Back to the August Updates landing page.
Access the August Updates for other teams here:
Arizona | Atlanta | Baltimore | Buffalo | Carolina | Chicago | Cincinnati | Cleveland | Dallas | Denver | Detroit | Green Bay | Houston | Indianapolis | Jacksonville | Kansas City | Las Vegas | LA Chargers | LA Rams | Miami | Minnesota | New England | New Orleans | NY Giants | NY Jets | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh | San Francisco | Seattle | Tampa Bay | Tennessee | Washington
Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
Eric Woodyard's article from ESPN highlights that Jared Goff's confidence has been evident throughout the summer. “Honestly, I feel like it’s very similar to last year, and I mean that in a good way,” said Head Coach Dan Campbell. Lions guard Jonah Jackson added, “He’s always been on fire; it’s just a matter of making it happen consistently, and he’s been doing it.” Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow said, “If there’s anything noticeable on the field, it’s the confidence.” In 2022, Goff had the best TD-to-INT ratio in the NFL and ended the season with 324 consecutive passes without an interception, marking the fifth-longest streak in NFL history. The Lions are excited about Goff for the 2023 season, and he has the momentum to deliver a high-end QB2 fantasy season or potentially even a low-end QB1 season. Backup Teddy Bridgewater performed better in his most recent preseason game as he familiarized himself with the offense and shook off some rust.
Running Backs
Jahmyr Gibbs hasn't missed a day of camp and has emerged as a playmaker. Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery has been particularly impressed with his attentiveness. Montgomery said, "We said we’re gonna slowly get it to him in the beginning, and then we just kind of threw it all at him. He really works at it. If you look at his notebook, if you look at his notetaking, the questions that I get over text messages or coming in a little bit early and trying to get a jump on the rest of the guys.” Gibbs being mentally prepared, in addition to his physical gifts, bodes well for his rookie season potential. David Montgomery is also adapting to a new offense. Coach Campbell said, “I think this will be a really good day for David, but every day he gets more and more comfortable with what we’re doing.” Montgomery is enthusiastic about the potential of forming a powerhouse backfield with Gibbs. He said, “I think we’re going to be lethal. We’re going to be deadly.” The Lions boast one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, further bolstering the potential for both Gibbs and Montgomery to produce strong fantasy seasons. Craig Reynolds played with the second-string offense in the preseason finale, signifying his hold on the No. 3 position.
Wide Receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered an injury last week, but things are trending positively for him to play in the season opener. Coach Campbell said of St. Brown: “He’s doing good, he’s doing good. We weren’t going to play him in Carolina, but he’s doing great.” St. Brown was spotted doing walkthrough speed-level reps with the first-team offense in practice. The passing offense is built around St. Brown, placing him in the conversation as a top-10 receiver. Former Lions receiver Herman Moore said, “What I see from Jameson Williams. Now, I’m going off limited looks since I can only watch what’s on tape, but what I see is a player with NFL star potential.” Moore continued discussing areas where Williams could improve, but that's high praise coming from a notable former NFL player. Hopefully, Williams will be able to showcase his potential on the field once he returns from his suspension.
Tight Ends
Earning the attention of the starting quarterback is a great way to secure more targets. Sam LaPorta did exactly that last week, working on routes with Jared Goff for 20 to 30 minutes after practice. The consistent news coming out of Detroit's camp has been favorable for LaPorta, suggesting he could have a productive rookie season. He is not a player to overlook in fantasy.
Kickers
The team tried to hand the kicking job to Riley Patterson by having him take all of the place-kicking attempts against the Panthers in the preseason finale. Unfortunately, his 53-yard attempt hit the crossbar, and he also missed one of his three extra-point attempts. Concerns about his ability to hit field goals from 50+ yards make it likely that the Lions will be in the market for a kicker at final cutdowns.
Defense
Emmanuel Moseley is still working his way back from a torn ACL. Nevertheless, he made his initial appearance at training camp, working with trainers on the field. Rookies Jack Campbell and Brian Branch have continued to play well all preseason, which should result in both starting Week 1. Aidan Hutchinson’s defensive player of the year odds have increased from +2800 to +2000, signifying the growing respect and excitement surrounding his 2023 campaign.
