MichiganCardinal

FWIW Justin Rogers seems to be under the belief that this may have been a Jamarco Jones vs. Dan Skipper decision. Which would stand to reason he may not re-sign.

1/1

My guess is that this is roster gymnastics and he will re-sign. Veterans like Skipper are not subject to waivers.

Kennelly, Pittman, and Agude have each been waived in addition to Hooker. Each are obvious practice squad candidates if they clear.

… because obviously Tim Boyle is the right man for the job.

I predict Hooker lands with the Jets. His ceiling at this point might be Justin Fields, and it’s familiar territory with Glenn and Engstrand.

My favorite thing about going 17-0 would be going 17-0. My second favorite thing about going 17-0 would be listening to people on sports talk radio still find things to complain about.

This is a really well done analysis. Echos my thoughts pretty well.

It’s not really college football anymore. Sure, the stadiums are on campuses and the teams are named after universities. But what made college football special were the personal connections and loyalty. “I went to this school and now I’m rooting for my colors — my people — every Saturday.” These kids are paid millions, “attend” for seven years without actually going to a single real class or attaining a degree, and transfer to four schools in that time. The identity connection that was present in college football has evaporated and been replaced by the almighty dollar under the guise that these are still student-athletes. At least the NFL doesn’t hide the ball in its goal to make as much money as physically possible.

I thought I had read that Carson Wentz visited Minnesota recently. Not sure if Wentz is much improvement over Howell, or if anything can be read into their trust in McCarthy.

This team was built on the trenches. The lynchpin of the last two years has been the ability of our line to downright bully the opponent into submission when we needed to. Particularly in the run game. The Chiefs were able to win two Super Bowls and make it to a third with what I would consider to be an average to above average offensive line. But, they did that with Patrick Mahomes, who despite being 0-2 against Jared Goff, is admittedly much more mobile when line fails — and, had his elite lineman directly in front of him in Creed Humphrey, protecting his pocket and his eyes downfield. Again, I’m not saying the Lions are screwed this year. I think top-to-bottom they have a top three roster in the league. But, we may be in for some frustrating performances where defensive lines just have our number. And, we may need to find new ways to win games (e.g., passing where we used to pound it up the middle).

I wouldn’t undersell the IOL drop off. That’s the only thing that worries me about this team, assuming we don’t have as many devastating injuries as last year, which feels impossible. It’s very possible that Mahagony < Zeitler, Glasgow << Ragnow, and Ratledge < Glasgow. We have DTs like Chris Jones, Jalen Carter, Vita Vea, and Dexter Lawrence on the schedule. We also have Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons (maybe), TJ Watt, Jared Verse, and Trey Hendrickson (maybe), who will all gladly line up inside and double team a rookie, a 6th round sophomore, or an aging veteran coming off a less than stellar season, rather going against Sewell one-on-one. And even Decker has shown some signs of aging. It’s not all doom and gloom, I trust Fraley to coach these guys up and I trust that this trial by fire will turn them into good or great offensive linemen. But there may be some growing pains that involves Goff taking some hits.

