Which Lions 'Bubble' Players Need to Shine against Giants?
All week long in Allen Park, the Detroit Lions have been getting ready for their preseason opener with the New York Giants.
As part of its preparation for the game, Detroit took part in a series of joint practices with the Giants, on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was a perfect time for the Lions' "bubble" players to prove their worth, and Friday's exhibition contest will provide a similar opportunity for individuals fighting for roster spots.
Let's take a look at the four Detroit bubble players that would most benefit from solid performances against the Giants.
CB Starling Thomas V
Thomas, an undrafted rookie out of UAB, has been one of the biggest surprises of camp so far. He was one of Detroit’s top standouts during rookie minicamp, and he’s continued to impress since, even garnering first-team reps from time to time. He also drew praise from Lions third-year head man Dan Campbell earlier this summer.
It all bodes well for Thomas’ chances of making the team out of training camp. However, nothing is guaranteed in the National Football League, and it’s why he must deliver a solid performance in Detroit’s preseason opener with the Giants.
RB Jermar Jefferson
Jefferson has a chance to compete for the No. 3 spot on the Lions’ running backs depth chart, but is presently behind at least Craig Reynolds for the job. He also might be behind undrafted rookie Mohamed Ibrahim and fifth-year pro Benny Snell. Snell, who played his first four NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, was acquired Thursday by Detroit general manager Brad Holmes after Justin Jackson announced his retirement.
Both Reynolds and Snell are more accomplished than Jefferson, who failed to play a single down in 2022 and has rushed for just 74 yards and two touchdowns in seven career games.
Jefferson, who was drafted by Detroit in 2021 (No. 257 overall), appears to presently be the odd man out in the Lions’ running backs room. It is why it’s of utmost importance that the third-year back gains an ample amount of reps and records some quality runs against the Giants.
CB Chase Lucas
Lucas is part of a Detroit cornerbacks room that was significantly deepened over the offseason. Holmes and the Lions' front office made a concerted effort to upgrade the organization's secondary, and did so in a major fashion by adding defensive backs Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency. The third-year general manager also acquired versatile Alabama cornerback Brian Branch via this past April's NFL Draft.
Up to this point in camp, you can also easily argue that Thomas, an undrafted free-agent acquisition, has outperformed Lucas. All of the above pushes Lucas, a seventh-round pick of the Lions in 2022, further and further down the team's cornerbacks depth chart.
Additionally, before all the aforementioned additions were even made, Lucas was already behind incumbent Detroit corners Jerry Jacobs and Will Harris on the depth chart.
It doesn't bode well for Lucas' chances of playing in 2023, and likely means that the second-year pro will start off the year as a member of Detroit's practice squad.
OLB Julian Okwara
Okwara is entering a pivotal year for himself in the Motor City.
The Notre Dame product put together a productive 2021 campaign, recording a career-best five sacks. However, his production declined a year ago, as he suited up for just 10 games.
Heading into the 2023 campaign, Campbell and the Lions' coaching staff is looking for more consistency out of the fourth-year pro.
"He's a flash player, man," Campbell said of Okwara, earlier this training camp period. "He does something really impressive, and then it just kind of reverts back at times. He doesn’t use what he’s been taught, and so he — man, he just has to continually put on tape what he’s been taught and those little flash plays, they have to become the norm. We’re at the point now, we’re Year 3 with him, with us, and so those things have to show up every time, because he’s too talented. He just is."
At this present juncture, Okwara's roster spot is far from guaranteed, as he battles for reps at outside linebacker with Charles Harris and James Houston. So, it's vital that Okwara puts together some solid game film this preseason, including on Friday against New York.
