A look at the Detroit Lions’ Week 6 snap counts against the Dallas Cowboys, including a look at how the team adjusted following Aidan Hutchinson’s injury.
Let’s take a detailed look at the Detroit Lions Week 6 snap counts against the Dallas Cowboys. Of note for this game, because of the lopsided score (47-9), the Lions offense played their starters around 57 snaps and their backups 11 snaps, while the defense began a heavier reserve rotation at around 51 snaps.
Offense
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff: 57 (84%)
Hendon Hooker: 11 (16%)
Back-to-back dominating performances from Jared Goff led to him getting some early rest and a game ball—which he promptly paid forward to coach Dan Campbell.
Hendon Hooker got his feet wet in his first career NFL game, but only threw the ball twice in his 11 snaps, and only completed one pass, a 19-yarder to Kalif Raymond.
Running backs
Jahmyr Gibbs: 37 (54%)
David Montgomery: 21 (31%)
Craig Reynolds: 11 (16%) — 16 special teams snaps (57%)
Sione Vaki: 1 (1%) — 16 (57%)
Gibbs played his normal allotment of snaps while the team elected to pass Montgomery’s end-of-game snaps on to Reynolds and Vaki. Reynolds turned six touches in 21 yards, while Vaki ran for 5 yards on his only carry.
Tight ends
Sam LaPorta: 42 (62%)
Brock Wright: 34 (50%) — 13 (46%)
Parker Hesse: 23 (34%) — 13 (46%)
Wright was right around his average amount of snaps for the year, while LaPorta saw his night come to an early end, and he passed his end-of-game snaps onto Hesse. The Lions deployed a bit more H-back than in previous weeks—he averages eight offensive snaps a game—but the bulk of his work came late in the game.
Wide receivers
Jameson Williams: 51 (75%)
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 43 (63%)
Tim Patrick: 30 (44%)
Kalif Raymond: 24 (35%) — 6 (21%)
Allen Robinson: 9 (13%)
Isaiah Williams: INACTIVE
This was the first time this season St. Brown saw fewer than 89% of offensive snaps in a game, because, like Montgomery and LaPorta, the Lions played it safe with him. Williams saw his typical snap counts and Raymond had a sensational game (six targets, four catches for 73 yards) earning a 90.9 overall grade from PFF. Patrick is settling in at around 30 offensive snaps a game, while Robinson saw his snaps increase, after previously only seeing two total offensive snaps in the Lions’ previous games.
Offensive line
Taylor Decker: 68 (100%)
Penei Sewell: 68 (100%) — 9 (32%)
Graham Glasgow: 68 (100%) — 8 (29%)
Kevin Zeitler: 57 (84%) — 9 (32%)
Frank Ragnow: 57 (84%) — 1 (4%)
Kayode Awosika: 14 (21%) — 9 (32%)
Dan Skipper: 11 (16%) — 9 (32%)
Michael Niese: 11 (16%) — 9 (32%)
Colby Sorsdal: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE
The Lions were deploying offensive linemen at a very high rate. They leaned on an extra lineman double-digit times in this game, even trolling the NFL by putting seven on the field at the same time and having Decker and Skipper declare themselves eligible. Skipper also lined up at wide receiver, and for one final troll of the NFL, they had Skipper declare himself as eligible for the Lions’ victory formation kneel down on the final play of the game.
Additionally, the Lions also threw a pass to Decker and tried a hook-and-ladder play where St. Brown lateraled to Sewell. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was deep in his bag of tricks
Defense
EDGE:
Levi Onwuzurike: 50 (72%) — 3 (11%)
Josh Paschal: 41 (59%)
Isaac Ukwu: 36 (52%) — 2 (7%)
Aidan Hutchinson: 32 (46%)
James Houston: INACTIVE
The massive player news from this game revolves around the potentially season-ending injury to Aidan Hutchinson. Hutchinson broke his fibula and tibia against the Cowboys and required emergency surgery. While people close to Hutchinson aren’t ruling out a return to the field, Campbell noted it was a four-to-six-month recovery timeline (though he did leave the door open) and the Lions will be searching for players to assume his snaps. Their internal options will get the first chances to secure snaps, like Ukwu, Onwuzurike, and Houston, as well as practice squad edge rushers, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lions look outside the organizations well.
