Lions vs. Giants preseason preview: 16 players to watch

With two productive (and heated) joint practices behind them, the Detroit Lions can now turn their attention to their first preseason game against the New York Giants. It has been an eventful first few weeks of training camp thus far with plenty of storylines taking shape as players compete for a roster spot on a really deep Lions’ roster.

Let’s take a look at a few players and positions to keep an eye on as the Lions wrap up their first week of the preseason over in East Rutherford.

Offense:

• Hendon Hooker and Nate Sudfeld

For obvious reasons, the competition for the backup quarterback position behind starter Jared Goff is becoming an important one. In years past, the position may not have mattered as much, but given that the Lions have legitimate championship aspirations in 2024—it certainly matters.

You likely know the story by now. Hooker was drafted by the Lions 68th overall in the 2023 NFL draft, and since he was coming off a torn ACL suffered late in his 2022 season at the University of Tennessee, the team knew their investment could potentially take some time to come to fruition.

Most of his rookie year was spent holding a clipboard and digesting offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s offense. However, with it now being 2024 and Hooker entering year two, the time has come for him to show that he is capable of being the backup to Goff should the veteran miss any time.

Reports out of camp have been pretty consistent about Hooker’s up-and-down play, but a strong showing against the Giants could do a lot to boost his candidacy for quarterback two. Lions’ coach Dan Campbell has already said Goff won’t play (presumably along with many other veterans and established starters across the roster), so you’d have to figure that Hooker, along with veteran Nate Sudfeld, will get plenty of reps in preseason game one.

• Jermar Jefferson and Sione Vaki

Personally, this has been one of my favorite positions to watch thus far through August. Having played most of his reps in college at safety, Vaki was one of general manager Brad Holmes’ more interesting picks from the Lions’ 2024 NFL Draft class. After selecting him, the team was really quick to come out and declare their vision for Vaki as a running back, causing many (including myself) to start making assumptions on what his role would be in 2024.

Vaki displayed strong speed and acceleration during his time at the University of Utah, and his ability to break tackles was likely what caught the eye of the Lions’ staff during the pre-draft process. With that said, Vaki’s reps at running back have been minimal when compared to a veteran back like Craig Reynolds, so he is very much still learning the nuance and details of the position.

Due to the aforementioned experience, Reynolds has likely solidified his standing as the team’s third running back behind starters David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, leaving the likes of Vaki, Jermar Jefferson, and Zonovan Knight to compete for the fourth spot.

Jefferson was originally drafted by the Lions back in 2021 out of Oregon State and appeared in seven games in his rookie season. Since then, an influx of depth and a few unlucky injuries have made playing time tougher to come by. Both he and Vaki should get a nice chunk of the workload on Thursday against the Giants, and based off Dan Campbell’s comments saying that Jefferson is, “In a really good spot,” it will be interesting to see who gets the first shot, and whether or not we need to begin discussing keeping five running backs on the active roster.

• Daurice Fountain, Antoine Green, and Donovan Peoples-Jones

With receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond all having their spots on the roster locked in, the competition behind them has really begun to heat up.

Through a week and some change, it would appear that Fountain has taken an early lead for the starting X spot behind St. Brown and Williams. This is a sought-after spot as it would have the third receiver on the field a lot of the time when the Lions opt to go with personnel groupings like 11 personnel (one running back and one tight end).

Additionally, each of the three players listed all have a good bit of size to their game, which is something the Lions are lacking with the other aforementioned roster-locks. Fountain, along with Green and Peoples-Jones should all get plenty of opportunities against the Giants, and with as competitive as this position has shaped up to be, it would be wise to make the most of them.

• James Mitchell and Parker Hesse

This is an interesting one because like the running back and wide receiver rooms, the top end of the depth chart feels pretty set. Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, and Shane Zylstra make up a really talented group of tight ends, with Mitchell battling it out for that fourth spot.

Mitchell was selected 177th overall by the Lions in the 2022 NFL Draft and entered the league with what many assumed was a pro-ready skillset at the position. He can make catches in traffic, has the speed to stretch the seam, and is comfortable putting his hand in the dirt and pinning a defensive end on stretch-run concepts. Unfortunately for Mitchell, the injury bug bit him a few times in 2023, and with as deep as this roster has become over the course of the last few years, the time has come for him to show why the Lions drafted him in the fifth round.

Apart from the few injuries in 2023, Mitchell’s play has not been as consistent as this coaching staff demands. And since Hesse’s play has begun raising some eyebrows around Allen Park, Mitchell’s roster spot is likely no longer guaranteed. At the same time, this front office drafted him for a reason, and if he can put it together in 2024, then the Lions could potentially boast one of the more complete tight end rooms in the NFL.

Defense:

You likely knew this one was coming. Onwuzurike has been the talk of training camp and for good reason. Dan Campbell and other coaches have not been shy with lauding Onwuzurike’s play as of late, and if he can continue to make noise in offensive backfields, the Lions may have something special on their hands.

“The best way I can explain it is everything is moving together as one,” said Onwuzurike. “Speed to power, my whole body feels like one, all together.”

This is exactly what made him such a coveted prospect coming out of the University of Washington. Having an interior player that can cause chaos and destruction in the middle of an offense is an invaluable asset for a defense.

To put it simply, Rakestraw has been one of my favorite players to watch and read about through thus far through August. Like fellow defensive back Brian Branch, he strikes me as one of those players whose instincts and feel for the game are on a different level than others his age, allowing them to always be around the football.

There has been a lot made about the Lions’ revamped secondary, but with the unfortunate news of Emmanuel Moseley tearing his pec and being out long-term, the depth is already being tested. It’s unclear how much players like Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold will play against the Giants, but I would assume most of the younger players will get a good amount of run.

Watching where Rakestraw takes his reps will be something to keep an eye on, and if I were a betting man and had to pick a Lions’ player to come away with a takeaway on Thursday, the rookie out of the University of Missouri wouldn’t be a bad pick.

• Mathieu Betts and Mitchell Agude

Like most of the roster, the top of the edge depth chart is mostly in place, with only a spot or two that is truly up for grabs. In the case of Betts and Agude, both are competing for a chance to provide depth along the defensive line, while also figuring in to be core contributors on special teams.

• C.J. Moore and Brandon Joseph

Another case of an established veteran like Moore who is having to fend off a young player like Joseph from usurping his role with the team. The coaching staff has been praising Joseph for a while now, and with Moore returning to the team after his suspension—the door was left open for a while.

Beyond the fourth safety role that is up for grabs, both Moore and Joseph would likely be core special teamers once the final roster is established.

I am not looking for much here. Kicking gods—if you are out there, please, hear our prayers.