Here’s a 53-man roster prediction. QB (3): Jared Goff, Kyle Allen, and Hendon Hooker Allen squarely won the backup gig, but I still the Lions will keep Hooker. I don’t think most Lions fans will love this, but I don’t think the Lions are ready to give up on Hooker and I don’t think he would survive waivers. RB (4): Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds, and Sione Vaki Assuming Vaki’s injury isn’t serious, anything other than this would be a shock. WR (6): Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Isaac TeSlaa, Kalif Raymond, and Dominic Lovett I really like Meeks, maybe even more than Lovett, but I think the Lions view Lovett as a possible heir apparent to Raymond and will stash him. Meeks is also probably slightly more likely to clear waivers to the practice squad. TE (2): Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright Usually I have a blocking TE I fall in love with during the preseason (see: Parker Hesse), but not this year. Neither Zylstra nor Horton has done anything to deserve a roster spot, and I don’t think either will be gifted one. Similar to carrying only four WRs into the 53-man last year, I expect us to have three TEs when the dust settles and we go into Green Bay, but roster spots are earned with this coaching staff. OL (9): Taylor Decker, Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow, Tate Ratledge, Penei Sewell, Dan Skipper, Kayode Awosika, Giovanni Manu, and Trystan Colon (PUP: Miles Frazier) I tried not to overthink this. I think the first eight I listed are a lock, with the last spot a little murkier. Colon was the better player before his injury and I think he gets the nod, possibly with a four-game IR designation after the cut to 53, promoting Muti from the practice squad. Eguekan has not looked like a serviceable NFL player this preseason. EDGE (5): Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, Ahmed Hassanein, and Al-Quadin Muhammed I think the terms of a deal with Zadarius Smith have been agreed upon for well over a month, but both sides have agreed to wait until after roster cuts to put ink on paper. This allows them to bring a guy like Hassanein onto the roster, designate him to the IR the next day, and have him be our four weeks instead of the entire season. Then you can sign Z to replace him on the roster. This also assumes Campbell has been truthful about Paschal’s status and window of an early September return. DT (5): Tyleik Williams, DJ Reader, Pat O’Connor, Roy Lopez, and Keith Cooper (PUP: Alim McNeill and Miles Frazier) This was the trickiest position for me. Ultimately I think they carry five and Cooper extends the Lions’ streak of rostering at least one UDFA. They will want to rotate often here to keep Reader fresh and I think that makes it worth the extra spot. LB (6): Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Zach Cunningham, Trevor Nowaske, and Grant Stuard (PUP: Malcolm Rodriguez) If they have the room they may find a way to get Pittman on the roster too, but Stuard seems like a better version in all respects. Cunningham does offer some cut flexibility because of his veteran status, so he may get cut and return before week one. DB (10): DJ Reed, Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, Rock Ya-Sin, Khalil Dorsey, Avonte Maddox, Loren Strickland, and Erick Hallett I think they value the versatility that Hallett brings and that it will earn him a spot over Kennelly, who is assured a practice squad role if he clears waivers. Special Teams (3): Jake Bates, Jack Fox, and Hogan Hatten Money.

We survived the preseason! Bring on the predictions.

Hutch is the DPOY favorite, and will generate plenty of pressure on his own. Davenport is healthy as of 4:01pm on 08/23/2025. He is a good to great compliment to Hutch as long as that remains the case. Of course I would prefer to have Alim and Levi healthy on the interior, but Williams and Reader are both capable of swallowing space and collapsing the pocket. Anzalone/Campbell/Barnes may not be household names outside Detroit, but they’re among the best linebacking corps in the league.

I think they carry three, at least to start the year, and give Hooker one more year. They didn’t draft a real project this year, like Manu or Martin, who have taken up a roster spot the last two years without contribution. Coupled with Hassanein’s and Dan Jackson’s injuries, you have a little wiggle room on the 53 for projects who don’t dress on game day. If you take Hooker’s rookie year as a developmental wash because of the ACL, this is effectively a redshirt sophomore season for him. The NFL rules also lessen the blow from keeping a third QB and allow them to dress in case of emergency. -edit to add- this all being said, I won’t be upset if they cut him and lose him to another team on waivers. He looks awful.

I think you’re vastly underestimating a healthy Lions defense if you think this is the case. Depending on how quickly Mahogany and Ratledge adapt, the defense may even be the stronger unit.

Hooker in for Allen. Have to think Allen has secured the QB2 role and Hooker is competing for creating a QB3.

Allen is playing well and TeSlaa looks like a day one starter. Based on his not having played in the preseason I have to think Tim Patrick’s job is safe for now, but there are just so many weapons on offense.

Houston Texans (1-1) @ Detroit Lions (1-2) vs. Setting: 08/23/2025 1:00pm EST on Lions TV Network Site: Ford Field in Detroit, MI Weather: Climate Controlled Opening Spread: Lions -1.5 All-Time Series Record: Texans lead, 4-2 Last Meeting: 11/10/2024, Lions won 26-23

Can’t get the Tweet to embed but Justin Rogers reporting the Glasgow injury is nothing serious.

Looking at Cincinnati and Dallas, I’m so glad the days of gross organizational mismanagement appear to be behind us.

What I’m seeing is that it wasn’t serious. Left on his own, inference that he may have returned if it had occurred earlier in the practice.

I get that frustration, I may not be 60 but I want them to win the Super Bowl this season as much as anybody else. But I’d also like to compete next season, and the following season, and the one after that, and so on. If you have ten years with a roster that looks like the Lions have had the last three years, you’re bound to win one eventually, and you may just happen to win more than one. Putting the eggs in a single basket opens you up to one Divisional Round exit after the entire defense gets hurt and your outgoing OC calls a WR pass in the most important game of the season. And then what?