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3 Lions Defenders Who Are On The Hot Seat
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- 3 Lions Defenders Who Are On The Hot Seat
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Detroit Lions will take on the Indianapolis Colts this Saturday at 1 p.m., marking their final preseason game of the year.
Detroit got the short end of the NFL scheduling stick, as the Lions are the second-to-last team to play their final preseason game. With the 53-man roster deadline set for 6 p.m. Sunday, Detroit will have a little over 24 hours to make their final decisions and evaluations based off of that preseason game.
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Several players have seen their stock rise throughout the preseason, but there are still a handful of players fighting for their roster spots. Here are three players who need a strong performance Saturday or could find themselves on the chopping block.
The former 2024 second-round pick has gotten off to a slow start to his Detroit career. Rakestraw has played in just eight games over his first two seasons and has continued to deal with injuries throughout training camp and the preseason.
Through two preseason games, Rakestraw has played 46 snaps and has not looked particularly impressive. He currently owns a 32.1 overall PFF grade and a 28.7 coverage grade while allowing seven receptions for 87 yards on nine targets.
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With Detroit having several young cornerbacks competing for roster spots, Rakestraw needs to show significant improvement against Indianapolis if he wants to strengthen his case for making the 53-man roster.
2. Mekhi Wingo
Another 2024 draft pick who could be on the hot seat is defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo.
Through 13 regular-season games over two seasons, Wingo recorded 12 tackles and just one quarterback hit. He has played in both preseason games this year, totaling 38 snaps.
Wingo has recorded three quarterback pressures, including one quarterback hit and two hurries, along with two tackles. He currently has a 58.8 overall defensive PFF grade, a 61.3 run-defense grade and a 50.8 tackling grade.
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The Lions have several defensive tackles competing for roster spots, and I believe Detroit could prioritize players such as Tyler Lacy and Levi Onwuzurike ahead of Wingo.
A strong performance against Indianapolis could go a long way toward changing that perception.
3. Dan Jackson
Jackson was a seventh-round pick by Detroit in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Georgia but missed his entire rookie season.
Unfortunately for Jackson, Detroit has a deep safety room the coaching staff appears to like. Chuck Clark , Avonte Maddox and Thomas Harper are all ahead of him on the unofficial depth chart.
Once Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph eventually return, the competition at safety will become even tougher. It is difficult to imagine the Lions keeping an extra safety unless Jackson gives them a compelling reason to do so.
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Through two preseason games, Jackson has played 45 snaps and earned a 55.0 overall defensive PFF grade, a 28.5 tackling grade and a 56.8 coverage grade.
There is still one final opportunity for Jackson to make his case, but the limited time between the end of Saturday's game and Sunday's roster deadline makes his situation even more difficult.
Jackson would likely need an outstanding performance against Indianapolis to convince Dan Campbell and the coaching staff that he deserves one of the final spots on Detroit's 53-man roster.
