DETROIT — The Detroit Lions will host the Cleveland Browns back at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon.
Here is a look at the projected depth chart for the Week 4 contest:
Quarterbacks
1. Jared Goff
2. Kyle Allen
3. (Emergency) C.J. Beathard
Jared Goff is riding a heater heading into this game. The offensive line play has been fantastic. Goff hasn’t been sacked across the last two games. Through those two games, Goff is 43-of-56 passing for 536 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions. The Lions have totaled more than 900 net yards of offense with 90 points in that span.
Running backs
1A. Jahmyr Gibbs
1B. David Montgomery
3. Jacob Saylors
4. Craig Reynolds
Out: Sione Vaki
David Montgomery is fresh off a career-high 151 yards and two touchdowns. Detroit’s rushing attack has 401 yards and six scores in the last two games. Don’t expect any changes in the backfield, because Jahmyr Gibbs is going to get loose sooner than later.
Craig Reynolds should be active this week with Sione Vaki out. Reynolds was inactive for Monday’s game in Baltimore, hence why Jacob Saylors received a bump in the order in our projected depth chart.
Wide receivers
1. Amon-Ra St. Brown
2. Jameson Williams
3. Kalif Raymond
4. Isaac TeSlaa
5. Dominic Lovett
6. Jackson Meeks (practice squad elevation)
Isaac TeSlaa played 17 offensive snaps in Week 2, then 14 plays against the Ravens last week. Veteran Kalif Raymond has logged 32 and 33 offensive plays in that same span. The rookie receiver’s usage should continue to grow throughout the season. But Raymond is this team’s WR3 at this point.
Also, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams need to have their fingerprints all over this game. If the Lions can get the play-action pass cooking against this Browns defense that loves to stack the box, expect some big plays from Williams downfield.
Jackson Meeks will help fill the void on special teams with Vaki, linebacker Zach Cunningham and safety Daniel Thomas out. The rookie wideout was elevated from the practice squad for the first time.
Tight ends
1. Sam LaPorta
2. Brock Wright
3. Ross Dwelley
Ross Dwelley was elevated from the practice squad for Monday’s game in Baltimore. Now, he’s been signed to the roster with Shane Zylstra on injured reserve. Dwelley should see the occasional offensive snap. But his main role will remain on special teams.
“He’s got a good skillset, he went in there and played on kickoff return for us in this last game and did a good job blocking,” Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said of Dwelley.
Offensive line
Starters: LT Taylor Decker, LG Christian Mahogany, C Graham Glasgow, RG Tate Ratledge, RT Penei Sewell
Reserves: OL Kayode Awosika, OT Giovanni Manu, C Kingsley Eguakun, OL Trystan Colon
Questionable: Taylor Decker (shoulder)
Taylor Decker hasn’t practiced this week. He’s practiced just once since the team’s opener in Green Bay, due to a shoulder issue. The Lions have said it’s all about making sure he’s ready to play in the games. It’s been a well-executed plan to this point.
Decker was the second-best tackle in the league in Week 3, trailing only teammate Penei Sewell, per Pro Football Focus. The offensive line has been better across the board, too. Tate Ratledge had the best game of his young career against the Ravens last week. And the operation appears to be clicking.
The communication issues that dominated headlines after Week 1 have been corrected. Most importantly, the communication held up back on the road for a rowdy primetime environment in Baltimore.
Defensive line
Starters: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, DT Tyleik Williams, DT DJ Reader, EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad
Reserves: DL Roy Lopez, DL Tyler Lacy, DL Chris Smith, DL Pat O’Connor, DL Mekhi Wingo, EDGE Tyrus Wheat
Questionable: Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee)
The defensive line rotation saw Tyler Lacy and Tyrus Wheat join the mix against the Ravens. Lacy played 19 snaps. Wheat got his first two of the season. Pat O’Connor’s workload spiked to 20 defensive snaps in the first game with Marcus Davenport on injured reserve, and even started on the line last week.
The Lions worked Al-Quadin Muhammad into the rotation last Monday. But once he made his way onto the field, he took full advantage of the newfound opportunity. He had 2.5 sacks across 26 defensive snaps. Muhammad should be good to go after returning for the last two practices of the week.
Mekhi Wingo was a surprise inactive in last week. He played 36 defensive reps in his season debut in Week 2. The second-year defender was at practice all week without an injury designation. It would make sense to see him active again for Sunday.
Linebackers
Starters: (WILL) Alex Anzalone, (MIKE) Jack Campbell and (SAM) Derrick Barnes
Reserves: Trevor Nowaske, Grant Stuard
Out: Zach Cunningham
Zach Cunningham’s absence is more of a blow for the special teams. He did play a role in a nice goal-line stop in Baltimore. But the Lions should feel great about their linebacker room, with Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell and Trevor Nowaske all making key plays last week. Expect those four to handle the bulk of the rotation. Stuard could even work into the rotation with Cunningham out, especially with Cleveland’s rushing attack.
Secondary
Starters: S Brian Branch, S Kerby Joseph, CB D.J. Reed, CB Terrion Arnold, Slot CB Amik Robertson
Reserves: DB Rock Ya-Sin, DB Avonte Maddox, CB Khalil Dorsey, S Thomas Harper
Out: S Daniel Thomas (placed on injured reserve)
One of the biggest talking points of the week was the potential changes coming to the cornerback rotation. Dan Campbell said they’ll continue to work through everything with Terrion Arnold. But they are looking to mix things up and use Amik Robertson even more.
The Lions having Robertson as the starting outside corner wouldn’t be out-of-this-world surprising. But there is something about the situation that doesn’t make it feel like it’s hit that point just yet.
Detroit has played the second-most snaps in the league out of its base defense, per TruMedia. That means Robertson has been on the sideline more, with the Lions using their top three linebackers instead. Robertson has played 31, 34 and 24 defensive snaps across three games. The Lions want him on the field more. He’s earned that, but some of Arnold’s struggles have opened the door.
This is one of those situations where both feel true.
Arnold will still play a ton of snaps. But it feels like the Lions really want to incorporate a change of pace, while giving Robertson more chances. Think of this as a potential mental reset. The Lions still have a ton of belief in Arnold, and they should. But Robertson is someone they have a lot of faith in, too, and if they get him on the field more while continuing to develop Arnold, it’s a possible win-win.
“Amik has always earned his keep with me. I saw it last year, that’s a player that’s earned the right to be on the field,” Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said. “And just with the frequency of base defense that we’re playing right now, he’s losing snaps.
“And to be honest, he’s earned more than what he’s gotten so far. So, we were doing this regardless.”
Special teams
K Jake Bates
P Jack Fox
LS Hogan Hatten
KR Jacob Saylors and Grant Stuard
PR Kalif Raymond
Expect to see Saylors and Stuard as the primary kickoff returners with Vaki hurt again. Vaki was back in that role for the first half last week. But it was short-lived, with the groin injury cutting it short.