The Detroit Lions’ second preseason game went much better than the first, as they walked away 24-23 winners over the Kansas City Chiefs.
But outcome has little importance in the preseason game. What matters is player evaluation and development. While it’s hard to know where each player stands in the mind of the coaching staff, one peek into their opinions is how they utilize their players. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the snap counts from preseason Week 2 while also focusing on the order of play.
While it was mildly surprising to see Nate Sudfeld kick things off against the Chiefs starters, it’s not surprising to see the two split the game in half. It will be interesting to see if Detroit gives Hooker the opportunity to start in the team’s preseason finale.
Unsurprisingly, it was a short night for Craig Reynolds, who seemingly has the RB3 role down. That said, Sione Vaki got a bunch of valuable work on offense and special teams, and continues to justify time on the field. He still needs growth as a runner, but he’s finding all sorts of other ways to contribute.
Zonovan Knight was up next in the progression and had a strong night filling in for Jermar Jefferson (eight rushes, 36 yards). Even Jake Funk made some solid plays in the game, showcasing Detroit’s depth at running back.
Hesse may have gotten the fewest reps and played the latest into the game, but remains the only tight end to get snaps at fullback.
The rest of the crew saw a near-even split in reps, with Zylstra and Mitchell seeing the majority of the first half action.
The first-team receivers for Saturday were Kaden Davis, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Tom Kennedy. Davis took advantage with a 61-yard touchdown catch, but outside of that, the trio combined for just five catches for 39 yards.
Discover more from SuperD24
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.