Lions Updated Bubble Watch after Commanders Game: Defense

The Detroit Lions just have one preseason game remaining, but still have multiple players on the bubble for roster spots.

On the defensive side of the ball, a few players stood out in the Lions’ preseason victory over the Commanders Saturday.

Notably, EDGE Derrick Moore delivered a solid performance in his preseason debut. For starters, he amassed one of Detroit's two sacks in the exhibition tilt, with the other being produced by veteran D.J. Wonnum.

Moore also generated two total pressures and a pair of defensive stops in the outing. And for his efforts, he earned a 70.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

Moore and Wonnum are very much in contention for the starting EDGE job opposite Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson. And while Wonnum is likely currently in the lead, Moore can't be counted out quite yet. And at the very least, the University of Michigan product has a legitimate shot to produce meaningful snaps in his first year as a pro.

Additionally, defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard continued to impress Saturday.

The 2026 sixth-round pick further solidified his spot on the Lions’ 53-man roster to open the season, showcasing yet again the relentless motor that has become a signature element of his overall game. On 23 snaps against Washington, he recorded a 76.7 PFF overall grade.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell continues to sing Gill-Howard's praises, too.

"... He knows he’s not a huge guy, but he knows who he is and he knows how he has to play,” Campbell said about Gill-Howard in the postgame. “And he plays with high effort and he’s crafty, man. He’s explosive and he’s violent.”

Recent free-agent signing Ben Stille also logged some quality reps at both nose tackle and the “Big End” position. Still, the 28-year-old, who most recently suited up for the Buccaneers and the Cardinals, is likely on the outside looking in when it comes to a roster spot.

While Moore, Gill-Howard and Stille clearly improved their stock, fellow defensive linemen Myles Adams, Tyre West and Eric O'Neill failed to do so. It wasn't all because of their own doing, either.

Adams and O'Neill each didn't see the field until the fourth quarter, and West didn't log a single snap. It's pretty telling of what the coaching staff thinks of the three of them headed into the Lions’ preseason finale with the Colts next Saturday. I would say it's safe to assume each of them will be left off Detroit's season-opening roster.

Meanwhile, in the secondary, cornerback Nick Whiteside perhaps hurt his stock the most.

For as well as he was performing prior to Saturday, it needs to be mentioned he had a rough day in coverage against the Commanders, permitting the most receiving yards of all the team's defensive backs. He allowed 69 yards on three receptions, with 55 of those yards coming on the boundary against Washington WR Nick Nash.

Overall, it was a forgettable showing from Whiteside, who now faces increased pressure to come through with a much stronger effort against Indianapolis.

Along with the aforementioned names, here is the list of Lions players on the bubble entering the final week of the exhibition season:

Thomas Harper, Ahmed Hassanein, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Mekhi Wingo, Tyler Lacy, Chris Smith, Aidan Keanaaina, Anthony Lucas, Joe Bachie, Erick Hunter, Troy Reeder, Aamaris Brown, De'Shawn Rucker, Loren Strickland and Dan Jackson.

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