The Detroit Lions are still attempting to change things up on defense and are searching for the ideal combination of players to carry out their weekly game plans. The Lions made adjustments for defensive line injuries in Week 14’s loss to the Chicago Bears. They added bulk to the box, introduced new players to the secondary, and Ifeatu Melifonwu started at safety in place of Kindle Vildor, who was taking up cornerback snaps.
This is a closer look at the personnel choices made by the Lions, which helped them finish the season 9-4.
Offense
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff: 65 (100%)
Teddy Bridgewater: N/A
Following a disappointing performance in New Orleans, the Lions offensive snap counts improved, but their additional opportunities did little to aid them on the scoreboard. Similar to the Packers game, Goff was unable to maximize his possessions, which hindered the offensive production of the Lions.
running backs
Gibbs, Jahmyr: 41 (63%)
Twenty-three (35%) David Montgomery
Craig Reynolds: 1 (2%) — 17 snaps (71%) on special teams
Even though the Lions would like to distribute the running backs as equally as possible, the past few weeks’ games have changed that strategy. The Lions relied on Montgomery to run out the clock last week in New Orleans to maintain their advantage. This week, the Lions had to play from behind, so Gibbs—the more productive of the two—was used more frequently.
tense conclusions
56 (86%) for Sam LaPorta
16 (67%) — 24 (37%) Brock Wright
11 (17%) — 17 (71%) James Mitchell
While they made an effort to build the lead, the Lions’ tight end use increased slightly, but they mostly wasted their additional possibilities to score points on the ground and in the air.
broad receivers
St. Brown, Amon-Ra: 57 (88%)
38 (58%) Jameson Williams
Josh Reynolds: 35 out of 55
Raymond Kalif: 23 (35%) — 3 (12%)
9 (14%) for Donovan Peoples-Jones
Antoine Green: NOTHING TO DO (well-being scrape)
Williams has outsnapped every player on the squad save for St. Brown, seeing more than half of the offensive snaps. However, the additional time on the field only produced one target, which begs the issue of when he will be able to do more than merely outrun opponents with his speed. For several months now, he has been on the cusp of a breakthrough performance, but the pieces are still not fitting together.
Offensive line
Taylor Decker: 65 (100%)
Jonah Jackson: 65 (100%)
Graham Glasgow: 65 (100%) — 2 (8%)
Kayode Awosika: 65 (100%) — 2 (8%)
Penei Sewell: 65 (100%) — 2 (8%)
Dan Skipper: 6 (9%) — 2 (8%)
Colby Sorsdal: 0 (0%) — 2 (8%)
Frank Ragnow: RULED OUT (injured)
Glasgow moved to center after Ragnow’s injury, while Awosika started at right guard, ahead of youngster Sorsdal in the depth chart. As the Lions continue to move Sewell around and attempt to give defenders new looks from their offensive line, Skipper saw the field six times in large formations.
Defense
EDGE:
Aidan Hutchinson: sixty-four (90%).
50 (70%) of John Cominsky — 5 (21%)
Josh Paschal: 31 out of 44 (or 5)
Julian Okwara: seventeen (24%).
Ostwara Romeo: 8 (11%) — 8 (33%)
Charles Harris: (well-groomed scrape) INACTIVE
Although it’s unclear if Cominsky’s playing time was intended to be increased for the entire game, his on-field performance earned him the extra snaps. The Lions chose to return to Julian Okwara against the Bears after going to Bruce Irvin against the Saints. It’s unknown if Julian’s prior experience playing against the Bears—two sacks at Soldier Field in 2022—or Irvin’s ankle injury—or both—were factors in that decision. Irvin only has two elevations left for the remainder of the season.
DT:
Benito Jones: 45 out of 63, or 29%,
Isaiah Buggs: 43 out of 61
Levi Onwuzurike: 20 percent, 14
Martin Brodric: 6 (8%)
After all three were healthy scratches the previous week, the Lions decided to keep Buggs, Onwuzurike, and Martin in action with Alim McNeill on injured reserve and Quinton Bohanna out of elevations. Starting at the beginning and carrying most of the load, Buggs should be able to maintain this role for the next three weeks while McNeill is healing.
Linebackers
Anzalone Alex: 68 (96%)
Derek Barnes: sixty-two (87%)
11 (46%) — 42 (59%) Jack Campbell
11 (15%) — 22 (92%) for Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Malcolm Rodriguez: 1 (1%). — 22 (92%)
0(0%) for Anthony Pittman — 22 (92%)
Trevor Nowaske: NOT INACTIVE (scratchy but healthy)
