{"id":311265,"date":"2025-08-23T13:20:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T13:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/311265\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T13:20:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T13:20:15","slug":"2025-detroit-lions-updated-depth-chart-preseason-vs-texans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/311265\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Detroit Lions updated depth chart: Preseason vs. Texans"},"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 Houston Texans, the Lions plan on continuing to rest their starters\u2014they rested 28 players against the Chargers<\/a>, another 31 against the Falcons<\/a>, and 30 against the Dolphins<\/a>\u2014especially with another joint practice earlier this week. It\u2019s also worth keeping in mind that in previous years\u2019 final preseason games, the Lions have rested even more players than normal, giving bubble players extra time to show their value, while also resting more contributors they don\u2019t want to risk injury. 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 rookiesThe Lions have the following duplicate numbers: 36, 40, 41, 43, and 52<\/p>\n

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

It\u2019s Hendon Hooker\u2019s turn in the rotation to start, but coach Dan Campbell has already declared Allen as the leader for the QB2 job<\/a>. Hooker still has a chance to pry the No. 2 job away from Allen, but it\u2019s more likely that he\u2019s playing to try and convince coaches to keep all three quarterbacks on the roster.<\/p>\n

Lions coach Dan Campbell shared his thoughts on keeping three quarterbacks, and while he remains open to the idea, he also certainly made it sound like it was not his preferred route to take.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you do that (keep three quarterbacks), you lose depth, what, D-line or O-line? Or receiver, or defense back, or linebacker, or \u2013 you get the point,\u201d Campbell explained on Thursday. \u201cSo, how important is that relative to the other positions? Look, call it what you want, when you have a year like we did last year, you get affected a little bit by it. It has an effect on the way you think. Depth, depth, depth. We\u2019ve got to make sure that we have the depth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jahmyr Gibbs (0)
David Montgomery (5)
Craig Reynolds (13)
Sione Vaki (33) \u2014 Injury (undisclosed)
Jacob Saylors (48)
Deon Jackson (36)<\/p>\n

Vaki leaving practice early on Thursday certainly throws a wrench into the works for Reynolds, who may have to pick up the slack. However, with this being the final preseason game, it also wouldn\u2019t be surprising if the Lions played it safe with Reynolds and didn\u2019t play him at all, instead letting Saylors and Jackson battle it out for the entirety of the game.<\/p>\n

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

All preseason, the Lions have rested their top four receivers and held an open competition amongst their depth. However, it\u2019s possible the Lions elect not to play TeSlaa, as he\u2019s done enough to prove he\u2019ll be a valuable regular-season contributor. Most eyes will be on Meeks and Lovett, who will be battling for WR6, while also making their case to coaches for why they should also keep WR7.<\/p>\n

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

The TE3 battle is still up for grabs, and while it looks like the veteran Zylstra has held off UDFA rookie Horton, this is a battle that could come down to the wire.<\/p>\n

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

LT Taylor Decker (68)
LG Christian Mahogany (73)
C Graham Glasgow (60) \u2014 injured (lower leg)<\/a> \u2014 Report: \u201cMinor issue, no long-term concern\u201d<\/a>
RG Tate Ratledge* (69)
RT Penei Sewell (58)<\/p>\n

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

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

Projected reserves
LT Giovanni Manu (58)
LG (T) Zack Johnson (77)
C (G) Michael Niese (62)
RG (T) Mason Miller* (63)
RT Gunner Britton (78)
C\/G Trystan Colon (67) \u2014 injured (elbow)<\/p>\n

Injured list:
G Miles Frazier* (71) \u2014 Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: September\/October<\/p>\n

Last year, Skipper got the veteran rest treatment after winning the OT3 job, and with that role seemingly his again, it\u2019ll be interesting to see if he rests again. Manu looks headed for the OT4 role, but Jamarco Jones will be playing to convince coaches they need to keep a fifth offensive tackle.<\/p>\n

On the interior, Awosika and Muti appear to be battling it out for a reserve guard role, while Eguakun appears to have pulled away from Niese. The rest of the group is likely working toward a spot on the practice squad.<\/p>\n

Aidan Hutchinson (97)
Marcus Davenport (92)
Al-Quadin Muhammad (96)
Nate Lynn (57)
Ahmed Hassanein* (61) \u2014 injured (pectoral)<\/a> \u2014 will avoid surgery<\/a>
Isaac Ukwu (45)
Mitchell Agude (50)<\/p>\n

Injured list:
Josh Paschal (93) Active\/NFI<\/a>, target return date: September (\u201ccould be a little later than we\u2019d hoped\u201d<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Hassanein will miss this game due to injury, while Muhammad could miss for veteran protection reasons. Lynn, Ukwu, and Agude will all be fighting for attention, so it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see them get a lot of playing time against the Texans.<\/p>\n

NT DJ Reader (98)
3T Tyleik Williams* (91)
NT Roy Lopez (51)
DL Pat O\u2019Connor (95)
DL Mekhi Wingo (94) \u2014 Activated from PUP (ACL)<\/a> – still only doing individual work
DL Chris Smith (90)
DL Keith Cooper* (64)
DL Myles Adams (66)
NT Brodric Martin (99) \u2014 returned to practice this week (undisclosed)<\/p>\n

Injured:
DT Alim McNeill (54) Active\/PUP<\/a>, target return date: October<\/a><\/p>\n

Wingo returned from PUP this week but has been limited to individual and group drills and is not expected to play in this game. O\u2019Connor is another candidate to keep an eye on for veteran rest. The rest of the interior players are fighting for maybe one spot on the active roster, as well as practice squad opportunities.<\/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 last two weeks, the linebackers have seen Cunningham, Stuard, and Nowaske start and play the majority of the first half. It\u2019ll be interesting to see if any of them get the veteran rest treatment, as all three are expected to make the roster. Pittman and Turner are solid special teamers, but they\u2019ll need to show their value on defense in this game.<\/p>\n

CB Terrion Arnold (6)
CB D.J. Reed (4)
NB\/CB Amik Robertson (21)
CB Khalil Dorsey (30) \u2014 activated from PUP (leg)<\/a> – still only doing individual work
CB\/NB\/S Erick Hallett (36)
CB Nick Whiteside (38)
CB Tyson Russell (35)
CB D.J. Miller (42)
CB Luq Barcoo (40)
CB Allan George (25)<\/p>\n

Dorsey returned from PUP this week and has been limited to individual and group drills, and like Wingo, he is also not expected to play in this game. Hallett and Whiteside started the last preseason game, and appear to be the closest to making the active roster.<\/p>\n

S Brian Branch (32)
S Kerby Joseph (31) \u2014 returned to practice this week (undisclosed)
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 Ian Kennelly* (27)
S Loren Strickland (24)<\/p>\n

Ya-Sin and Maddox have been cross-trained at corner and safety all camp and have proven their value as top-end reserves. Both should be considered for veteran rest. Kennelly and Strickland have been battling it out all camp, and with one safety spot likely still available, this game will matter for both players.<\/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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