MichiganCardinal

Down to Hesse and/or Mitchell.

That's a fluff tweet. Schultz doesn't want to **** where he eats. DPJ's agent gave him the news, he can't just say "dude sucks so he got cut". But yeah, that "crowded" WR room may only have four make the initial 53-man. DPJ was given a golden ticket to make this roster, showed up out of shape and failed conditioning, and then couldn't outcompete the 2s and 3s of the Giants, Bengals, and Steelers. Bye.

Only players who have accrued four seasons or less go through waivers. Players like Sudfeld become unrestricted free agents, and could re-sign with the Lions practice squad without clearing waivers, if he so chose to.

Updates from Campbell's presser today:

I may be biased, but this is the first season where a prediction like this isn't worthy of commitment. And, purely for the record of course, I have correctly predicted the Lions record in back-to-back seasons, including correctly predicting a 3-point loss in the NFC Championship Game last year.... So basically, I speak it and it happens, what can I say? AFC East Buffalo Bills (9-8) *4 Miami Dolphins (9-8) New York Jets (8-9) New England Patriots (3-14) AFC North Cincinnati Bengals (11-6) *2 Baltimore Ravens (10-7) *5 Cleveland Browns (9-8) *6 Pittsburgh Steelers (8-9) AFC South Indianapolis Colts (10-7) *3 Houston Texans (9-8) *7 Jacksonville Jaguars (8-9) Tennessee Titans (5-12) AFC West Kansas City Chiefs (13-4) *1 Las Vegas Raiders (8-9) Los Angeles Chargers (6-11) Denver Broncos (5-12) NFC East Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) *2 Dallas Cowboys (9-8) *7 Washington Commanders (6-11) New York Giants (5-12) NFC North Detroit Lions (12-5) *1 Green Bay Packers (11-6) *5 Chicago Bears (8-9) Minnesota Vikings (6-11) NFC South Atlanta Falcons (9-8) *4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-10) New Orleans Saints (6-11) Carolina Panthers (4-13) NFC West San Francisco 49ers (11-6) *3 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) *6 Seattle Seahawks (6-11) Arizona Cardinals (5-12) AFC Wildcard (2) Bengals over (7) Texans (3) Colts over (6) Browns (5) Ravens over (4) Bills BYE: (1) Chiefs NFC Wildcard (2) Eagles over (7) Cowboys (6) Rams over (3) 49ers (5) Packers over (4) Falcons BYE: (1) Lions AFC Divisional (1) Chiefs over (5) Ravens (3) Colts over (2) Bengals NFC Divisional (1) Lions over (6) Rams (5) Packers over (2) Eagles AFC Championship Game (1) Chiefs over (3) Colts NFC Championship Game (1) Lions over (5) Packers Super Bowl LIX (1N) Lions over (1A) Chiefs Accolades MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs OPOY: Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals DPOY: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Detroit Lions OROY: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals DROY: Laiatu Latu, EDGE, Indianapolis Colts CBPOY: Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts COTY: Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions SBMVP: Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions Lions Schedule Week One: v. Los Angeles Rams (SNF) - W 34-28 (1-0) Week Two: v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - W 31-20 (2-0) Week Three: @ Arizona Cardinals - W 27-24 (3-0) Week Four: v. Seattle Seahawks (MNF) - W 34-24 (4-0) Week Five: BYE Week Six: @ Dallas Cowboys - L 31-28 (4-1) Week Seven: @ Minnesota Vikings - W 28-17 (5-1) Week Eight: v. Tennessee Titans - W 31-10 (6-1) Week Nine: @ Green Bay Packers - L 30-27 (6-2) Week Ten: @ Houston Texans (SNF) - W 35-28 (7-2) Week Eleven: v. Jacksonville Jaguars - W 38-24 (8-2) Week Twelve: @ Indianapolis Colts - L 34-14 (8-3) Week Thirteen: v. Chicago Bears (Thanksgiving) - W 30-7 (9-3) Week Fourteen: v. Green Bay Packers (TNF) - W 28-27 (10-3) Week Fifteen: v. Buffalo Bills - L 30-27 (10-4) Week Sixteen: @ Chicago Bears - L 28-25 (10-5) Week Seventeen: @ San Francisco 49ers (MNF) - W 34-31 (11-5) Week Eighteen: v. Minnesota Vikings - W 37-16 (12-5) Wildcard Weekend: BYE Divisional Round: v. Los Angeles Rams, W 28-27 (13-5) NFC Championship Game: v. Green Bay Packers, W 42-35 (OT) (14-5) Super Bowl LIX: v. Kansas City Chiefs, W 30-24 (15-5)

