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4 Lions Who Hurt Their Roster Chances vs. Commanders
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- 4 Lions Who Hurt Their Roster Chances vs. Commanders
The Detroit Lions left Saturday with a 17-13 preseason win over the Washington Commanders . For players fighting for jobs, the result mattered considerably less than what happened during their snaps.
Detroit is approaching the NFL's Aug. 30 roster reduction deadline , leaving only one preseason game for players on the bubble to strengthen their cases. Several Lions helped themselves against Washington. A handful went the other direction.
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That includes two players who were included in our previous 53-man roster projection .
Josh Dobbs
Josh Dobbs produced Detroit's longest offensive highlight with a 50-yard touchdown run, but his afternoon included enough mistakes to keep the backup quarterback competition open.
Dobbs completed 7 of 12 passes for 74 yards with one interception. He was also responsible for two turnovers, including a first-quarter fumble that Washington returned for a touchdown.
The interception came after Dobbs escaped the pocket and attempted a difficult throw across his body rather than taking an underneath option. Detroit's official game recap showed a clear contrast with Luke Altmyer, who completed nine of 13 attempts and avoided a turnover.
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Dobbs remains the experienced option in the competition, and his running ability gives Detroit something different at quarterback. Saturday was still an opportunity to create separation from Altmyer.
Instead, the competition remains open.
Dominic Lovett
Dominic Lovett's roster problem was not a damaging turnover or obvious missed assignment. It was his shrinking opportunity.
Lovett played 39 offensive snaps in Detroit's first preseason game. That number dropped to 14 against Washington, when he received two targets and did not record a special teams snap, according to the postgame snap-count breakdown .
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That is significant in a crowded receiver competition.
Detroit needs depth behind Amon-Ra St. Brown , Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa , but the receivers competing for the final spots also need to contribute on special teams. Tay Martin , Tom Kennedy and others remain involved in the competition, while Cedrick Wilson Jr. 's knee injury could create additional opportunity.
Lovett was previously our choice for the final receiver spot .
His reduced role against Washington makes that projection much harder to defend.
Seth McLaughlin
Seth McLaughlin entered Saturday with momentum.
Cade Mays ' wrist injury created an opening at center, and McLaughlin had performed well enough early in the preseason to put himself firmly into the offensive line conversation. Washington presented a different test.
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McLaughlin struggled against interior pressure and was involved in consecutive pre-snap problems during one possession. One double-clutched snap contributed to a false start before McLaughlin was flagged on the following play.
The challenge for McLaughlin is Detroit's flexibility elsewhere on the offensive line. If another reserve can handle emergency center duties while also playing guard or tackle, carrying a player primarily for his work at center becomes more difficult.
McLaughlin was previously identified as one of Detroit's players with the most to gain during the preseason .
He still has one game to respond.
Seth McLaughlin Lions center Seth McLaughlin Lions center
Colby Sorsdal
Colby Sorsdal needed a strong preseason to improve his position in Detroit's offensive line competition.
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His performance against Washington did not accomplish that.
Sorsdal received early work at right tackle, surrendered a sack and was eventually replaced by Miles Frazier . He later returned with the deeper reserves and continued to have difficulty in pass protection. ( prideofdetroit.com )
Detroit already has Penei Sewell entrenched at right tackle, while Blake Miller, Larry Borom and Frazier give the coaching staff other options when assembling the reserve offensive line.
For Sorsdal, the problem is no longer just his own performance. It is the number of players around him giving Detroit alternatives.
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The final preseason game now carries added importance for all five players. Dobbs and McLaughlin still have clear paths to roster spots. Whiteside has enough positive work behind him to recover quickly.
Lovett and Sorsdal appear to have less margin remaining.
Detroit's final decisions will come down to more than one preseason game, but at this stage of August, every snap is competing against the calendar.