Returners
Khalif Raymond's job returning punts is secure after a recent contract extension. Maurice Alexander is the favorite to replace Justin Jackson on kickoff returns after the latter unexpectedly retired.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff hasn’t played in any preseason games. However, he was inconsistent against the Jacksonville Jaguars in joint practices. The highlight of those sessions was a 70-yard pass to Josh Reynolds. Goff also declined to be a part of Peyton Manning’s ‘Quarterback’ show on Netflix. Nate Sudfeld likely lost the backup job with another interception in the preseason. Newly signed Teddy Bridgewater chose the jersey number 50 but appeared rusty in his Lions preseason debut. Hendon Hooker is still recovering from ACL surgery in December. Head Coach Dan Campbell was asked if Hooker might be activated before the season starts. Campbell said, “Yeah, honestly, we have not even talked about Hooker in those regards. It’s more about, let’s get him back.”
Running Backs
David Montgomery’s off-field isn’t taking away from his concentration as he broke a long run during a scrimmage against Jacksonville. Coach Campbell recently praised Montgomery, saying, “I think we haven’t even seen the best of him yet, because we don’t really go live and he’s not in games yet. That’s when I think he’s really going to show up. I’m glad we got him. He’s gonna be really important for us.” Jahmyr Gibbs was held out of the preseason game, which is a positive sign of his importance as a regular-season contributor. The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy believes that Craig Reynolds is far closer to a roster lock than the bubble. The coaching staff trusts him, and he can contribute as a runner, receiver, and on special teams.
Wide Receivers
There’s a “good chance” a hamstring injury will sideline Jameson Williams for the rest of preseason. Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered an ankle injury in the same practice, but he is expected back next week. Denzel Mims was waived, removing any trade compensation to the New York Jets. Pouncy expects Kalif Raymond to start Week 1 against Kansas City. He’s had an excellent training camp and has Goff’s trust. Chase Cota caught a touchdown and returned punts in the game. Surprisingly, he carries the highest PFF grade of any Lions receiver this summer.
Tight Ends
Sam LaPorta didn’t play in the game. James Mitchell is now two years removed from ACL surgery, and he’s improving. Mitchell posted the Lions’ fifth-highest offensive PFF grade this preseason. However, all the tight ends struggled with blocking and only caught a few short passes against the Jaguars. Pouncy’s assessment of the position: “LaPorta should start, Mitchell gets better every day, and Wright has the trust of the coaching staff.”
Kickers
In the loss to the Jaguars, the Lions did not have a field goal attempt. Riley Patterson handled the extra point attempt and succeeded. Both Patterson and John Parker Romo were perfect during practice this week, indicating that the team has two viable options. Romo, the All-XFL kicker last season, also holds the record for the longest field goal (57 yards) made at the Seahawks stadium. Expect the loser of this battle to garner interest from other teams.
Defense
A skirmish broke out during joint practices because rookie Jack Campbell knocked a running back to the ground. Campbell’s reply, “I’m wired to be competitive.” Aidan Hutchinson missed practice due to an ankle injury and has been sick recently. The second-year edge rusher remains confident, noting, “I think the sky’s the limit for me.” James Houston IV is building off his eight-sack rookie season by improving his run defense this summer. C.J. Gardner-Johnson was one of the best players during joint practices. He intercepted Trevor Lawrence once and nearly picked him off again later. Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez had some struggles in coverage against the Jaguars in practice, but he’s the Lions’ highest-graded overall player this preseason, according to PFF. Emmanuel Moseley is recovering from a second surgery since tearing his ACL and remains on the PUP list. Coach Campbell said, “it’s going to be awhile” before Moseley returns.
Offensive Line
With right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai nursing a back injury, Graham Glasgow has leapfrogged him on the depth chart. Glasgow's return to the Lions after being drafted by them has proven triumphant. With center Frank Ragnow and right tackle Penei Sewell playing at a Pro Bowl level and both left tackle Taylor Decker and guard Jonah Jackson also well above average, the line ranks third overall and is one of the NFL’s best.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
Head Coach Dan Campbell recently said he “would love” for Jared Goff to be his long-term starter. Which could be hinting toward a contract extension. Detroit Free Press’s Carlos Monarrez talked to Goff about the lack of respect he’s receiving from national sources. Goff said, “I don’t care…(Just) trying to win games for this team. That’s all.” The team signed Teddy Bridgewater to a 1-year deal worth up to $5 million to serve as the backup. Bridgewater previously worked with Coach Campbell in New Orleans. Adding a proven veteran is smart for a team with playoff aspirations since only eight quarterbacks started every game in 2022. Nate Sudfeld’s roster spot could be in jeopardy after a poor preseason game against the New York Giants. Hendon Hooker should start the season on the PUP list but has a bright future once healthy.
