Three Guys Just Locked Down Their Roster Spots, and the Rest Better Start Sweating
We’re back with the bubble pressure meter after Week 2 of training camp at Allen Park, and things are starting to clarify in that beautiful and brutal way they do every August. Some guys are rising. Some guys are falling. And three players just played themselves off this list entirely because they’ve all but punched their ticket to the 53-man roster.
Let’s get into it.
The Running Back Room Just Got Uncomfortable for Sione Vaki
Sione Vaki moved from watching to in danger, and I’m not thrilled about it but I can’t ignore what’s happening. Jahmyr Gibbs came back to practice Thursday. Once Gibbs is rolling again, first-team reps disappear for everyone not named Gibbs or Isaiah Pacheco. That’s just math.
Second problem: Vaki took a poke to the eye Monday and broke his nose. He’s going to be out for a stretch, and in that time Jacob Saylors has looked good filling that void. Raheem Blackshear just got added to the mix too. The walls are closing in.
Vaki isn’t at must have a big week yet, but when he comes back he’s going to have to prove he can be the special teamer everyone knows he can be. He’s also going to have to show he can stay healthy and take advantage of whatever reps he gets at running back. The margin for error just got smaller.
Tom Kennedy Might Not Make the 53-Man Roster, and That Hurts to Type
I moved Tom Kennedy from safe to watching. I felt like he was safe initially, but Dominic Lovett is starting to move his way up. Malik Cunningham has started to look pretty good out there. Lawrence Keys was looking good until he got hurt.
Could I put Kennedy back in safe? Probably. He’s probably going to be here in some way, shape, or form, likely on the practice squad. I just don’t know if it’s a 53-man roster thing anymore.
He’s still taking reps at kick returner, but Greg Dortch looks good there, and Lovett is starting to show up. The walls are closing in on the idea of Tom Kennedy making the 53-man roster and playing a major role. That’s just where we’re at.
Ben Bartch Is Still on the Sideline, and That’s a Problem
Ben Bartch is in danger. He’s still on the sideline. He still hasn’t practiced. Juice Scruggs is getting all the reps. Miles Frazier is getting all the reps. Michael Niese is out there. Melvin Priestley is moving into guard reps now.
It’s just not looking good for Bartch. The thing coming in was always that he can play well, but his injury history damns him. The longer he’s not out there, the more figured out things get without him. The Lions want their starting five figured out, and I don’t think they’re going to want to keep waiting.
I also moved Devin Cochran and Mason Miller to in danger and Colby Sorsdal to must have a big week. All of those are in response to Frazier getting tackle reps. That tells me Detroit is thinking about a guy who can come off the bench and play any position.
The tackle projects were Giovanni Manu and Sorsdal. Now Frazier has moved himself into that conversation. You get Larry Borom for a year as the swing tackle, Frazier spends a season showing he can take that role over, and when Borom’s contract is up, Frazier slides in. I just don’t see any of these guys fighting that off at this point.
Anthony Lucas Drops, Levi Onwuzurike Climbs
I had Anthony Lucas at safe. I’m moving him to watching. I bought into a lot of hype going into training camp, but now that I’m watching him practice, I’m starting to think he could be stashed on the 53-man roster without actually landing a spot where he’d play.
The whole thing with him has always been whether he can put it all together as a run setter and a pass rusher. That’s what we’re waiting to see.
Levi Onwuzurike moved up from in danger to watching. Things are starting to come together for him. I’m not ready to call it safe yet. I need to see him stay healthy and do more. I don’t have him above Tyler Lacy, who has that job locked down. But Onwuzurike is doing enough to show he could make this 53-man roster.
Trevor Nowaske Is Sliding After the Devin White Signing
At linebacker, I moved Trevor Nowaske to in danger after the Lions signed Devin White. Malcolm Rodriguez is so safe I don’t even have him on the list. White has a good chance to make this roster, and his addition pushes Nowaske further down the line.
Eric Turner is in a similar spot. I’m watching him, but he could probably be in danger too.
Joe Bachie moved from in danger to watching because he’s looked pretty decent the last two weeks. I don’t have Bachie making the roster and being a big-time contributor, but he’s gone from camp body to potential practice squad contributor. That’s a solid summer so far.
Three Players Just Removed from the Bubble Entirely
Here’s the big one. I told you when we started this thing that we would remove players, and this week we removed three. Nick Whiteside, Tyler Lacy, and Ahmed Hassanein are all off the bubble watch. I’ve got all three making the roster.
Whiteside has been a revelation, making plays every single day.
Lacy, where has this guy been? I think he’s going to play a lot more.
Hassanein is coming on more and more every single day. You can see what he can be, and it’s exciting. He’s going to be a good big end with pass rush ability, good at stopping the run. Dan Campbell style, dude. Emotion, passion. You can see it on the field. I can’t say no to the guy. He’s going to make it.
We’ll be back after the first preseason game with an updated bubble pressure meter. Let’s see how things shake out.
Which bubble guy are you most worried about right now? Drop your take below before I have to start moving people to must have a big week.
