{"id":292897,"date":"2025-08-16T14:09:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T14:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/292897\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T14:09:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T14:09:14","slug":"2025-detroit-lions-updated-depth-chart-preseason-vs-dolphins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/292897\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Detroit Lions updated depth chart: Preseason vs. Dolphins"},"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 Miami Dolphins, the Lions have suggested that they plan on continuing to rest their starters\u2014they rested 28 players against the Chargers<\/a> and another 31 against the Falcons<\/a>\u2014especially with two joint practices earlier this week. So with that in mind, expect at least the top third of the roster to be on the sidelines for this matchup.<\/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 Cunningham<\/p>\n

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

After two preseason duds, Hooker needs to get on track in a bad way in this game. Unfortunately, he\u2019ll have to wait his turn as Allen is not only playing better (see Lions coach Dan Campbell\u2019s comments below), but it\u2019s his turn to start in the rotation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought Kyle (Allen) played really well, man, I was fired up,\u201d Campbell said of Allen\u2019s performance against the Falcons. \u201cThat was outstanding. [\u2026] He gets out there and immediately gives us a boost. Runs the offense, makes two huge throws in the first drive he\u2019s in there. Man, I thought he was on point with the checks. The kills, motion landmarks, the whole thing. He operated the offense at a high level and made big-time throws, so I was fired up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jahmyr Gibbs (0)
David Montgomery (5)
Craig Reynolds (13)
Sione Vaki (33) \u2014 returned to practice this week<\/a> (hamstring)
Jacob Saylors (48)
Deon Jackson (36) \u2014 Signed this week<\/a><\/p>\n

Injured list:
Kye Robichaux* (25) \u2014 (IR – shoulder)<\/a><\/p>\n

Reynolds has started each of the Lions\u2019 two preseason games, but he could get a rest this week if Vaki is deemed healthy enough to play\u2014he\u2019s missed both games with a hamstring injury. Vaki returned to practice this week, and Campbell said the plan was to see what he could handle and then keep giving him more until he was full go. As long as he suffered no setbacks, Vaki could allow Reynolds to get a break this week, or at a minimum, reduce his number of snaps.<\/p>\n

Saylors and Jackson figure to get work in the second half, though it\u2019s possible Saylors gets some run with the second team, as he\u2019s impressed Campbell with his ability to get up to speed with the offense quickly and not make mistakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought what Saylors did the other day was pretty headsy and he\u2019s kind of a crafty back and there\u2019s something to be said about that,\u201d Campbell said on Thursday. \u201cSmart guy, understands ball, really got a crash course on what we were doing and really didn\u2019t have any MAs (missed assignments), which is pretty impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

TeSlaa, Kennedy, and Lovett started against the Chargers, then Meeks joined the starters for the Falcons game with Lovett sitting out due to an abdominal injury. Lovett returned for the final practice of this week, as did Kennedy, who missed two practices, but it\u2019s unclear if either is ready to jump back in with the starting group just yet. Bell has also made his case to get the start against the Dolphins with his recent play, as he has shown the ability to step into multiple situations and has proven to be productive.<\/p>\n

Bottom line, beyond TeSlaa, the other starting spots could be up for grabs.<\/p>\n

TE Sam LaPorta (87) \u2014 injured (undisclosed)
TE Brock Wright (89)
TE Shane Zylstra (84)
TE\/H-B Zach Horton* (40)
TE Steven Stilianos (43) \u2014 Signed this week<\/a>
TE Gunnar Oakes (41) \u2014 Signed this week<\/a><\/p>\n

Injured list:
TE Kenny Yeboah (88) \u2014 Injured Reserve<\/a><\/p>\n

Zylstra and Horton appear to be in a two tight end race for the TE3 role, now that Yeboah has been placed on injured reserve. Newcomers Stilianos and Oakes will need to impress to break into the running and are more likely trying to do enough to warrant a spot on the practice squad.<\/p>\n

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

LT Taylor Decker (68)
LG Christian Mahogany (73)
C Graham Glasgow (60)
RG Tate Ratledge* (69)
RT Penei Sewell (58)<\/p>\n

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

LT Dan Skipper (70)
LG Netane Muti (52)
C Kingsley Eguakun (65)
RG Kayode Awosika (74)
RT Jamarco Jones (72)<\/p>\n

Projected reserves
LT Giovanni Manu (58) \u2014 did not practice Thursday (undisclosed)
C\/G Trystan Colon (67) \u2014 injured (elbow)
RT Gunner Britton (78) \u2014 Signed this week<\/a>
C\/G Michael Niese (62)
OT\/G Mason Miller* (63)
IOL\/T Zack Johnson (77) \u2014 Signed on Thursday<\/a><\/p>\n

