2025 Detroit Lions updated depth chart: Hall of Fame preseason game

Ahead of every Detroit Lions game in 2025, we will provide readers with an updated depth chart of the team’s roster based on what we are seeing at practices.

For this initial preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Lions have already said they plan on resting the players who got a heavy workload at Tuesday’s scrimmage. That could include around 25 players (give or take a few) from the Lions’ 90-man roster sitting this game out.

To help out your game viewing experience, here are a few keys to keep in mind when exploring this depth chart:

• Player’s numbers are listed (in parentheses)
• Projected starters—who are not expected to play—are bolded
• Injured players are italicized
• An asterisk* identifies rookies
• No. 52 is assigned to both OL Netane Muti and LB Zach Cunningham

Quarterbacks (3)

Jared Goff (16)
Hendon Hooker (2)
Kyle Allen (8)

The Lions have been rotating Hooker and Allen through their second and third teams all camp, and while it’s Allen’s turn in the rotation to start this preseason game, Hooker has been the better quarterback through eight practices, so he gets the higher spot on the depth chart.

Running back (7)

Jahmyr Gibbs (0)
David Montgomery (5)
Craig Reynolds (13)
Sione Vaki (33) — injured (hamstring), limited in practice
Kye Robichaux* (25) — injured (undisclosed), left practice on Monday
Jabari Small (42)
Jacob Saylors (48) — signed on Tuesday

The Lions would probably prefer to give Reynolds a rest on Thursday, but with Gibbs and Montgomery scheduled to sit, along with Vaki and Robichaux dealing with injuries, and Saylors only joining the team one practice ago, they’ll likely need Reynolds to take some reps.

Wide receiver (11)

WR-Y Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)
WR-Z Jameson Williams (1)
WR-X Tim Patrick (12)
Kalif Raymond (11)
Isaac TeSlaa* (18)
Tom Kennedy (85)
Dominic Lovett* (19)
Jackson Meeks* (83)
Jakobie Keeney-James* (80)
Ronnie Bell (10)
Malik Taylor (86)

With the four returning wide receivers expected to rest, the Lions should end up heavily featuring their four rookie wide receivers. TeSlaa has been dealing with an undisclosed injury for most of camp, but he’s played through it and is likely to continue here as well.

Tight end (5)

TE Sam LaPorta (87)
TE Brock Wright (89)
TE Shane Zylstra (84)
TE Kenny Yeboah (88)
TE/H-B Zach Horton* (40)

Zylstra has been the clear frontrunner for the Lions TE3 job, but Yeboah will have a chance to jump back into the competition with a good game. Unfortunately for the veteran, he needs to be looking over his shoulder at the rookie H-back, Horton, who has arguably had a better camp so far.

Projected offensive line (16)

LT Taylor Decker (68) Active/PUP
LG Christian Mahogany (73)
C Graham Glasgow (60)
RG Tate Ratledge* (69)
RT Penei Sewell (58)

6th offensive lineman: Dan Skipper (70)

The Lions’ projected starting offensive line is expected to sit, as is the veteran Skipper, who has been filling in for Decker at left tackle. There is still a chance the Lions end up asking Skipper to play, because they only have nine other reserve offensive linemen available, leaving them short of being able to roll two full lines.

Projected starting offensive line for this game

LT Giovanni Manu (58)
LG Netane Muti (52)
C Kingsley Eguakun (65)
RG Kayode Awosika (74)
RT Jamarco Jones (72)

Projected reserves

C/G Michael Niese (62)
C/G Trystan Colon (67)
T/G Colby Sorsdal (75)
T/G Mason Miller* (63)

Injured:
LT Taylor Decker (68) Active/PUP, target return date: after HOF game
G Miles Frazier* (71) Active/PUP

If Skipper does rest and the Lions need to rely on one player to play the entire game, there’s a good chance it’d be Giovanni Manu, as they’re trying to get him as many reps as possible.

Defensive end (8)

Aidan Hutchinson (97)
Marcus Davenport (92)
Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) – injured (undisclosed), limited in practice
Ahmed Hassanein* (61)
Nate Lynn (57)
Mitchell Agude (50)
Isaac Ukwu (45)

Injured:
Josh Paschal (93) Active/NFI, target return date: September

With their returning top four edge rushers either resting or injured, the Lions will rely on Hassanein and the trio of fringe bubble players from last season. All four will get a chance to fight to stick with the team in 2025.

Defensive tackle (11)

NT DJ Reader (98)
3T Tyleik Williams* (91)
NT Roy Lopez (51)
DL Pat O’Connor (95)
DL Keith Cooper* (64)
DL Chris Smith (90)
NT Raequan Williams (76)
DL Myles Adams (66)
NT Brodric Martin (99)

Injured:
DT Alim McNeill (54) Active/PUP, target return date: October
DL Mekhi Wingo (94) Active/PUP, target return date: September
DL Levi Onwuzurike (78) (Reserve/PUP); His season is over

With as many as seven interior defenders available, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lopez or O’Connor get some veteran rest in this game. Keep an eye on UDFA rookie Cooper in this game, as he’s been repping higher than expected in camp.

Linebacker (10)

MIKE Jack Campbell (46)
WILL Alex Anzalone (34) — returned in full (hamstring) on Tuesday
SAM Derrick Barnes (55)
WILL/MIKE Zach Cunningham (52)
WILL Grant Stuard (15)
SAM Trevor Nowaske (53)
MIKE Anthony Pittman (41)
WILL Ezekiel Turner (47)
MIKE/WILL DaRon Gilbert (43)

Injured:
WILL Malcolm Rodriguez (44) Active/PUP, target return date: October

It’ll be interesting to see if Cunningham gets some veteran rest in this game. If he does, the Lions would most likely move away from using a SAM when Nowaske’s day ends and instead lean on more nickel sets.

Cornerback (10)

CB Terrion Arnold (6) — injured (hamstring) on Tuesday
CB D.J. Reed (4) — returned in full on Tuesday
NB/CB Amik Robertson (21) — injured
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) — injured (chest), limited in practice
CB Rock Ya-Sin (23)
CB/NB/S Erick Hallett (36)
CB Dicaprio Bootle (17)
CB Tyson Russell (35)
CB Nick Whiteside (38) — signed on Monday

Injured:
CB Khalil Dorsey (30) Active/PUP, target return date: “late camp”

With the top four corners likely sitting out or nursing an injury, there’s an opportunity to see some depth players battle for the final roster spots in this position group. The wild card in this group is Hallett, who could either start this game on the outside or in the slot at nickel, as he’s done both in camp. Where he ends up largely depends on whether the Lions decide to play veteran safety/nickel Avonte Maddox.

Safety (7)

S Brian Branch (32)
S Kerby Joseph (31) — injured (knee) — avoids major injury
S/NB Avonte Maddox (29)
S/NB Morice Norris (26)
S Dan Jackson* (28)
S Loren Strickland (24)
S Ian Kennelly* (27) — injured (undisclosed), limited in practice

Maddox got a lot of snaps at the Lions scrimmage on Tuesday, which means the veteran should be scheduled to rest in this game. However, with Branch and Joseph resting, Hallett shifting to corner, and Kennelly returning from injury, they may need him to take some snaps. If Kennelly is ready to go, Maddox will likely sit out.

Specialists (3)

P Jack Fox (3)
K Jake Bates (39)
LS Hogan Hatten (49)

With no in-camp competition, all three will have to play in the pre-season.

At a glance, look at the Lions’ projected depth chart for this game: