As the Detroit Lions get ready to host the Miami Dolphins in the first preseason game at Ford Field in 2025, it’s a good time to freshen up the team’s positional battles.

Training camp performances, preseason displays and injuries have shaken up the race for roster spots at a few positions. Those precious places on the 53-man roster still up for grabs should be the focal point for Lions fans and coaches against the Dolphins, as well as the coming week in joint practice and the preseason finale with the Houston Texans.

Here’s where the battles stand heading into preseason Week 2:

No. 2 Quarterback

Kyle Allen appears to have surged ahead of Hendon Hooker in the battle to be Jared Goff’s primary backup. Allen’s command of the offense and ball security outshine Hooker’s more fluctuating play and superior athleticism.

The bigger picture here is, does Hooker show enough to convince the Lions to keep three quarterbacks?

No. 4 Running Back

This job is Sione Vaki’s until proven otherwise, but Vaki missing different parts of camp (and the Falcons preseason game) with different maladies has slowed his seizure. UFL refugee Jacob Saylors has impressed in camp and looked strong on special teams, which is where Vaki’s bread is buttered. This isn’t really a battle as much as it’s Saylors and newcomer Deon Jackson fighting for the presumptive practice squad spot behind the top four. They are closer to Vaki on offense than Vaki is to No. 3 RB Craig Reynolds, however.

WR depth behind the top two

Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams are a dynamic duo. The pecking order after them is up for some debate, thanks in part to Isaac TeSlaa’s rapid ascension into the mix.

TeSlaa, Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond all appear safely on the team. Patrick’s recent limitations with a hamstring issue have given TeSlaa more opportunities to prove he’s faster and a better blocker. Raymond offers a very different style as a shorter speedster and vertical threat.

If the Lions keep six, and that’s another question that can’t be answered yet, who is No. 6? Rookie Dominic Lovett has missed time recently and hasn’t had the most reliable hands in camp, opening the door for others. Ronnie Bell has surged lately, earning some first-team reps with Patrick out. Jackson Meeks has played well in preseason games and made some plays on special teams, giving the undrafted rookie the underdog outsider’s shot. And there’s always Tom Kennedy, the ultimate roster survivor–and he’s had a pretty good summer, too.

Tight end No. 3

The recent season-ending injury to Kenny Yeboah greatly solidified Shane Zylstra as the front-runner for the third TE spot. Zylstra is an effective receiver and special teamer, which has been the primary functions for TE3 in Detroit. Ubdrafted rookie Zach Horton offers the ability to play fullback, and that gives him a fighting chance to overtake Zylstra behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.

Interior offensive line depth

The starting trio is set with Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge flanking center Graham Glasgow. Who comes next is perhaps the biggest unknown on the offensive side of the ball.

Kingsley Eguakun and Michael Niese are battling to be the backup center, and Niese probably has a slight edge if it just pertains to center. But the reality that Ratledge could kick in to center makes needing a true reserve center less necessary…

…which brings a host of combatants for the backup OG spot(s) into the mix. Netane Muti, Kayode Awosika, and the aforementioned centers all have done enough to merit earning a spot, but none has done enough to pull out in front, either. Losing Trystan Colon and Colby Sorsdal to injuries whistles down options, while fifth-round rookie Miles Frazier remains on the PUP list. Frazier figures to get a spot once he’s healthy, but when is that?

Offensive tackle depth

The wrinkle from the tackle depth that could impact the guards is Dan Skipper, who is the No. 3 tackle. Skipper has been better at guard than tackle in his NFL career. Because the Lions will carry Giovanni Manu as a reserve tackle once again, that makes Skipper’s positional versatility a flex point. Veteran Jamarco Jones could benefit from that and stick as a reserve tackle; Jones consistently reps ahead of Manu in practices and is far more game-ready at this point. A strong performance against Miami would definitely augment Jones’ case.

The gap from Manu to the next wave, which primarily is comprised of fresh signees, seems considerable. Keep in mind that Frazier is expected to cross-train at tackle, too.

Defensive end No. 3 and 4

This has been a big battle all summer, one that remains up in the air. The style that new DL coach Kacy Rodgers and new DC Kelvin Sheppard want behind Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport matters as much as the performances.

Al-Quadin Muhammad, Nate Lynn, Mitchell Agude, Ahmed Hassanein and Keith Cooper are difficult to sort out. Cooper, an undrafted rookie, nicely fills the power end/tackle role that Levi Onwuzurike (out for the year) has occupied, the same role that Josh Paschal (currently on the NFI list) hopes to fill when healthy–sometime after the season starts.

Hassanein brings raw energy and promise of a strong end, but his learning curve is very real. It’s difficult to see the Lions risking Hassanein to waivers, however. Lynn has been the most effective pass rusher of the group, but again, not enough to definitively rule out the others.

Defensive tackle depth

Keith Cooper fits in the mix here too, which is one reason why I’m bullish that he sticks. He and steady vet Pat O’Connor offer the most versatility, and both have taken a decent amount of first-team reps behind Tyleik Williams, but also at 4i/5T alignments.

Roy Lopez feels very close to sewing up the No. 2 NT role behind D.J. Reader. Chris Smith and Brodric Martin can’t be summarily dismissed yet, with Martin playing his best football in three Lions summers over the last 10 days.

Mekhi Wingo is the wildcard here. The second-year tackle figures to compete in the role O’Connor and Cooper (and Paschal) all play once he returns from a meniscus injury, but that timetable remains vague.

Reserve LBs

This battle is almost exclusively about how many LBs the Lions decide to keep, rather than who fills those spots. Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Grant Stuard are a very respectable top four.

Zach Cunningham has shown how he led the NFL in tackles a few seasons ago, but also why he’s become a journeyman since. Trevor Nowaske has experience playing Barnes’ SAM role, but not enough that it guarantees him a spot. Anthony Pittman has six NFL seasons of special teams experience, nearly all of that in Detroit, but couldn’t get on the field on defense even with all the injuries at LB a year ago. DaRon Gilbert plays more like an oversized safety than LB, befitting a guy who played safety in college.

CB depth/No. 4 safety

These spots get lumped together because two of the primary players involved, Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin, are capable of playing safety, nickel and outside corrnerback. Erick Hallett can too, though it feels like his stock has fallen some after a great start to camp. Hallett has time to regain ground, especially with the injuries to safeties Dan Jackson (out for the year) and Mo Norris (unknown timetable).

Ian Kennelly and Loren Strickland are safety-only options who are duking it out more on special teams than on defense. The same is true of reserve CBs Nick Whiteside, Tyson Russell and recent newcomers. Whiteside has played his way into stronger contention of late.