Lions depth chart and notes for Week 7 vs. Rams
Now into the seventh week of the NFL calendar, it can be difficult to remember who is playing, who is injured, and who has taken over new roles on the Detroit Lions. Several injuries have rocked the depth chart over the first six weeks.
Here’s where the Lions’ 53-man roster stands entering the Week 7 trip to play the Los Angeles Rams. The depth chart is updated as of Sunday morning.
Quarterback
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Starter: Jared Goff
Reserve: David Blough
Goff returns to Los Angeles for the first time to face the team that selected him No. 1 overall in the 2016 NFL draft. Blough has not played in 2021. The Lions have not activated a third QB for any game this year.
Running back
Starter: D’Andre Swift
Reserves: Jamaal Williams, Godwin Igwebuike, Jermar Jefferson, Jason Cabinda (FB)
Swift and Williams share the RB duties, with Swift getting 65 carries to Williams’ 59 through six games. Swift does have 42 passing targets to just 18 for Williams.
No other RB has touched the ball on offense. Cabinda, who is questionable for the game with a hip injury, has one catch. Rookie Jefferson was active for the first time in Week 6 but did not play on offense. Igwebuike has played exclusively on special teams, too.
Tight end
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Starter: T.J. Hockenson
Reserve: Darren Fells
Hockenson is questionable with a knee injury but expected to play extensively. Fells averages about 17 snaps per game as the No. 2. The Lions did use Shane Zylstra from the practice squad as a third TE in Week 5.
Wide receiver
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Starters: Kalif Raymond, KhaDarel Hodge, Amon-Ra St. Brown (slot)
Reserves: Trinity Benson, Geronimo Allison, Tom Kennedy
Hodge got the start in Week 6 in place of injured Quintez Cephus and figures to remain there. Rookie St. Brown leads the Lions wide receivers in catches (24) and targets (33), though Raymond leads in yardage (219). Kennedy caught his first NFL pass in Week 6. Allison was signed to the active roster from the practice squad this week.
Offensive line
Starters (L-R): Penei Sewell, Jonah Jackson, Evan Brown, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Matt Nelson
Reserves: Will Holden, Logan Stenberg, Ryan McCollum
Regular starting left tackle Taylor Decker remains out. Sewell, Nelson, Jackson and Vaitai have all played every snap this year, and Brown hasn’t missed a snap since taking over for injured Pro Bowl C Frank Ragnow in Week 4. Holden has seven snaps as an extra tackle, Stenberg has four.
Defensive line
Starters: Michael Brockers, Nick Williams, Alim McNeill
Reserves: Levi Onwuzurike, John Penisini, Jashon Cornell, Eric Banks
Brockers plays over 75 percent of the snaps at one end, with Williams over 63 percent on the other. Rookie McNeill has taken over in the middle and his reps per game are progressively going up.
Onwuzurike averages about 13 snaps per game in his rookie season, usually taking over for Williams. Penisini is the backup nose tackle behind McNeill. Cornell and Banks have yet to play even with Kevin Strong on IR.
Outside linebacker
Starters: Trey Flowers, Charles Harris
Reserves: Julian Okwara, Austin Bryant, Jessie Lemonier
Flowers is questionable for this game and missed Weeks 3-4. He plays about 65 percent of the snaps when he’s active. Harris leads the Lions in sacks with four. Okwara has played a lot more since his brother, Romeo, went on IR. Bryant gets 18 snaps per game on defense. Lemonier has yet to play.
Inside backers
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Starters: Alex Anzalone, Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Reserves: Derrick Barnes, Anthony Pittman, Josh Woods
Anzalone has played every snap in the first six weeks. Reeves-Maybin and Barnes have a pretty even split of the other spot since taking over when the team dumped veteran Jamie Collins. Pittman only plays on special teams. Woods has yet to be active.
Cornerback
Starters: Amani Oruwariye, Jerry Jacobs, AJ Parker (slot)
Reserves: Bobby Price, Daryl Worley, Mark Gilbert
Oruwariye has played every single defensive snap of 2021. Jacobs has stepped up nicely as an undrafted rookie on the outside. Parker mans the slot and he’s also a rookie UDFA who has played extensively. Price converted from safety late in the preseason. Worley has played in one game but was inactive a week ago. Gilbert has yet to play since being signed from the Steelers’ practice squad in Week 5.
Safety
(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Starters: Tracy Walker, Will Harris
Reserves: Dean Marlowe, C.J. Moore
Walker has played over 80 percent of the snaps in the last two games after platooning more with Harris in the prior two. Marlowe’s reps have increased to over 40 percent of the snaps in Week 6. Moore plays almost exclusively on special teams.
Specialists
(AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
Kicker: Austin Seibert
Punter: Jack Fox
Long snapper: Scott Daly
Return man: Godwin Igwebuike, Tom Kennedy, Kalif Raymond
Seibert has reclaimed the job after missing time due to COVID-19. Kennedy was the primary kick returner in Week 6 over Igwebuike. Raymond has been the only Lion to return a punt this year.
1
1
