from PUP (ACL) – still only doing individual work
DL Chris Smith (90)
DL Keith Cooper* (64)
DL Myles Adams (66)
NT Brodric Martin (99) — returned to practice this week (undisclosed)
Injured:
DT Alim McNeill (54) Active/PUP, target return date: October
Wingo returned from PUP this week but has been limited to individual and group drills and is not expected to play in this game. O’Connor is another candidate to keep an eye on for veteran rest. The rest of the interior players are fighting for maybe one spot on the active roster, as well as practice squad opportunities.
Linebacker (9 + 1)
MIKE Jack Campbell (46)
WILL Alex Anzalone (34)
SAM Derrick Barnes (55)
WILL/MIKE Zach Cunningham (52)
WILL Grant Stuard (15)
SAM/MIKE Trevor Nowaske (53)
MIKE Anthony Pittman (41)
WILL Ezekiel Turner (47)
MIKE/WILL DaRon Gilbert (43)
Injured:
WILL Malcolm Rodriguez (44) Active/PUP, target return date: October
The last two weeks, the linebackers have seen Cunningham, Stuard, and Nowaske start and play the majority of the first half. It’ll be interesting to see if any of them get the veteran rest treatment, as all three are expected to make the roster. Pittman and Turner are solid special teamers, but they’ll need to show their value on defense in this game.
Cornerback (10)
CB Terrion Arnold (6)
CB D.J. Reed (4)
NB/CB Amik Robertson (21)
CB Khalil Dorsey (30) — activated from PUP (leg) – still only doing individual work
CB/NB/S Erick Hallett (36)
CB Nick Whiteside (38)
CB Tyson Russell (35)
CB D.J. Miller (42)
CB Luq Barcoo (40)
CB Allan George (25)
Dorsey returned from PUP this week and has been limited to individual and group drills, and like Wingo, he is also not expected to play in this game. Hallett and Whiteside started the last preseason game, and appear to be the closest to making the active roster.
Safety (7)
S Brian Branch (32)
S Kerby Joseph (31) — returned to practice this week (undisclosed)
CB/S/NB Rock Ya-Sin (23) — has been cross-training at safety and CB
S/NB Avonte Maddox (29)
S/NB Morice Norris (26) — injured (concussion) — expected to miss remainder of preseason
S Ian Kennelly* (27)
S Loren Strickland (24)
Ya-Sin and Maddox have been cross-trained at corner and safety all camp and have proven their value as top-end reserves. Both should be considered for veteran rest. Kennelly and Strickland have been battling it out all camp, and with one safety spot likely still available, this game will matter for both players.
Specialists (3)
P Jack Fox (3)
K Jake Bates (39)
LS Hogan Hatten (49)
With no in-camp competition, all three will have to play in the pre-season.
At a glance, look at the Lions’ projected depth chart for this game:
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