Running Backs
David Montgomery had a bad fumble during joint practices against the Giants, but that’s atypical. His role as a key piece in Ben Johnson’s offense is not in question. Lions reporter Tim Twentyman detailed Montgomery’s importance during a rare live-tackling session at practice this week. “The Lions did some rare live tackling periods at the end of practice with the No. 1 offense squaring off against the No. 1 defense. The red-zone portion of the drill was the David Montgomery show for the offense. Starting at the 12-yard line, Montgomery caught a first-down pass and was pushed out of bounds at the 8-yard line. He then ran four yards down to the 4-yard line on second down. He ran to the 1-yard line on third down and punched it into the end zone from the one on fourth and goal.” While Montgomery didn’t play against the Giants in the preseason game, rookie co-starter Jahmyr Gibbs did but didn’t do much. The Athletic’s Colton Pouncey still tagged him as a riser in his post-game analysis: “Gibbs got the start at running back and received a good chunk of snaps, perhaps more than you’d expect for a player as important as he is to the offense. The numbers don’t suggest much — 37 yards on seven touches — but Gibbs showed off his versatility as a pass catcher with an 18-yard reception and had a nice 8-yard run between the tackles. Considering he spent his night running behind Detroit’s second-team offensive line, it was a solid debut.” Justin Jackson was taking 3rd team reps and leading in the kick return competition before suddenly retiring. Mohamed Ibrahim suffered a leg injury, which might take him out of the running for the No. 3 job. Jermar Jefferson, Craig Reynolds, and newly signed Benny Snell are also in contention for that position. Jefferson and Reynolds didn’t play in the preseason game due to injuries.
Wide Receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown was a standout in the joint practices with the Giants, which is nothing new. Kalif Raymond signed a two-year extension worth up to $14 million, which is a fantastic outcome for an unheralded player who quietly finished second to St. Brown last year with 616 yards. He’s been playing with the first-team offense in camp. The Athletic’s Pouncey believes St. Brown, Raymond, Josh Reynolds, and Marvin Jones are roster locks, with Jameson Williams serving a suspension and not needing a 53-man roster spot to start the year. Williams led all Lions receivers with 51 snaps against New York. Lionswire Jeff Risdon detailed Williams's up-and-down game, which featured both a drop and a one-handed catch. Maurice Alexander is a long shot to make the team, but this 95-yarder increased his chances. Denzel Mims has dealt with leg injuries and needs to show something soon to justify a roster spot.
Tight Ends
Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright only played the initial three drives of the preseason game but are locked in as key contributors. LaPorta took all first-team snaps in 11-personnel, and Wright took all first-team snaps in 21-personnel. This suits LaPorta because 21-personnel groupings are generally for designed run plays. The Athletic’s Pouncy believes LaPorta is the most talented tight end on the roster. James Mitchell saw the most snaps in the preseason game and remains the likely No. 3.
Kickers
Both kickers had a clean sheet in the first preseason game. Riley Patterson was good from 39 yards, and John Parker Romo hit from 28 yards while also converting an extra point. This battle remained evenly matched going into the week and remains unresolved heading into the second week of the preseason.
Defense
The Athletic’s Pouncy also says, “(Aidan) Hutchinson has been an absolute problem…he’s been living in the backfield.” The pass rush could see a boost from Josh Paschal, who has played some defensive tackle. Safety Brian Branch has played most of his snaps as the first-team nickel back, which continued in the preseason game, where he delivered the night’s biggest hit. Branch has been the beat writers’ favorite player all summer; camp observers are running out of superlatives. Cam Sutton, signed from Pittsburgh, had a good joint practice against the Giants. Lionswire Zack Moran thought Julian Okwara and James Houston IV had impressive performances in the preseason game. Rookie linebacker Jack Campbell posted an elite 90.3 Pro Football Focus grade in the preseason game.
