2025 Preseason Game Day Threads

[4hzglory]

12 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

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 still think they are going to sign Smith right after cutdowns, so there’s a spot.  Manu may still be one of the developmental guys.  And quite frankly, I think they’re more inclined to keep some of the young DL on the roster than Hooker at this point.

 

I also don’t think there’s much risk of losing him to another team’s regular roster so if they want him, could keep him on their practice squad.

[Motown Bombers]

29 minutes ago, MichiganCardinal said:

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’m pretty sure Teslaa was supposed to be the project, but he’s played himself out of being a project. 

[MichiganCardinal]

26 minutes ago, Klondike said:

I like their secondary but will have to see the rest perform that good after all the injuries. They may be great but if they can't put pressure on the QB it will be a tough go on defense. 

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.

[KnoxP]

1 hour ago, 4hzglory said:

…I also don’t think there’s much risk of losing him to another team’s regular roster so if they want him, could keep him on their practice squad.

I think that’s a 50/50 shot, and like Cardinal says, won’t be upset if he’s gone.

[Motown Bombers]

 

[Jason_R]

52 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

 

Last year’s Lions finished with the 12th highest PPG in NFL history (tied with the 2019 Ravens) at 33.2 points per game. They seem to be significantly better at the skill positions with TeSlaa. Clearly Ragnow is a big loss, as is Zeitler, but Mahogany and Ratledge should be capable. 

The missing piece is on defense, where the 2025 Lions should be substantially improved. More takeaways and shorter opponent drives could make this team more potent than it was last year. 

[sagnam]

6 hours ago, Motown Bombers said:

I’m pretty sure Teslaa was supposed to be the project, but he’s played himself out of being a project. 

I don’t think this is true. I think they saw him as overlooked.

[sagnam]

1 hour ago, Jason_R said:

Last year’s Lions finished with the 12th highest PPG in NFL history (tied with the 2019 Ravens) at 33.2 points per game. They seem to be significantly better at the skill positions with TeSlaa. Clearly Ragnow is a big loss, as is Zeitler, but Mahogany and Ratledge should be capable. 

The missing piece is on defense, where the 2025 Lions should be substantially improved. More takeaways and shorter opponent drives could make this team more potent than it was last year. 

Fingers crossed that Ben Johnson was not the mastermind behind the offenses massive success.

[MichiganCardinal]

59 minutes ago, Jason_R said:

Last year’s Lions finished with the 12th highest PPG in NFL history (tied with the 2019 Ravens) at 33.2 points per game. They seem to be significantly better at the skill positions with TeSlaa. Clearly Ragnow is a big loss, as is Zeitler, but Mahogany and Ratledge should be capable. 

The missing piece is on defense, where the 2025 Lions should be substantially improved. More takeaways and shorter opponent drives could make this team more potent than it was last year. 

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.

[MichiganCardinal]

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).

[Motor City Sonics]

9 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

 

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.

 

It helps when your LT gets to false start 10 times a game with no call.     

 

I think the Lions will get to the Super Bowl in one of the next 3 years.   I think it's going to be in a year where we don't expect it because I think being an underdog favors this team more than being the favorite.     But they really need to find a way to stay healthy.     Remember people had written off the Eagles last year.  Sirianni was fighting with fans and seemingly on the hot seat.     

Funny, so many people seem to expect a down year this year,  a down year being 10-7.   Imagine thinking 10-7 is a down year just four years ago. 

 

[Jason_R]

11 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

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.

I suspect Ratledge will end up an improvement over Glasgow who was not great at RG. Mahogany was very good in his cameo last year and I suspect will end up as a capable replacement for Zeitler. But yes, Ragnow is a big loss. And yes, probably the biggest question mark is Decker’s health. He has missed some games and it is a big drop off after him. 

[Motown Bombers]

Glasgow was LG. I think Mahogany will be upgrade over Glasgow as he was last year when he did play. Ratledge is replacing Zeitler which will probably be a down grade but I don't suspect a big one. Glasgow will probably be better at C than he was at LG but still a downgrade from Ragnow. 

[Klondike]

I see a lot more throwing the ball around this year compared to smash mouth football of previous years. The running game will suffer on the OL. 

[MichiganCardinal]

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

[lordstanley]

Skipper and Meeks cut as well.

[MichiganCardinal]

Brodric Martin waived.

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, lordstanley said:

Skipper and Meeks cut as well.

Skipper? Is/was he injured? That really is kind of a surprise.

[1984Echoes]

39 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Skipper? Is/was he injured? That really is kind of a surprise.

Not really.

They're thinking of Decker's past history of injuries.

First priority is a competent starting or starter-replacement tackle.

That's not Skipper.

He's the gimmick guy. Or the 3rd tackle for a "Heavy (3 OT's)" line...

They'll get him back on the roster. After they put guys on IR...

[RatkoVarda]

still an A+ draft. Hooker's advanced age (3 years younger than Goff) always made him an odd fit, but totally reasonable to grab a guy who looked like a 1st round pick after putting up video game numbers in the SEC in the 3rd round. Martin never made any sense. A small school guy with at best average production vs. meh competition. Then puts up horrible combine score. Pretty clear he does not have "it" like so many other guys. Not sure what they ever saw, except huge size?

[4hzglory]

43 minutes ago, RatkoVarda said:

still an A+ draft. Hooker's advanced age (3 years younger than Goff) always made him an odd fit, but totally reasonable to grab a guy who looked like a 1st round pick after putting up video game numbers in the SEC in the 3rd round. Martin never made any sense. A small school guy with at best average production vs. meh competition. Then puts up horrible combine score. Pretty clear he does not have "it" like so many other guys. Not sure what they ever saw, except huge size?

Yeah, even with the misses, 3 current and potentially 4 Pro Bowl players in your first 4 picks is hitting pretty well.

[RedRamage]

1 hour ago, RatkoVarda said:

still an A+ draft. Hooker's advanced age (3 years younger than Goff) always made him an odd fit, but totally reasonable to grab a guy who looked like a 1st round pick after putting up video game numbers in the SEC in the 3rd round. Martin never made any sense. A small school guy with at best average production vs. meh competition. Then puts up horrible combine score. Pretty clear he does not have "it" like so many other guys. Not sure what they ever saw, except huge size?

Obviously it's early (we don't know if some of the stars are gonna have their careers cut short or anything), but it's amazing to think that a team whiffed on two third round picks and it's still probably one of the best draft years of all time.

[Motown Bombers]

Speaking of the 2023 draft.