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Lions Snap Counts Show Sione Vaki Carving Out a Real Role Next to Jahmyr Gibbs
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- Lions Snap Counts Show Sione Vaki Carving Out a Real Role Next to Jahmyr Gibbs
Detroit Lions fans watched their team hand the previously unbeaten Vikings their first loss Sunday, and Sione Vaki was a big reason the 19-15 division win held up. Vaki played 20 of 72 offensive snaps, according to PFF, up from nine in the Week 7 win at Green Bay.
He made them count. Vaki turned 11 carries into 65 yards, and with Jahmyr Gibbs on the field for 55 snaps (76%), the Lions have a second back they can trust to keep the ground game moving.
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Detroit leaned on the ground game
Nov 1, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The Lions ran on 40 of their 72 snaps and piled up 230 rushing yards. Gibbs carried 23 times for 153 yards and a 30-yard touchdown, and the Vikings' defense was good enough to hold Detroit under 20 points for the first time this season.
Jared Goff went 18 of 25 for 176 yards with a touchdown pass to Jameson Williams, who caught four passes for 70 yards on 60 snaps.
Amon-Ra St. Brown logged 52 snaps after a first-half trip to the locker room, as we covered in his injury update after leaving the game. He still finished with seven catches for 46 yards. Cade Mays started at center but played only 22 snaps before an ankle injury, and Juice Scruggs handled the other 50.
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Jack Campbell's exit reshuffled the linebackers
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) celebrates a play against Minnesota Vikings during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.
Jack Campbell played 41 of 53 defensive snaps before he left on a stretcher in the fourth quarter. Our position group report card noted the neck injury and that he was taken to a local hospital.
Derrick Barnes played 28 snaps after logging 67 in Week 7. Malcolm Rodriguez (15) and Jimmy Rolder (17), neither of whom played defensive snaps against the Packers, filled the gap. Rolder made the most of his chance with a sack and three stops, according to PFF.
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D.J. Reed was the star in coverage. He allowed one catch for 11 yards on five targets over 42 snaps and picked off Kyler Murray. Roger McCreary had a tougher day, giving up five catches for 34 yards and a touchdown on seven targets.
Brian Branch (23 snaps) and D.J. Wonnum (16) both left after a collision with each other and were ruled out at halftime. The pass rush still produced 12 pressures and three sacks, with Alim McNeill and Skyler Gill-Howard each adding two pressures and a sack.
Lions Week 8 snap counts vs. Vikings
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) shakes hands with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) after 19-15 win at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.
Snap counts and percentages are according to PFF. Detroit ran 72 offensive plays, up from 68 in Week 7, and its defense was on the field for 53 snaps after playing 67 against Green Bay.
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Offense (72 snaps)
| Player |
Pos. |
Snaps (%) |
Week 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penei Sewell |
LT |
72 (100%) |
68 |
| Jared Goff |
QB |
72 (100%) |
68 |
| Christian Mahogany |
LG |
72 (100%) |
68 |
| Tate Ratledge |
RG |
72 (100%) |
68 |
| Blake Miller |
RT |
72 (100%) |
68 |
| Sam LaPorta |
TE |
67 (93%) |
66 |
| Jameson Williams |
WR |
60 (83%) |
57 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs |
RB |
55 (76%) |
61 |
| Brock Wright |
TE |
55 (76%) |
38 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown |
WR |
52 (72%) |
53 |
| Juice Scruggs |
C |
50 (69%) |
— |
| Isaac TeSlaa |
WR |
26 (36%) |
33 |
| Cade Mays |
C |
22 (31%) |
68 |
| Tyler Conklin |
TE |
22 (31%) |
8 |
| Sione Vaki |
RB |
20 (28%) |
9 |
| Tay Martin |
WR |
2 (3%) |
1 |
| Larry Borom |
RT |
1 (1%) |
12 |
Defense (53 snaps)
| Player |
Pos. |
Snaps (%) |
Week 7 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chuck Clark |
S |
53 (100%) |
55 |
| Aidan Hutchinson |
EDGE |
50 (94%) |
58 |
| D.J. Reed |
CB |
42 (79%) |
61 |
| Roger McCreary |
CB |
41 (77%) |
67 |
| Jack Campbell |
LB |
41 (77%) |
67 |
| Alim McNeill |
DL |
40 (75%) |
52 |
| Keith Abney II |
S |
28 (53%) |
34 |
| Derrick Barnes |
LB |
28 (53%) |
67 |
| Skyler Gill-Howard |
DL |
27 (51%) |
31 |
| Trevor Nowaske |
LB |
26 (49%) |
14 |
| Tyleik Williams |
DL |
25 (47%) |
34 |
| Rock Ya-Sin |
CB |
24 (45%) |
14 |
| Brian Branch |
S |
23 (43%) |
45 |
| Derrick Moore |
EDGE |
22 (42%) |
20 |
| Khalil Dorsey |
CB |
21 (40%) |
14 |
| Tyler Lacy |
EDGE |
20 (38%) |
21 |
| Jimmy Rolder |
LB |
17 (32%) |
— |
| D.J. Wonnum |
EDGE |
16 (30%) |
48 |
| Malcolm Rodriguez |
LB |
15 (28%) |
— |
| Eric O'Neill |
EDGE |
8 (15%) |
— |
| Christian Izien |
S |
8 (15%) |
— |
| Levi Onwuzurike |
DL |
7 (13%) |
14 |
| Ennis Rakestraw Jr. |
CB |
1 (2%) |
21 |
Latest news on the Detroit Lions
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