Returners
The team signed Justin Jackson and Kalif Raymond to contract extensions, but Jackson's unexpected retirement disrupted their plans. They are likely to seek a replacement for kickoff returns.
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff is the unquestioned starter. The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen wrote a piece comparing the current version of Goff to his time with the Rams. Coach Dan Campbell said, “ He’s a better quarterback than he was there, in my opinion, because he can do more things; he’s mentally on it.” Rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker is easing his way back from an ACL injury suffered late in his final college season. Campbell said Hooker is “around (trainers) every other day to see how that knee responds post-practice” as the Lions have been running him through light simulated game situations. That has left Nate Sudfeld as the primary backup and Adrian Martinez filling in at camp. The situation could be fluid, though, as the team made a free-agent offer to Teddy Bridgewater in March and had him in for a workout last week. Campbell and Bridgewater have a relationship from shared time with the Saints in 2018 and 2019.
Running Backs
While the backfield grew to a three-player rotation to end 2022, the expectation this year is for a tight two-way share between David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. ESPN's Eric Woodyard relayed Campbell’s comments on the situation. On Montgomery, "You need somebody you feel like you can give the ball to, 20 to 25 times a game potentially." And on Gibbs, "Then you need that specialty guy -- he's much more. He carries the scalpel, and he can slice you up. He can hurt you in the pass game potentially." Campbell also described his time with the Giants and Saints and their backfield usage. The team brought back Justin Jackson, and all reports indicate he has seized the No. 3 job. That leaves a three-way battle with Jermar Jefferson, Mohamed Ibrahim, and Craig Reynolds, with the expectation of keeping just one. USA Today's Jeff Risdon favors Reynolds to make the cut.
Wide Receivers
Unfortunately, Jameson Williams has been a story all offseason, but for the wrong reasons. Between the six-game gambling suspension, an injury holding him out of practice, and a fight, it’s been a mess. On a more positive note, Amon-Ra St. Brown has been the camp star. Campbell noted: "He just goes. And it's every little thing, every little detail, he finishes. You see him pre-practice and post-practice; he doesn't change one thing. And there – when you do that, there's no way he's not going to have a big year. There's no way." Denzel Mims made headlines after his trade to the Lions, but it has been Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond running as starters alongside St. Brown. Veteran free agent Marvin Jones may not be the roster lock people expect. Dylan Drummond is a name to know. Drummond, an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Michigan, had one NFL tryout and has been turning heads. St. Brown is taking note of his young teammate: "He does everything right. He's crafty; he's a good route runner, understands the offense really well for only being here for OTAs through now. He's right there with me in terms of understanding almost everything.”
Tight Ends
Shane Zylstra is out for the season. He played the second most snaps at the position after the trade of T.J. Hockenson. That narrows the position to rookie Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and James Mitchell. Wright served as the team's starter after Hockenson moved on, but the story for fantasy is LaPorta. He has been running with the starters since camp opened and has been impressive. Lions.com's Tim Twentyman listed him as one of ten players who have stood out, saying, "He's a quick study, and his receiving skills are really advanced for a young tight end. He's going to play a big role in this offense starting Week 1."
Kickers
Riley Patterson had a rough Saturday in the kicker competition, going 1-of-3 on field goal attempts, missing from 33 and 37 yards, while John Parker Romo went 4-of-4. Patterson is more experienced, and the team praised his added leg strength, but Romo has been impressive enough to create real uncertainty. Both had strong starts to camp, and this could be decided in the preseason games, with anything near a tie likely going to Patterson.
Defense
The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy noted that the Lions frequently play in five-person fronts, to the point one could believe that is their base defense. The team uses Charles Harris to act as a hybrid linebacker in the front. Aidan Hutchinson has been a standout, living up to his second overall selection in 2022. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner wrote a piece about how Hutchinson and left tackle Penei Sewell are raising each other’s games by facing off every day in practice. The biggest question regarding the defense is rookie first-round pick Jack Campbell vs. Derrick Barnes. SI.com’s Christian Booher noted Campbell has been running with the ones recently next to Alex Anzalone. Booher also listed rookie Brian Branch as a riser.