When Hutchinson was forced from the game, Ukwu filled in, working to seize his moment. The Lions say they’re not in a hurry to figure out how to replace Hutchinson, but they are keeping their options open, and this is something general manager Brad Holmes prepares for during every season.
DT:
Alim McNeill: 36 (52%) — 3 (11%)
Mekhi Wingo: 26 (38%) — 3 (11%)
DJ Reader: 23 (33%)
Kyle Peko: 5 (7%) — 1 (4%)
Like the offensive skill players, McNeill and Reader got the veteran treatment at the end of the game and scaled back their snaps in favor of Wingo and Onwuzurike—who continues to split time inside and out. Peko injured his pectoral early in the game and was ruled out for the rest of the day.
As a whole, this group saw an overall lighter amount of snap counts as the Lions opted for more nickel packages to offset the Cowboys’ three-wide receiver sets.
Linebackers
Alex Anzalone: 51 (74%)
Jack Campbell: 48 (70%)
Malcolm Rodriguez: 33 (48%) — 19 (68%)
Trevor Nowaske: 29 (42%) — 19% (68%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 14 (20%) — 19 (68%)
Ben Niemann: 0 (0%) — 16 (57%)
Anzalone, who typically plays every defensive snap, also got the veteran treatment, while Campbell saw a slight decrease from his weekly average. Those decisions led to an uptick in opportunities for Rodriguez—who has steadily been increasing his snaps since the injury to Derrick Barnes—and Nowaske. Nowaske also likely absorbed Niemann’s snaps because he didn’t see the field on Sunday, a likely decision coming out of the bye week. Nowaske flashed in the Lions SAM role and it’s fair to wonder if the team will continue to give him opportunities as he registered a sack against the Cowboys.
Cornerbacks
Amik Robertson: 57 (83%)
Terrion Arnold: 51 (74%)
Carlton Davis: 37 (54%)
Kindle Vildor: 20 (29%) — 15 (54%)
Ennis Rakestraw: 17 (25%) — 12 (43%)
Khalil Dorsey: 15 (22%) — 19 (68%)
Davis exited the game early and was evaluated for a concussion after his helmet was dislodged and he was kicked in the head by a teammate trying to make a tackle. According to the Lions (via Justin Rogers), Davis passed concussion protocol and was eligible to return to the game, but the Lions played it safe.
He was replaced by Vildor and Rakestraw. Dorsey found the field later on in the game when the Lions pulled Arnold once they had an insurmountable lead.
Robertson, the Lions’ starting nickel corner, had only topped 50% of defensive snaps once before the bye, as the Lions stayed in their 4-3 base the majority of the time. But any significant shift in personnel usage following a bye week is something to pay attention to. Was this just an opponent-specific game plan or does this point to the Lions altering their philosophy?
Safety
Kerby Joseph: 67 (97%) — 13 (46%)
Brian Branch: 53 (77%)
Brandon Joseph: 18 (26%) — 9 (32%)
Loren Strickland: INACTIVE
The Lions opted to only make three safeties active in this game, so when it came time to rest their starters, it was Branch who took a break while Kerby stayed on the field with Brandon Joseph.
Branch and Kerby have been absolutely sensational this season and are starting to get recognition for their hard work. In this game alone, Branch had six tackles, two interceptions, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a quarterback hit. Not to be outdone, Kerby secured his fourth interception on the season (all coming in the endzone), which is second in the NFL to date.
Special teams
Jake Bates: 19 (68%)
Jack Fox: 9 (32%)
Hogan Hatten: 9 (32%)
Jake Bates went 4-of-4 on field goals, successfully hitting from 40, 48, 33, and 33 yards, while also making all five of his extra point attempts. His 17 points scored were the most by a kicker since Jason Hanson scored 19 in 1999.
Jack Fox didn’t punt in this game. So that was fun.
