Detroit visits the Indianapolis Colts for their first pre-season game of the year. The game is at 1:30 PM ET on NFL Network. Let’s take a look at what to watch during the game.
Health Issues
The Lions are banged up at DE and Offensive Line. Ziggy Ansah is on PUP and Cornelius Washington is dealing with an ankle injury. Taylor Decker is on PUP (shoulder) and TJ Lang has not practice much recovering from a hip surgery. The Lions need to sit players and rest them for the regular season. Tight End Eric Ebron (hamstring) and Sam Martin (NFI ankle) will both miss the game. Finally, Theo Riddick (wrist) has been wearing the non-contact jersey all training camp. We will see if Riddick plays at all.
The Colts will be without Andrew Luck (PUP) so the Lions will face backups the entire game at QB. Rookie 1st round pick Malik Hooker and Clayton Geathers (SS) will both miss the game as well for the Colts.
Roster Battles
The Lions have plenty of roster competition. The 4th and 5th WR is up for grabs between TJ Jones, Jared Abbrederis, Jace Billingsley and Keshawn Martin. All four players will want to play well to start earning the roster spots. Return game is a factor for all four players too.
The nickel battle is tight between Quandre Diggs and DJ Hayden. Rookie Jamaal Agnew has had an impressive camp and is winning the return job as well. Agnew will try to make a case to jump over Diggs and Hayden on the depth chart but is a dark horse still.
Nevin Lawson appears to be holding off rookie Teez Tabor but Tabor has played well lately including the joint practices against TY Hilton (a very speedy WR).
Greg Robinson and Cyrus Kouandijo square off to be the starting left tackle with Decker hurt. Graham Glasgow is feeling some pressure from Joe Dahl at left guard. Leo Koalomatangi and Laken Tomlinson are fight for the last interior offensive linemen roster spot.
Matt Asiata and Dwayne Washington fight for the 4th RB spot. Cole Wick and Tim Wright face off for the 4th Tight end spot (if they keep a fourth).
Run Game
The Lions will want to see how the run game has improved. Ameer Abdullah is back and we’ll see if Theo Riddick plays (wrists). Zach Zenner will get some reps but Matt Asiata and Dwayne Washington should see time to determine the roster spot. Undrafted rookie Tion Green should see some reps in the second half as well.
The new offensive line won’t be able to gel with three of the linemen out of the game. The backups will have to create some holes against the Colts front 7 and young players like Storm Norton should see lots of reps.
Stafford and QBs
The Lions QBs will get their first live action of the year. Stafford may play a series and show how he recovered from his finger injury from last year. Rudock will be the number 2 QB and rookie 6th round pick Brad Kaaya is firmly the 3rd QB behind Rudock.
Former Packer QB, Scott Tolzien will start for the Colts. Stephen Morris will see work for the Colts as the backup.
Lions football is back!! Get pumped!!!