After coming up just a few snaps short of a Super Bowl last season, getting just a bit better is of the utmost importance to the Detroit Lions.
With that in mind, marginal roster decisions will be treated with plenty of care with an understanding that the choices could have drastic ramifications.
Let’s take a look at some players who really need to use this game and the rest of the preseason to show that they should be a part of the team’s plans going forward.
Hendon Hooker
After being selected by Detroit in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Hendon Hooker didn’t have much of a role for the Lions in his rookie season. He’s listed as third in the depth chart behind Nate Sudfeld and starter Jared Goff, but the veteran Goff will not be playing this week.
With Sudfeld set to start, Hooker should see some extended playing time in relief. He’ll be given a chance to show the productive and entertaining skill set he flashed at Tennessee, and potentially solidify his place on Detroit’s roster.
Terrion Arnold
Terrion Arnold, a first-round pick from Alabama, is absolutely not fighting for a roster spot, or even really a starting role; both are more or less guaranteed for the rookie.
However, what Arnold does need to do is adjust quickly to the NFL and provide Detroit with immediate value in by far their weakest position.
This year’s cornerback class was extremely deep, and Arnold’s pick raised some eyebrows with names like Kool-Aid McKinstry, Cooper DeJean, and Kamari Lassiter still on the board, among many others. He’ll look to start proving that the Lions made the right choice by plucking him from the talented bunch.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Another one of those talented corners in the 2024 class was Ennis Rakestraw Jr., another SEC talent, this time out of Missouri. Detroit took him 61st overall, really showing its intent to fortify a problematic secondary that arguably cost the team a spot in the Super Bowl.
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Like Arnold, Rakestraw is going to make the team, but he isn’t guaranteed immediate extensive snaps the way his first-round counterpart will be. This preseason is a great opportunity for him to step up and establish himself as a key part of the secondary.
Sione Vaki
Sione Vaki was a two-way player at Utah, standing out primarily as a box-oriented safety, but also as an explosive and efficient running back. Detroit announced him as the latter when it selected him in the fourth round, indicating that he’ll focus on the offensive side of the ball in the NFL.
As a late-round running back, Vaki will need to quickly show his value in order to stay on the roster and pick up touches. Transitioning to one side of the ball might boost his efficiency, making his new role one of the most interesting facets to watch in Thursday night’s game.
James Houston IV
We’ll finish up with one more non-rookie who needs to stand out in order to secure his spot on the team. James Houston IV has been with Detroit since 2022 when he was selected in the sixth round of the draft. He exploded onto the scene with a four-game sack streak to open his career but missed most of 2023 with an injury.
Houston has shown promise during his young career. Still, after intermittently bouncing between the injured reserve and practice squad over the past couple of years, he could definitely stand to better solidify his role with the Lions.