Lions Week 4 snap counts: Jameson Williams’ role continues to increase

A look at the Detroit Lions’ Week 4 snap counts against the Seattle Seahawks, including a personal best from Jameson Williams.

Let’s take a detailed look at the Detroit Lions’ Week 4 snap counts against the Seattle Seahawks.

Offense

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff: 53 (100%)
Hendon Hooker: DNP

Goff was sensational, setting personal bests and NFL records. A perfect 18-of-18 for 292 passing yards and two touchdowns, and all wrapped up with two kneel downs in victory formation.

Running backs

Jahmyr Gibbs: 30 (57%)
David Montgomery: 21 (40%)
Craig Reynolds: 2 (4%) — 19 special teams snaps (66%)
Sione Vaki: 0 (0%) — 19 (66%)

The Lions continue to deploy their rushing game plan of leaning on Montgomery early, turning to a heavier dose of Gibbs throughout the middle portions of the game, and then back to Montgomery to close. Some weeks that’ll result in Gibbs leading the group in snap counts, while other weeks, Montgomery will lead the way.

This was Vaki’s first game without an offensive snap but he said in the locker room after the game that he knows his opportunities will come and he’s perfectly content grinding it out on special teams for now.

Tight ends

Sam LaPorta: 47 (89%)
Brock Wright: 29 (55%) — 6 (21%)
Parker Hesse: 7 (13%) — 11 (38%)

After working through an ankle injury last week, LaPorta showed no ill effects on Monday night, contributing with four receptions for 53 yards—second most on the team in both categories.

Wright also spent a ton of time on the field in this game, as the Lions seem to be splitting their time between 11 and 12 formations on a weekly basis.

Wide receivers

Jameson Williams: 51 (96%)
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 47 (89%)
Tim Patrick: 21 (40%)
Kalif Raymond: 6 (11%) — 8 (28%)
Allen Robinson: 0 (0%)
Isaiah Williams: INACTIVE

This is the first time I can recall Williams out-snapping St. Brown when both players were healthy, but it makes sense considering the fact that the Lions were leaning on him to run back the secondary and open stuff up underneath.

Patrick is settling in very nicely as the Lions’ WR3 and is starting to become a player that Goff feels comfortable targeting.

“We’re learning each other each and every day,” Patrick said of his evolving chemistry with Goff. “That’s why we practice and (we) practice until we get it right. When we do get it right, and it’s time to really go, it’s going to be beautiful.”

Offensive line

Taylor Decker: 53 (100%)
Penei Sewell: 53 (100%) — 6 (21%)
Kevin Zeitler: 53 (100%) — 6 (21%)
Graham Glasgow: 53 (100%) — 6 (21%)
Kayode Awosika: 53 (100%) — 6 (21%)
Dan Skipper: 4 (8%) — 6 (21%)
Michael Niese: 0 (0%) — 6 (21%)
Colby Sorsdal: 0 (0%)
Frank Ragnow: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE

With Ragnow unable to play due to a partially torn pectoral, the Lions shifted Glasgow inside to center and Awosika into the starting left guard role. Both were very solid.

“For most stuff, I’d say it’s pretty normal, pretty natural,” Glasgow said of returning to play center. “But I haven’t practiced or played (at center) since last year, in the Bears game. So, most stuff came back pretty easy, but there are a couple more nuanced things that may take a little bit of time. But overall it was just fine.”

Glasgow also told me that he was prepared to play center again following the team’s bye week if Ragnow was unable to return to the field.

After running a lot of big sets with a sixth offensive lineman in Week 3, the Lions reduced that role against the Seahawks, opting to put more skill players on the field.

Defense

EDGE:

Aidan Hutchinson: 78 (87%)
Levi Onwuzurike: 56 (62%) — 4 (14%)
Josh Paschal: 53 (59%)
James Houston: 14 (16%)

Hutchinson was credited with 15 pressures per PFF, he’s a monster.

With both Derrick Barnes and Marcus Davenport landing on injured reserve this past week, the Lions shifted Onwuzurike outside more and increased Houston’s opportunities. Onwuzurike thrived in the expanding role, showing his value and versatility, even dropping into coverage—which was incredibly fluid for a 300+ pounder:

Unfortunately, the showing wasn’t as good for Houston, who not only failed to show up on the stat sheet but was also penalized for two offsides penalties. Not great.

DT:

Alim McNeill: 63 (70%) — 4 (14%)
DJ Reader: 37 (41%)
Mekhi Wingo: 26 (29%) — 4 (14%)
Kyle Peko: 25 (28%) — 4 (14%)

McNeill’s snap counts are ridiculous for such a big man, while Reader is about where he should be for most of the season. Wingo’s snaps were once again in the high 20s on defense, Peko continues to spell Reader, and Onwuzurike also chipped in with some inside snaps as well.

Linebackers

Alex Anzalone: 90 (100%)
Jack Campbell: 61 (68%) — 3 (10%)
Malcolm Rodriguez: 31 (34%) — 23 (79%)
Ben Niemann: 23 (26%) — 19 (66%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 18 (20%) — 23 (79%)
Trevor Nowaske: 8 (9%) — 23% (79%)

With no Barnes, the Lions used a committee approach to their linebacker roles. Campbell was at the MIKE most of the day, while Anzalone shifted in between the WILL (his normal spot) and SAM (Barnes’ role), while Malcolm got in reps at WILL and MIKE. Niemann spent time at the SAM as well, while Reeves-Maybin sprinkled himself at multiple spots as well. Nowaske got on the field for defense for the first time since rejoining the Lions, spending time on the line-of-scrimmage, and was credited with three pressures per PFF—color me intrigued.

Cornerbacks

Carlton Davis: 88 (98%)
Terrion Arnold: 84 (93%)
Amik Robertson: 52 (58%)
Kindle Vildor: 5 (6%) — 18 (62%)
Ennis Rakestraw: 1 (1%) — 8 (28%)
Khalil Dorsey: 0 (0%) — 23 (79%)

The Lions spent about half their defensive snaps in base and half in nickel, when they leaned on Robertson to roam the slot. Vildor showed his versatility by spelling both outside corners, while also taking safety reps in warm-ups. In the locker room after the game, Vildor told me he has never played safety before but he is trying to be a valuable contributor in any way he could. Rakestraw only saw one snap on defense, as he was returning from injury, and should see his role increase after the bye.

Safety

Kerby Joseph: 89 (99%) — 12 (41%)
Brandon Joseph: 89 (99%)
Loren Strickland: 0 (0%) — 20 (69%)
Brian Branch: INACTIVE

With Branch unable to play due to an illness, Brandon Joseph stepped into the starting lineup. Both he and Kerby each only missed one defensive snap, and there was not a need to turn to Strickland beyond special teams.

Special teams

Jake Bates: 14 (48%)
Jack Fox: 9 (31%)
Hogan Hatten: 9 (31%)

Typically, Fox leads the snap counts for the specialists because he is on the field to punt, as well as holding every field goal and extra point. But Fox only punted three times in this game, while holding the snap for six extra point attempts—which led to a bigger role for Bates, who was also handling kickoff duties.