The Detroit Lions are officially in game week.

At long last, the countdown to game day has reached less than a week in Detroit. The offseason is over, and the most anticipated Detroit Lions season in recent memory will commence on Sunday when they take on the Los Angeles Rams.

As training camp is concluded, the Lions have whittled down their roster to the final 52 players. There is still an open spot on the roster as they enter game week, one that could be filled quickly.

Here is the first in a series evaluating the Lions’ roster, ranking the players based on impact they will have on the team’s success in 2024. Up first, players ranked 52 through 40.

52.) OT Giovanni Manu

Manu has exciting potential, but his adjustment curve is steep. As a result, he may spend most of the year as an inactive on game days and be little used in action. His practice reps will be vital to his development, and he could get a chance to serve in a depth role later in the year as he continues to grow.

51.) LS Hogan Hatten

Hatten beat out Scott Daly for the long snapper role in training camp and has clear athleticism. He will have a huge part in the efficiency of the field goal and punt teams and has intriguing ability as an overall athlete.

50.) QB Hendon Hooker

Hooker’s value to the team would skyrocket in the event of an injury, so continued development is important. He did enough in the preseason to unseat Nate Sudfeld as the backup, but has flaws within his game that can be corrected with improvement on the practice field.

49.) S Loren Strickland

An undrafted rookie out of Ball State, Strickland showed plenty of physicality throughout the preseason. He’s at the bottom of the defensive depth chart, but should see plenty of time on special teams.

48.) OL Michael Niese

The Lions elected to hold onto 10 offensive linemen at final cuts. With the returning depth, Niese must compete with Kayode Awosika to be utilized in a backup role at the guard position. He took some first team reps in training camp, though, and could wind up being a valuable depth piece down the road.

47.) LB Trevor Nowaske

The Lions brought Nowaske back on waivers after losing him last season to the Arizona Cardinals. He has special teams value along with some traits against the run and in coverage that could be useful.

46.) WR Isaiah Williams

Williams clearly showed his playmaking ability throughout the preseason, both as a receiver and a returner. Detroit has Kalif Raymond as the incumbent in the return game, so it’s uncertain how much action Williams will get in that area.

With Detroit also likely to elevate one of their plethora of wide receivers from the practice squad on game days as well, targets could be limited for the undrafted free agent. That said, it would be no surprise for the Lions to have some plays dialed up to get the Illinois product involved.

45.) S Brandon Joseph

A 2023 UDFA who spent all of last year on the practice squad, Joseph had a strong training camp and earned a job. He had an interception in the preseason opener and forced a fumble in the second game against the Chiefs.

For Joseph, there could be rotational opportunities for him to get snaps on defense. However, with Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Brian Branch all in the mix at the position, he may be limited to special teams barring injuries elsewhere at the position.

44.) CB Khalil Dorsey

Dorsey started a pair of games for Detroit late in the year last year, but his biggest value comes on special teams. He’ll be a big part of the Lions’ kickoff and punt units, with the potential to line up as a gunner on the punt team.

43.) TE Parker Hesse

Hesse’s blocking ability earned him a spot. He’ll likely hold the fullback responsibilities as the third tight end. With only 14 career receptions, he may not be aksed to contribute much as a receiver. However, his blocking will be important for Detroit’s run-first attack.

42.) RB Sione Vaki

Like Williams, Vaki showed he’s capable of being a playmaker with the ball in his hands. However, he also faces an uphill climb for reps with Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds ahead of him on the depth chart.

The Utah product is still learning the position after being a predominately defensive player in college. However, he clearly has instincts that could make him an asset in certain situations.

41.) LB Ben Niemann

Niemann is a journeyman who has plenty of special teams experience. He’ll be valuable depth on defense and likely will also be a core special teamer who can contribute a variety of ways in that area.

40.) DT Mekhi Wingo

Early in the year, Wingo’s role may depend on whether or not nose tackle DJ Reader is available. He has versatility to slide around the defensive line, though, and he could wind up getting plenty of snaps.

Wingo struggled at points in the preseason and is undersized, so time will tell what his immediate impact is. However, there’s plenty to like about his potential within Aaron Glenn’s defense.

Detroit — The crowd in Comerica Park felt something brewing.

After being held without a baserunner for the first four innings of Sunday’s rubber match against the Boston Red Sox, Kerry Carpenter opened the bottom of the fifth with a walk, ensuring the Tigers wouldn’t be victims of a perfect game in their own stadium.

Relieved with that — and after Boston lefty Rich Hill got Jace Jung to strike out — the announced crowd of 30,173 in attendance popped at the sound of Spencer Torkelson’s bat sending a second-pitch curveball over the wall in left field and into Detroit’s bullpen.

Torkelson had no doubt, moseying his way out of the batter’s box to admire his work, as he gave the Tigers a lead they’d never relinquish on the way to a series-clinching 4-1 win.

Detroit entered Sunday five games back of the Minnesota Twins for a wild-card spot. But it made up ground on the Red Sox, who are currently the first American League team out and sit just a half-game ahead of the Tigers.

It was a two-homer day for Detroit, as Riley Greene turned on a 92 mph cutter left over the middle of the plate in the sixth inning and smoked a line drive that snuck inside the right-field foul pole. Greene’s shot was also of the two-run variety, scoring Parker Meadows from first base.

Greene has a team-high 20 home runs, the most of his three-year career, and is up to 58 RBIs, which also leads the Tigers. Torkelson now has eight home runs on the season.

For as good as Boston starter Cooper Criswell was — no hits or walks allowed to go along with five strikeouts through four innings — Tigers lefty Brant Hurter kept Detroit in it. Hurter scattered six hits over five innings, allowing one run in the fifth before stranding two runners by forcing a groundout to second base.

Hurter also got the Tigers out of danger in the second frame. After Beau Brieske, who started the game, surrendered back-to-back one-out walks, Hunter was called out of the bullpen and induced an inning-ending double play on his first pitch.

It’s the sixth appearance of Hurter’s career, and the first in which he pitched at least five innings and allowed one or fewer runs; he’s gone for five or more innings on three other occasions, giving up two, two and three runs in outings against the Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, respectively.

Will Vest and Jason Foley combined to pitch a scoreless 2⅔ innings to secure the win. The Tigers, who finish their home stand with a 4-2 record, will now head to California for a six-game road trip against the San Diego Padres from Sept. 2-5 and the Oakland Athletics from Sept. 6-8.

rsilva@detroitnews.com

@rich_silva18