{"id":271756,"date":"2025-08-08T13:48:27","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T13:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/271756\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T13:48:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T13:48:27","slug":"2025-detroit-lions-updated-depth-chart-preseason-game-vs-falcons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/271756\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Detroit Lions updated depth chart: Preseason game vs. Falcons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ahead of every Detroit Lions<\/a> game in 2025, we will provide readers with an updated depth chart of the team\u2019s roster based on what we are seeing at practices.<\/p>\n

For this preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, the Lions have suggested that they plan on continuing to rest their starters\u2014they rested 28 players against the Chargers<\/a>\u2014though they are considering playing rookie starters defensive tackle Tyliek Williams and right guard Tate Ratledge<\/a> to get them some experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m thinking about that,\u201d Lions coach Dan Campbell told the media on Wednesday. \u201cI would like to get them going this game, but I\u2019m not 100% set on that yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

To help out your game viewing experience, here are a few keys to keep in mind when exploring this depth chart:<\/p>\n

Player\u2019s numbers are listed (in parentheses)Projected starters\u2014who are not expected to play\u2014are boldedInjured players are italicized An asterisk* identifies rookiesNo. 52 is assigned to both OL Netane Muti and LB Zach CunninghamNo. 42 is assigned to both RB Jabari Small and CB D.J. Miller<\/p>\n

Jared Goff (16)
Hendon Hooker (2)
Kyle Allen (8)<\/p>\n

Coach Dan Campbell has already confirmed that Hooker will get the start in Atlanta, with Allen getting the ball in the second half of the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s working, he grinds at it, he\u2019s very coachable, he certainly has the ability,\u201d Campbell said of Hooker earlier in the week. \u201cHe\u2019s going to get his opportunity. I already said he\u2019s starting this week and we\u2019re going to give him a load here and see what he can do with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jahmyr Gibbs (0)
David Montgomery (5)
Craig Reynolds (13)
Sione Vaki (33) \u2014 injured (hamstring), returned to practice this week
Jabari Small (42)
Jacob Saylors (48)<\/p>\n

Injured list:
Kye Robichaux* (25) \u2014 (shoulder), reverted to Injured Reserve on Tuesday<\/a><\/p>\n

Vaki was dealing with a hamstring injury for the Lions\u2019 first preseason game, leading to the Lions needing to lean on Reynolds to handle the majority of the rushing workload. Vaki returned to practice in full this week and told Pride of Detroit on Monday that he was hoping to get a lot of opportunities against the Falcons. However, despite looking like he had put his injury concerns behind him, Vaki was a surprise absence at Wednesday\u2019s practice. It\u2019s possible he missed practice for a non-injury related reason, or he possibly could have re-tweaked his hamstring\u2014we simply don\u2019t know the answers to those questions.<\/p>\n

If Vaki can play, look for him to get a lot of run with the starters, allowing Reynolds to get a minimal amount of snaps, if he suits up at all. However, if Vaki can\u2019t go, it\u2019ll likely be the Reynolds show for the majority of the first half before the snaps shift to Small and Saylors.<\/p>\n

WR-Y Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)
WR-Z Jameson Williams (1)
WR-X Tim Patrick (12) \u2014 left practice early on Wednesday (undisclosed)<\/a>
Kalif Raymond (11)
Isaac TeSlaa* (18)
Tom Kennedy (85)
Dominic Lovett* (19) \u2014 injured (abdominal injury<\/a>) – expected to miss at least this game
Jackson Meeks* (83)
Jakobie Keeney-James* (80)
Ronnie Bell (10)
Malik Taylor (86)<\/p>\n

With Lovett nursing an injury and the Lions expected to rest their returning four from last season, the Lions will have six depth receivers to work with in this game. TeSlaa and Kennedy will likely start again, and if we\u2019re projecting who else would start based on camp reps, that likely means we will see UDFA rookie Meeks.<\/p>\n

TE Sam LaPorta (87)
TE Brock Wright (89)
TE Shane Zylstra (84)
TE Kenny Yeboah (88)
TE\/H-B Zach Horton* (40)
TE Steven Stilianos (TBD) \u2014 signed on Thursday<\/a><\/p>\n

While the race for the TE3 job has begun to tighten, Zylstra still looks to be the frontrunner. Stilianos was just signed to the roster the day before their game, so it\u2019d be a bit surprising if he saw much time on the field.<\/p>\n

Projected offensive line (16 + 1)<\/p>\n

LT Taylor Decker (68) \u2014 removed from the PUP this week<\/a>
LG Christian Mahogany (73)
C Graham Glasgow (60)
RG Tate Ratledge* (69) \u2014 Could potentially play in this game
RT Penei Sewell (58)<\/p>\n

6th offensive lineman: Dan Skipper (70) \u2014 injured (ankle), expected to miss the game<\/a><\/p>\n

Projected starting offensive line for this game<\/p>\n

LT Giovanni Manu (58)
LG Netane Muti (52) or Kayode Awosika (74)
C Kingsley Eguakun (65)
RG Kayode Awosika (74) or Tate Ratledge (69)
RT Mason Miller* (63)<\/p>\n

OT Jamarco Jones (72) \u2014 injured (ankle<\/a>) – unlikely to play
C\/G Trystan Colon (67)
C\/G Michael Niese (62)
OT Justin Herron (76) \u2014 Signed this past week<\/a>
G\/T Colby Sorsdal (75)<\/p>\n

Injured list:
G Miles Frazier* (71) Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: September<\/p>\n

