How did the Detroit Lions’ preseason opener change positional battles on defense? Our staff make some roster predictions.
The Detroit Lions defense faces a lot of questions in 2025. And after the Lions’ preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers , not many of them have been answered.
However, the emergence of Rock Ya-Sin has provided some clarity at cornerback, but could make the safety position look a little more muddied. Let’s take a look at every player on the roster bubble on defense, and see who our staff thinks is currently IN the 53-man roster, and who still has work to do.
See our latest predictions on offense here.
Edge defender:
- Assumed in: Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport
Voting:
- Ahmed Hassanein: 11 votes (no change)
- Josh Paschal: 11 votes (up 3)
- Al-Quadin Muhammad: 10 “IN” votes (down 1)
- Nate Lynn: 1 votes (up 1)
- Mitchell Agude: 0 votes (no change)
- Isaac Ukwu: 0 votes (no change)
The EDGE room is fairly straightforward, but the tipping point may be what the Lions decide to do with Josh Paschal, who currently remains on the NFI list. This past week, coach Dan Campbell gave an update that convinced the last of our staffers to put him in the initial 53-man roster.
“I think we’re hoping early September we get him in practice and I think he’s going to need a couple of weeks to practice before we can expect him to play for us. So, I don’t really know then, but right now he’s still on schedule to hopefully be ready. He’s on schedule to be ready for early September to start practicing.”
Do the Lions activate him prior to the season in order to get those practices in? Or do they keep him on NFI, essentially preventing him from practicing and playing during all of September?
Elsewhere, Nate Lynn picked up a vote after a strong preseason game that included a team-leading three quarterback pressures.
Defensive tackle:
- Assumed in: DJ Reader, Tyleik Williams, Roy Lopez
- Assumed out: Alim McNeill (PUP), Levi Onwuzurike (PUP)
- Removed from Bubble Watch: DT Raequan Williams (cut)
Voting:
- Pat O’Connor: 11 votes (no change)
- Mekhi Wingo: 10 votes (no change)
- Keith Cooper Jr.: 0 vote (down 1)
- Brodric Martin: 0 votes
- Chris Smith: 0 votes
Wingo is in a similar situation to Paschal, so it’s entirely possible he starts the year on PUP. If so, someone is going to have to step up because our staff is buying into the team’s depth right now.
Linebacker
- Assumed in: Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Grant Stuard
- Assumed out: Malcolm Rodriguez (PUP)
- Trevor Nowaske: 11 votes (no change)
- Zach Cunningham: 11 (up 1)
- Ezekiel Turner: 0 votes (down 1)
- Anthony Pittman: 0 votes (no change)
It was a night to forget for pretty much every Lions linebacker against the Chargers in the preseason opener. Despite that, we’re sticking with Nowaske and Cunningham for the fifth and sixth spots on the roster. Nowaske is Detroit’s best SAM linebacker depth and can bring it on special teams. Cunningham has the veteran experience to help cover while Malcolm Rodriguez rehabs from injury.
Cornerbacks:
- Assumed in: Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw
Voting:
- Khalil Dorsey: 11 votes (no change)
- Rock Ya-Sin: 11 votes (up 5)
- Erick Hallett: 0 votes (no change)
Ya-Sin sees the biggest jump of any defensive player, and it isn’t much of a surprise. He was excellent in the preseason game, notching two big open field tackles while remaining sound in coverage. Additionally, he’s been playing so well that the Lions are putting more on his plate.
“We all like Rock. His work ethic, man. He’s pretty tough, he’s physical, he’s headsy, and he’s versatile,” Campbell said Sunday. “There’s a number of things he can do. We’d like to start working him at some safety, too”
Ya-Sin got that extra work Sunday afternoon, and seems like he’s getting closer and closer to being a roster lock.
Safeties:
- Assumed in: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Avonte Maddox
Voting:
- Dan Jackson: 11 votes (up 1)
- Morice Norris: 0 votes (down 3)
- Loren Strickland: 0 votes (no change)
- Ian Kennelly: 0 votes (no change)
Of note, votes were tallied before Jackson’s injury at training camp on Sunday—the severity of which is currently unknown.
However, it appears Ya-Sin’s success, plus his testing out at safety, has come at the expense of Morice Norris’ roster spot, according to our staff. Loren Strickland got early work in the preseason game, but struggled at time. Ian Kennelly was a standout in the game, but it’s going to be tough for any undrafted rookie to crack the roster.