Injured list:
G Miles Frazier* (71) \u2014 Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: September
G\/T Colby Sorsdal (75) \u2014 Injured Reserve<\/a>
OT Justin Herron (76) \u2014 Injured Reserve<\/a>
G\/C Keaton Sutherland (74) \u2014 Signed this week<\/a> \u2014 Injured Reserve<\/a><\/p>\n

Injuries Colon and other depth players have complicated things along the offensive line. If the Lions want to rest their starters and injured players, they\u2019ll be left with just nine offensive linemen, meaning one of their players may have to pull double duty. However, if the Lions elect to play rookie Tate Ratledge again this week, they could roll two lines. But it\u2019s hard to say if the Lions would do that, considering Campbell already believes Ratledge is \u201cplaying like a starting NFL guard<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aidan Hutchinson (97)
Marcus Davenport (92)
Al-Quadin Muhammad (96)
Nate Lynn (57)
Ahmed Hassanein* (61) \u2014 avoided injury scare<\/a> (lower leg)
Isaac Ukwu (45)
Mitchell Agude (50)<\/p>\n

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

Muhammad looks like he\u2019s all but solidified a spot on the 53-man roster, especially after Campbell praised his play in camp, noting that \u201che brings some security to us.\u201d Hassanein is also expected to make the active roster, even if he\u2019s repping behind Nate Lynn right now. Lynn has simply done more than enough to earn a spot amongst the top group and is pushing hard for a spot on the regular season roster. Campbell noted that Lynn was still in a strong competition with Ukwu and Agude, and praised all three in press conferences this week.<\/p>\n

NT DJ Reader (98)
3T Tyleik Williams* (91)
NT Roy Lopez (51)
DL Pat O\u2019Connor (95) \u2014 returned to practice on Thursday<\/a> (leg<\/a>)
DL Chris Smith (90)
DL Keith Cooper* (64)
DL Myles Adams (66)
NT Brodric Martin (99)<\/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><\/p>\n

Lopez isn\u2019t technically a starter, but he\u2019s yet to play in the preseason, and O\u2019Connor just returned to practice on Thursday, so it\u2019s fair to wonder if he gets the veteran rest treatment as well. However, if the Lions elect not to play Williams this week\u2014which seems likely\u2014they may ask O\u2019Connor to try and give it a go. At the same time, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if it\u2019s Chris Smith and Keith Cooper getting the starts this week.<\/p>\n

MIKE Jack Campbell (46)
WILL Alex Anzalone (34)
SAM Derrick Barnes (55)
WILL\/MIKE Zach Cunningham (52)
WILL Grant Stuard (15)
SAM\/MIKE 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

The Lions\u2019 linebackers should deploy similarly to how they have in previous weeks. Cunningham, Stuard, and Nowaske should get starts at their primary positions, with Nowaske getting some time at the MIKE after Cunningham exits. Pittman, Turner, and Gilbert will be hoping for more playing time this week after their time was cut short last game.<\/p>\n

CB Terrion Arnold (6) \u2014 returned to practice this week<\/a> (hamstring)<\/a>
CB D.J. Reed (4)
NB\/CB Amik Robertson (21)
CB\/NB\/S Erick Hallett (36)
CB Nick Whiteside (38)
CB Tyson Russell (35)
CB D.J. Miller (42) \u2014 Signed last week<\/a>
CB Luq Barcoo (40) \u2014 Signed last week<\/a>
CB Allan George (25) \u2014 Signed on Thursday<\/a><\/p>\n

Injured list:
CB Khalil Dorsey (30) Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: \u201clate camp\u201d<\/a>
CB Dicaprio Bootle (17) \u2014 Injured Reserve (lower leg)<\/a><\/p>\n

With Bootle landing on injured reserve, look for Whiteside to vault into the starting lineup for this game. Depending on roster construction, the Lions may be looking to keep one of the six reserves expected to play against the Dolphins, and Whiteside could very well be the leading candidate for the role. Hallett is also firmly in that competition, and if he continues his pattern of positional versatility, look for him to play on the outside early in the game, then shift into the slot later on. Miller, Barcoo, and George have yet to play in the preseason for the Lions, so they\u2019ll be looking to stand out for coaches.<\/p>\n

S Brian Branch (32)
S Kerby Joseph (31)
CB\/S\/NB Rock Ya-Sin (23) \u2014 has been cross-training at safety and CB
S\/NB Avonte Maddox (29)
S\/NB Morice Norris (26) \u2014 injured (concussion)<\/a> \u2014 expected to miss remainder of preseason
S Loren Strickland (24)
S Ian Kennelly* (27)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve shifted Ya-Sin to the safeties group this week, as he continues to take reps there to gain experience. I don\u2019t believe this will be a permanent positional switch, but he\u2019s playing well enough that he is making himself a coveted player. With Norris still in concussion protocol, Maddox could shift out of the slot and back into a pure safety role in this game. However, if the Lions elect to continue to use him as a slot option, a rotation of Strickland and Kennelly could be in order.<\/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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