Final Preseason 53-Man Prediction Quarterbacks (3): Jared Goff, Nate Sudfeld, and Hendon Hooker IN: Nate Sudfeld I really hate this, but I think it's what they'll do. If Sudfeld was in competition for QB2 he would have played yesterday. I still think keeping three is wasting a roster spot that could go to keeping an extra tight end, offensive lineman, or edge rusher. I don't see the benefit to spending one of 53 spots on a guy like Sudfeld you could almost certainly stash after the fact. If you really feel like Hooker isn't ready, and Goff goes down, Hooker only needs to finish the rest of that game you're currently in. Call up Sudfeld after the game and have him start the next one. It's not worth getting worked up over, but I don't think this is the right call by Holmes and Campbell. I also think that it's likely Fromm will be kept on the practice squad after his impromptu performance, assuming he clears waivers, giving us at least two too many mediocre QBs for my taste. Running Backs (4): Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds, and Sione Vaki No change. This seems pretty set in stone, though it will be interesting to see if Vaki is purely a special teams contributor or if he ends up being the RB3 as well. I think at least one of Jefferson and Funk gets picked up on waivers, with the other hitting the practice squad. Wide Receiver (4): Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, and Isaiah Williams OUT: TBD Nothing has changed here. Neither DPJ nor Fountain have earned a roster spot, and I'll be disappointed if either are given one. Williams has absolutely earned one, and as I said the other day, his ceiling is higher than Raymond's. I don't think you can cut him with the state of this WR room. I don't think they go into the Rams game with only four WRs, but I do think that is what the depth chart will look like on Tuesday night. Tight End (4): Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, and Parker Hesse (FB) IN: Parker Hesse My bold take (that could be completely wrong) is that I think Hesse is in as a quasi TE/FB. Campbell had an infatuation with Jason Cabinda for a long time, and I think that Hesse fills that role, from more of a TE position. From there, I think Zylstra and Mitchell are neck and neck. Mitchell was really bad against really bad competition yesterday, so I'll still give the slight edge to Zylstra. I also think Zylstra is a better pass catching threat to simulate LaPorta's contributions, but it could go either way. I would also predict that one of Zylstra or Hesse likely gets cut later in the week though to make room for a fifth WR, unless that comes in a trade. Offensive Line (9): Penei Sewell, Graham Glasgow, Frank Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, Taylor Decker, Kayode Awosika, Dan Skipper, Colby Sorsdal, and Giovanni Manu Reserve/NFI: Christian Mahogany I did more research and Mahogany can be listed on the NFI list, which just makes him ineligible for the first four weeks. I'm sure they'll do this with him, because there is no way he'll be ready for action in the first four weeks after missing nearly all of camp. Coming out of the week five bye week, there will likely be an injury somewhere that opens a spot for him, or he may even bump Sorsdal. I think they take a long look at Kingsley Eguakun, and he'll be at the practice squad waiting for the first sign of need here. It's not ideal to have no real backup center on the 53-man, especially with Ragnow's past toe issues. But I think that's likely how they start the season. Skipper is your backup tackle and 6th OLman on heavy fronts, Awosika is your backup swing guard (who also comes in at guard while Glasgow goes to center if Ragnow comes out), Sorsdal is your mediocre swiss army knife who can play anywhere in a pinch, and Manu is not dressing, but learning. Edge Rusher (5): Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, Isaac Ukwu, and James Houston IN: Isaac Ukwu OUT: Mitchell Agude I do think Houston is on the bubble, but his performance against the Steelers makes him the 52nd or 53rd man on the roster (alongside the 4th TE). Like I said before, he may not dress every week, because he's largely useless against the run and will only play on obvious pass downs. If they can only keep one of Ukwu and Houston, I think they keep Ukwu and look to trade Houston today or tomorrow. If his value is high enough, they may even move him for a WR if he is the 52nd or 53rd player. Agude is versatile, and would be nice to have on the practice squad in case of an injury here or in the linebacker room. Defensive Interior (5): Alim McNeill, DJ Reader, Levi Onwuzurike, Kyle Peko, and Mekhi Wingo (IR/DTR: Brodric Martin) I think Martin's hyperextended knee yesterday gives them some wiggle room here if they really want to keep both of Ukwu and Houston. They just activated Reader off of the PUP in the last hour or so, which tells me they are confident he will be good to go by week four. If neither Reader nor Martin would be good to go week one, I think they put Martin on the IR, designating him to return after week five, which spares them an extra roster spot. Linebackers (6): Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, and Ben Niemann IN: Ben Niemann Niemann seems like a lock based on his not playing against the Steelers. He'll fill the Anthony Pittman role, excelling on special teams. Cornerback (6): Carlton Davis III, Terrion Arnold, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw, Kindle Vildor, and Khalil Dorsey (IR/DTR: Emmanuel Moseley) No change. I think Vildor is a lock at this point based on his resting yesterday. I still give Dorsey the nod over Gilmore. I think Moseley gets one of the two IR spots that are designated to return with the rule change. Safety (4): Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Iffy Melifonwu, and CJ Moore No change. The one thing that could change here is based on Iffy's status. If his injury is worse than Campbell is reporting, and he is not going to be able to go for the first four weeks, they could place him on IR with a designation to return (which might screw up my DT prediction because they only get two of those). If so, they would likely keep Brandon Joseph instead of Iffy. As of Campbell's most recent comments though, I think Iffy makes the roster and misses a week or two. Special Teams (3): Jake Bates, Jack Fox, and Scott Daly No change. Bates probably has a short leash in the season if he's missing extra points and short field goals. I think Badgley would have won this battle if he didn't get hurt.

