Snap counts: Injuries provide opportunity for Campbell, Wingo vs. Cardinals

Injuries forced the Detroit Lions to change personnel. That led to extra opportunities for Mekhi Wingo and Jack Campbell. More in our Week 3 snap count observations.

Let’s take a detailed look at the Detroit Lions’ Week 3 snap counts against the Arizona Cardinals.

Offense

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff: 68 (100%)
Hendon Hooker: DNP

After an 85-snap performance last week, Detroit’s offense had a mere 68 snaps this week. (This is a joke, 68 snaps is healthy, and nine more than the Cardinals had.)

Running backs

David Montgomery: 35 (51%)
Jahmyr Gibbs: 31 (46%)
Craig Reynolds: 2 (3%) — 14 special teams snaps (61%)
Sione Vaki: 1 (1%) — 14 (61%)

Montgomery and Gibbs continue to have a near 50/50 split, with the former leading this week. Both were equally impactful, though, as Montgomery had 122 total yards and a touchdown, while Gibbs had 103 yards and a score.

Just a single fullback rep for Vaki this week, as Detroit leaned a little more on Parker Hesse in that role this week.

Tight ends

Brock Wright: 47 (69%) — 3 (13%)
Sam LaPorta: 43 (63%)
Parker Hesse: 13 (19%) — 11 (48%)

Sam LaPorta’s injury at the end of the first half limited his availability in the second half, as he tried to test his ankle but ultimately opted to sit for most of the final two quarters. That left both Wright and Hesse to take on bigger roles, and both did well to step up when called upon.

Wide receivers

Amon-Ra St. Brown: 65 (96%)
Jameson Williams: 48 (71%)
Tim Patrick: 34 (50%)
Kalif Raymond: 5 (7%) — 8 (35%)
Allen Robinson: 1 (1%)
Isaiah Williams: INACTIVE

As coach Dan Campbell promised earlier in the week, the Lions gave a bigger role to Tim Patrick this week, and it came at the expense of snaps for both Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond. I was surprised to see how little they used Raymond on offense, but he was kept plenty busy on punt return with the awesome performance from Detroit’s defense.

Allen Robinson, who was also elevated from the practice squad, did manage to sneak one snap in there on Sunday, although I do not recall when.

Offensive line

Taylor Decker: 68 (100%)
Penei Sewell: 68 (100%) — 3 (13%)
Frank Ragnow: 68 (100%)
Kevin Zeitler: 68 (100%) — 3 (13%)
Graham Glasgow: 68 (100%) — 3 (13%)
Dan Skipper: 15 (22%) — 3 (13%)
Kayode Awosika: 0 (0%) — 3 (13%)
Michael Niese: 0 (0%) — 3 (13%)
Colby Sorsdal: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE

Another full participation day for the Lions starting offensive line. And with their offensive strategy this week being heavily focused on the run game, that included a huge role for Dan Skipper. Kudos to Skipper for battling his way through an early injury to continue to play an important role throughout all four quarters.

Defense

EDGE:

Aidan Hutchinson: 57 (97%) — 3 (13%)
Marcus Davenport: 40 (68%) — 6 (26%)
Levi Onwuzurike: 36 (61%) — 6 (26%)
Josh Paschal: 18 (31%) — 2 (9%)
James Houston: INACTIVE

Marcus Davenport’s return came in a timely manner, as Detroit had to lean on him a little more after Derrick Barnes’ early injury. Josh Paschal also saw a small uptick in playing time due to injuries along the defensive front.

Maybe even more notable is the fact that Onwuzurike continues to get a huge clip of playing time and is holding up completely. He also added a couple of quarterback hits in this game, moving his total to four, tied with Davenport for second on the team.

Oh, and Aidan Hutchinson just casually playing all but two snaps.

DT:

Mekhi Wingo: 28 (47%) — 4 (17%)
DJ Reader: 25 (42%)
Alim McNeill: 16 (27%) — 3 (13%)
Kyle Peko: 10 (17%)

Alim McNeill’s injury at the end of the first half opened up a big opportunity for Lions fifth-round rookie Mekhi Wingo. Prior to this game, Wingo had only played 19 games, so this was valuable experience for him. Wingo tallied three tackles for the game, and he nearly got home on Hutchinson’s sack.

It will be interesting to see if Wingo will continue to see more time or if the Lions will opt to move Paschal and/or Onwuzurike more inside if McNeill does miss an extended period of time.

Linebackers

Jack Campbell: 59 (100%) — 8 (35%)
Malcolm Rodriguez: 51 (86%) — 19 (83%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 27 (46%) — 18 (78%)
Derrick Barnes: 11 (19%) — 1 (4%)
Ben Niemann: 7 (12%) — 16 (70%)
Trevor Nowaske: 0 (0%) — 9 (39%)
Alex Anzalone: INACTIVE

With Anzalone out, it gave Campbell his first opportunity to play in every defensive snap. It was a relatively quiet day for him, logging four tackles on the day, but he didn’t make any clear mistakes, either.

Detroit got everyone else a little involved, likely due to the in-game injury to Barnes as well. Per PFF, Niemann got six snaps on the EDGE to fill the SAM linebacker role, while Reeves-Maybin pitched in six of his own.

Nowaske also saw his first action of the season, but solely on special teams.

Cornerbacks

Carlton Davis: 57 (97%)
Terrion Arnold: 53 (90%)
Amik Robertson: 28 (47%)
Kindle Vildor: 8 (14%) — 18 (78%)
Khalil Dorsey: 0 (0%) — 17 (74%)
Ennis Rakestraw: INACTIVE

Arnold, again, had to leave temporarily with a knee injury, but ended up jumping back into the game and finishing strong. Likely due to Arizona leaning heavy into the pass in the second half, Robertson played nearly half of the game, as Detroit split their base and nickel defenses nearly 50/50.

Safety

Kerby Joseph: 59 (100%) — 7 (30%)
Brian Branch: 54 (92%) — 5 (22%)
Brandon Joseph: 5 (8%) — 3 (13%)
Loren Strickland: 0 (0%) — 12 (52%)
Ifeatu Melifonwu: INACTIVE

Joseph and Branch continue to be a dynamic duo for the Lions defense, although Branch is reportedly in concussion protocol after a violent collision with Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. Hopefully, he’s okay, and maybe even Melifonwu can work his way back next week.

Special teams

Jack Fox: 8 (35%)
Hogan Hatten: 8 (35%)
Jake Bates: 7 (30%)

Okay, even I have to give it up for Jack Fox after that performance. Incredible game for him.