The preseason is over, and the Lions have hours to finalize their 53-man roster. Saturday’s performances may have changed the fate of several players fighting for their jobs.
The preseason is officially over, as the Detroit Lions finished 2-1, winning their final two games against the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders.
With roster cuts due within the next two hours, it will be interesting to see how some of Saturday’s performances impact which players ultimately make the 53-man roster. On defense, I feel like a couple of players significantly raised their stock, while others may have seen their chances take a hit.
Skyler Gill-Howard
Skyler Gill-Howard had the best PFF grade on the team, posting an 85.2 overall defensive grade, a 68.4 tackling grade and an 80.0 pass-rush grade.
Gill-Howard played just 12 snaps but made the most of his opportunities, recording two quarterback pressures, one sack and one QB hit.
His limited playing time could make it difficult to determine whether he has done enough to secure a roster spot, but his performance certainly helped his case.
Myles Adams
Unfortunately for Myles Adams, his performance was not enough, as Detroit has already made the decision to release him.
Along with Adams, Detroit has already moved on from two other players: tight end Zack Horton and linebacker Troy Reeder.
Levi Onwuzurike
Levi Onwuzurike appeared to be on the roster bubble, but with the news of Adams being released, that could bode well for his chances of making the team.
However, Onwuzurike did not have a strong performance against the Colts. In fact, he posted the lowest PFF grade on the defense, earning a 29.8 overall grade, a 30.6 run-defense grade and a 53.6 pass-rush grade.
He played just 17 snaps and struggled to make much of an impact.
Ennis Rakestraw
One player who may have helped save his roster spot with his performance was Ennis Rakestraw.
Although Rakestraw did not post a particularly strong PFF grade, he made an impact by recording an interception and a pass deflection.
He finished with a 58.2 overall defensive grade and a 78.4 tackling grade, but his 51.7 coverage grade was a concern. Rakestraw played 29 snaps.
With Detroit having several decisions to make in the secondary, that interception could prove to be an important moment for Rakestraw.
Eric O’Neill
Eric O’Neill is another player who could be on the cusp of making the roster, but his performance against Indianapolis certainly helped his case.
O’Neill played 35 snaps and finished with a 78.7 defensive grade, a 63.6 run-defense grade, a 69.6 tackling grade and a 73.9 pass-rush grade.
He also recorded three total pressures, including one QB hit and two QB hurries.
That type of production could give O’Neill a legitimate chance of sticking around when the final roster is announced.
Chris Smith
Another defensive lineman who struggled and could be on the bubble is Chris Smith.
Smith played 17 snaps and finished with the second-lowest PFF grade on the team, earning a 46.0 defensive grade and a 60.6 run-defense grade, along with a 66.8 pass-rush grade.
He recorded just one pressure and one QB hurry, making it a relatively quiet performance.
Roger McCreary
Roger McCreary, who was signed as a free agent this offseason, played 29 snaps. While I believe his roster spot is safe, he did not have his best performance against the Colts.
McCreary earned a 46.3 overall defensive grade and a 74.5 tackling grade, but his 43.4 coverage grade was a major weakness.
Despite the disappointing performance, his experience and status as an offseason free-agent signing should give him a strong chance of making the final roster.
Final Thoughts
With the final 53-man roster due at 6 p.m. tonight, we will start to see more and more players released by the Lions.
Some players may have played themselves onto the roster Saturday, while others may have done the opposite. Now, the waiting game begins as Detroit makes its final decisions before the regular season.
