Rookie Expectations for Lions at Cardinals in Week 3

The Detroit Lions are headed to the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3 of the 2020 season. Expect the Lions to get a lot of work from five if their rookies, with two of them destined for starting roles.

Let’s take a look at what we’re expecting out of the Lions’ rookies today:

CB Jeff Okudah

Okudah’s NFL debut last week was nothing to write home about. The rookie had a tough assignment to cover three-time Pro Bowler Davante Adams and was left in the agile receiver’s dust on multiple plays.

This week, with Desmond Trufant ruled OUT, Okudah will potentially have to cover the Cardinals DeAndre Hopkins, one of the league’s best wide receivers. Hopkins has caught 88-percent of passes thrown his way for 219 yards and a touchdown over the last two games. The three-time first-team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler makes the best defensive backs in the NFL look like rookies, so Okudah could be in for a long day.

Expect Okudah to start at cornerback this week, but don’t expect him to have much success against Arizona’s offense.

RB D’Andre Swift

Swift has had quite the rollercoaster of a rookie season so far. After scoring his first career touchdown and later dropping a would-be game-winning touchdown in Week 1, Swift went on to catch five passes for 60 yards a week later.

This week, he will go up against the Arizona Cardinals defense, which has allowed an average of almost 80 receiving yards by running backs so far this season.

Despite playing behind Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson on the depth chart, Swift is one of the top contributors on Detroit’s offense.

Given that Swift appears to have cemented his role as a receiving option from the backfield, expect him to make an impact during this matchup in Arizona.

RG Jonah Jackson

Jackson has started at right guard for the past two games and has held his own for the most part, only allowing one sack on Matthew Stafford and committing one false start penalty in those two games.

His run blocking has looked promising thus far, as the Lions’ running backs have performed well over the last two weeks. Arizona’s defense is credited with seven sacks and 14 quarterback hits so far this season, so Jackson will have a lot on his plate this week.

Expect Jackson to start at right guard again in this game versus Arizona. His successes in both run and pass blocking could improve if right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai is active.

JACK Julian Okwara

Okwara took just seven snaps on defense in Week 1 and was inactive the following week. While it is unclear whether or not he’ll take the field on Sunday, it is near-certain that he be contributing very little on defense.

OL Logan Stenberg

Stenberg has yet to play a snap as a pro, and that isn’t likely to change this week. If he is active, he will be sitting behind both Kenny Wiggins and Oday Aboushi on the depth chart.

WR Quintez Cephus

Cephus has been getting some playing time with the first-team offense while Kenny Golladay was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Golladay appears to be ready to make his debut this season, so Cephus will likely be demoted back to the fourth-option.

NT John Penisini

Penisini will once again serve as the backup nose tackle behind Danny Shelton on the defensive line. The rookie has taken just 27 defensive snaps this season but has yet to record any stats. With Arizona’s starting center Mason Cole ruled out for this game, Penisini and the Lions defensive line may have more opportunities to make plays against the run.

TE Hunter Bryant

The undrafted tight end has been ruled out once again due to his hamstring injury. This is the third week in a row he will be unable to play.