I don’t think it’s a given. If they can only keep one of Houston or Ukwu, I think they may lean Ukwu, who can pass rush and provide something in run defense as well. I think they try to trade Houston for a WR3 or WR4 before they outright cut him though.

That was actually a hell of a pass from Fromm. He’s making the most of his limited action.

Jake Fromm has entered the game. They’ve seen enough of Sudfeld apparently.

They just need to make sure they don’t allow him to become a run-first QB. He’ll easily become Pat White or RGIII otherwise. The high quality starting OL will help.

Manu with a false start on 4/1 leads to a missed chip shot by Bates. I wonder if the Lions give Riley Patterson another look, he was released by the Commanders this week.

They’ve chosen halftime of the third preseason game to settle hundreds of years of Michigan geopolitical conflict through a youth football scrimmage.

Hooker might be the greatest QB of our generation.

Hooker is struggling with basic pitch and catch. Starting to see why the coaching staff has Sudfeld ahead of him.

Isaiah Williams has a higher ceiling than Kalif Raymond. I don’t think you can cut him.

Officials are in midseason form, calling defensive holding on our offensive tackle on a run play up the middle.

I can definitely say there are more people in attendance today for a meaningless final preseason game than there were for the 2021 Vikings-Lions game that started it all.

Not loving the offensive line depth.

On a totally unrelated note, if anyone sees a stumbling drunk man in the 200s level wearing a white Manu jersey, it’s definitely not me.

I’m breaking out the big guns for today’s game.

I got the pregame email from them today which confirmed gates open at 11am