Campbell said the Lions were undecided on whether projected starting right guard, rookie Tate Ratledge, would play in this game or not, leaving this projection a bit in flux. With the Lions only having nine reserve offensive linemen available, they could play Ratledge in order to get him some game reps, as well as giving them a 10th player, which would allow them to have two complete lines.<\/p>\n

If Ratledge plays, look for him to start at right guard, and in turn, Awosika would shift to left guard, thus sending Muti to the second group. That would allow the Lions to shift Sorsdal out to tackle to fill the vacant gap.<\/p>\n

If Ratledge doesn\u2019t play, the Lions would only have three offensive tackles dressed and healthy, meaning at least one of those players would have to play extended duties.<\/p>\n

Aidan Hutchinson (97)
Marcus Davenport (92)
Al-Quadin Muhammad (96)
Ahmed Hassanein* (61)
Nate Lynn (57)
Mitchell Agude (50)
Isaac Ukwu (45)<\/p>\n

Injured list:
Josh Paschal (93) Active\/NFI<\/a>, target return date: September<\/p>\n

Muhammad has been slowly getting worked back into practices after returning from injury, and while he may indeed start, he\u2019ll likely be on a snap count, which would allow the remaining reserves to get more opportunities.<\/p>\n

NT DJ Reader (98)
3T Tyleik Williams* (91) \u2014 Could potentially play in this game
NT Roy Lopez (51)
DL Pat O\u2019Connor (95) \u2014injured (leg<\/a>) – expected to miss this game
DL Chris Smith (90)
DL Keith Cooper* (64)
DL Myles Adams (66)
NT Brodric Martin (99) \u2014 missed two practices this week (undisclosed)<\/p>\n

Injured:
DT Alim McNeill (54) Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: October<\/a>
DL Mekhi Wingo (94) Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: September<\/a>
DL Levi Onwuzurike (78) (Reserve\/PUP<\/a>); His season is over<\/p>\n

Like on the offensive line, Tyleik Williams\u2019 status for this game is undecided, which could shift the Lions\u2019 approach along the defensive line. It\u2019s also possible that Roy Lopez\u2014who, like Williams, didn\u2019t play last game\u2014may be called upon due to injury.<\/p>\n

There is also a third unknown in this group when it comes to Brodric Martin, who missed the two most recent practices for unknown reasons. If he indeed has an injury and can\u2019t play in this game, the Lions will be further shorthanded. But if his absences are non-injury related, he could provide some much-needed depth. It\u2019s worth noting that Martin did appear to travel with the team, per team photos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Look for Smith, Cooper, and Adams to play multiple positions in this game, regardless of whether Williams, Lopez, or Martin are suited up.<\/p>\n

MIKE Jack Campbell (46)
WILL Alex Anzalone (34)
SAM Derrick Barnes (55)
WILL\/MIKE Zach Cunningham (52)
WILL Grant Stuard (15)
SAM Trevor Nowaske (53)
MIKE Anthony Pittman (41)
WILL Ezekiel Turner (47)
MIKE\/WILL DaRon Gilbert (43)<\/p>\n

Injured:
WILL Malcolm Rodriguez (44) Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: October<\/a><\/p>\n

We should see the linebacker group play out similarly to last week. Cunningham and Stuard will likely start, with Nowaske being deployed at the SAM throughout the game.<\/p>\n

CB Terrion Arnold (6) \u2014 injured (hamstring),<\/a> will not play in this game
CB D.J. Reed (4)
NB\/CB Amik Robertson (21)
CB\/NB\/S Rock Ya-Sin (23) \u2014 has been cross-training at safety
CB\/NB\/S Erick Hallett (36)
CB Dicaprio Bootle (17)
CB Nick Whiteside (38)
CB Tyson Russell (35)
CB D.J. Miller (42) \u2014 Signed this week<\/a>
CB Luq Barcoo (40) \u2014 Signed this week<\/a><\/p>\n

Injured list:
CB Khalil Dorsey (30) Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: \u201clate camp\u201d<\/a>
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) \u2014 Injured Reserve (shoulder)<\/a> – his season is over<\/p>\n

This is yet another position group impacted by injury, leading to a multitude of options on how players will be deployed. Rock Ya-Sin has been the most steady of the group and started the Lions\u2019 first preseason game at outside corner. However, he\u2019s been repping at safety all week for cross-training, and it\u2019s unclear if he\u2019ll be slotted to play safety in this game. If he does get work at safety or in the slot, the Lions may turn to a starting trio of Bootle, Whiteside, and Hallett (or Ya-Sin) at nickel.<\/p>\n

S Brian Branch (32)
S Kerby Joseph (31)
S\/NB Avonte Maddox (29)
S\/NB Morice Norris (26)
S Loren Strickland (24)
S Ian Kennelly* (27)<\/p>\n

Injured list:
S Dan Jackson* (28) \u2014 Injured Reserve<\/a><\/p>\n

With Dan Jackson landing on injured reserve, the battle for S4 has heated up. Norris and Strickland look to be ahead of Kennelly right now, but the rookie has flashed and shouldn\u2019t be ruled out of the competition just yet. Things could get a bit complicated if Ya-Sin joins this group for this game, but the Lions could clean things up a bit if Maddox rests or plays at nickel.<\/p>\n

P Jack Fox (3)
K Jake Bates (39)
LS Hogan Hatten (49)<\/p>\n

With no in-camp competition, all three will have to play in the pre-season.<\/p>\n

At a glance, look at the Lions\u2019 projected depth chart for this game:<\/p>\n

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