Colby Sorsdal, the Detroit Lions’ 2023 fifth-round pick, is entering a make-or-break training camp.
Entering his third year with the Detroit Lions , versatile offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal is facing a make-or-break situation.
Sorsdal is somewhat of a development project for the Lions. The team selected the former member of the William & Mary Tribe in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and expected him to mold into a key depth piece for the offensive line.
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Colby Sorsdal
Expectations heading into 2024
During his rookie season in 2023, Sorsdal was a key depth player who started two games at right guard and one at left guard. He exclusively played right tackle at William & Mary but he began cross-training at both guard and center during his pre-draft process. Entering the 2024 season, Sorsdal was expected to compete for the backup jobs at both tackle and guard.
In June of 2024, offensive line coach Hank Fraley stated that Sorsdal was “taking the right steps” and that the team was going to try him in a variety of positions on the line “because he’s gifted enough to do it.”
Actual role in 2024
Preseason
3 games (3 starts)
Stats: 194 snaps played, 1 penalty, 3 sacks allowed, 6 pressures allowed
PFF offensive grade: 64.1 (78th out of 176 qualifying OTs)
PFF pass blocking grade: 68.5 (86th out of 176)
PFF run blocking grade: 60.5 (86th out of 176)
Regular season
1 game (5 special teams snaps)
Despite being part of the starting unit for the entirety of the preseason, Sorsdal struggled when it came to seeing the field during the regular season. He suited up for just four games throughout the season but never took the field on offense, even when injuries began to pile up on the offensive line. It is a bit concerning for Sorsdal that Detroit did not have him active for games where Taylor Decker, Kevin Zeitler, and Graham Glasgow sat out with injuries, and instead opted for players such as Kayode Awosika, Jamarco Jones, Christian Mahogany, Michael Niese, and Dan Skipper to fill in instead.
Sorsdal ended up taking a small handful of reps on special teams but even then, he was kept off of the field in favor of the aforementioned players.
Outlook for 2025
Every player that Detroit played over Sorsdal will be returning to Detroit for 2025, and the team added even more competition with rookies Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier. Sorsdal now seems to be on the outside looking in when it comes to making the 53-man roster.
While his versatility to play both tackle and guard would usually be a benefit, the issue here is that Awosika, Jones, Skipper, and Frazier can all do that as well. If he wants to stand out in the crowded position group, he needs to improve in both his physicality and ability to play center. Sorsdal has taken practice reps at center in the past and cross-trained at the position in his pre-draft process. With the retirement of Frank Ragnow, Detroit needs extra depth at the center position and Sorsdal could compete with Michael Niese and Trystan Colon for a reserve role there.
Sorsdal will face an uphill battle to secure a spot on Detroit’s roster in 2025. With all of the added players to the position group this offseason and the veterans that the team retained, Sorsdal’s chances are looking slim. It is more likely that he sticks around on the practice squad this upcoming season, if he can make it through waivers.