The Detroit Lions wrapped out its offseason program on Thursday and open training camp on July 28 at the Detroit Lions practice facility in Allen Park, Michigan. Here’s a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, Jake Rudock.
As of now, the Lions carry three quarterbacks but the Rudock/Orlovsky battle will be interesting in training camp.
RUNNING BACKS (5): Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Stevan Ridley, Michael Burton, Zach Zenner. (Cut: Dwayne Washington, George Winn)
The biggest surprise is Washington, but until he shows he can hold on to the ball, it’s tough to keep him when the Lions have the sure-handed Zenner.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Marvin Jones, Golden Tate, Jeremy Kerley, TJ Jones, Andre Roberts. (Cut: Jace Billingsley, Andre Caldwell, Damian Copeland, Quinshad Davis, Corey Fuller, Jay Lee, Ryan Spadola)
The top two are set. Otherwise, it’s a pretty major competition with no spots guaranteed.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Eric Ebron, Brandon Pettigrew, Cole Wick. (Cut: Adam Fuehne, Ben McCord, Matthew Mulligan, Orson Charles)
As long as Pettigrew is healthy, he’ll end up on the roster. So the real battle is between Mulligan and Wick.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Taylor Decker, Riley Reiff, Michael Ola, Joe Dahl, Laken Tomlinson, Larry Warford, Geoff Schwartz, Travis Swanson, Graham Glasgow. (Cut: Cornelius Lucas, Chase Farris, Dominick Jackson, Corey Robinson, Gabe Ikard)
Tough calls at all the positions, which speaks not to the depth, but to the issues the Lions are still working through on the offensive line.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Ezekiel Ansah, Devin Taylor, Wallace Gilberry, Anthony Zettel, Haloti Ngata, A’Shawn Robinson, Tyrunn Walker, Caraun Reid, Stefan Charles. (Cut: Brandon Copeland, Deonte Gibson, Louis Palmer, Gabe Wright, Kerry Hyder, Khyri Thornton)
The toughest cuts of this entire exercise were Copeland -- a special-teams standout -- and Wright, the team’s fourth-round pick last year.
LINEBACKERS (5): DeAndre Levy, Tahir Whitehead, Josh Bynes, Antwione Williams, Kyle Van Noy. (Cut: Jon Bostic, Jerry Franklin, Zaviar Gooden, Khaseem Greene, Stephen Tulloch)
This group feels pretty set, but if the Lions keep six linebackers, look for Bostic or Gooden to get the call.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (11): Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, Quandre Diggs, Alex Carter, Darrin Walls, Johnson Bademosi, Glover Quin, Rafael Bush, Miles Killebrew, Isaiah Johnson, Tavon Wilson. (Cut: Adairius Barnes, Crezdon Butler, Ian Wells, Keith Lewis, Charles Washington, Don Carey)
Other than Carey and possibly flipping Walls for Butler, this group feels somewhat intact. But the Lions could try to upgrade again here during camp.
SPECIALISTS (3): Matt Prater, Sam Martin, Jimmy Landes. (Cut: Devon Bell, Don Muhlbach)
It seemed inevitable, but seeing Muhlbach listed as someone not on the Lions roster is still jarring after 12 seasons with the franchise.