To get a better sense of the Detroit Lions’ strategy against the Los Angeles Rams in their 26-20 overtime victory, let’s take a closer look at their personnel choices.
Here’s a detailed look at the team’s Week 1 snap counts for the 2024 season.
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff: 70 (100%)
Hendon Hooker: DNP
Goff stayed healthy, allowing Hendon Hooker to spend the game logging mental reps and enjoying the crazy Ford Field environment.
Running backs
Jahmyr Gibbs: 31 (51%)
David Montgomery: 30 (49%)
Sione Vaki: 2 (3%) — 18 special teams snaps (69%)
Craig Reynolds: 0 (0%) — 18 (69%)
Given how good Montgomery was, it may be a bit surprising to see Gibbs outsnap him in this game, even if it was only by one. However, expect this to be the norm going forward. Detroit loves both backs because they both offer something completely different.
Also interesting to see Vaki get a couple of offensive snaps. On both occasions, he motioned to fullback. The first, he was initially the second back next to Goff in shotgun. The other snap, he motioned into the backfield after lining up out wide.
Tight ends
Sam LaPorta: 48 (79%)
Brock Wright: 30 (49%) — 4 (15%)
Parker Hesse: 9 (15%) — 14 (54%)
I expect this to be a pretty normal split from the Lions’ three tight ends. Nothing too out of the ordinary, as Parker Hesse remains the team’s primary fullback. Seven of his nine snaps were at that position.
Wide receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown: 60 (98%)
Jameson Williams: 52 (85%)
Kalif Raymond: 37 (61%) — 9 (35%)
Tom Kennedy: 4 (7%) — 6 (23%)
Unsurprisingly, Williams received the most playing time in his young career, now that he’s clearly WR2. It’s also wasn’t surprising to see that Raymond was their preferred WR3, although it’s a bit shocking to see that he didn’t garner a single target in the passing game. His lone contribution with the ball in his hands on offense was an 11-yard run to kick off overtime.
Tom Kennedy’s elevation from the practice squad was mostly for insurance. He doesn’t play much on special teams and he only contributed four offensive snaps. It will be interesting to see if one of the other three practice squad receivers gets called up for Week 2.
Offensive line
Taylor Decker: 61 (100%)
Penei Sewell: 61 (100%) — 4 (15%)
Frank Ragnow: 61 (100%)
Kevin Zeitler: 61 (100%) — 4 (15%)
Graham Glasgow: 61 (100%) — 4 (15%)
Dan Skipper: 2 (3%) — 4 (15%)
Kayode Awosika: 0 (0%) — 4 (15%)
Michael Niese: 0 (0%) — 4 (15%)
Colby Sorsdal: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE
Always love to see the Lions’ starting five in there for 100% of the snaps. Only two jumbo formations with Dan Skipper this week, and everyone else was relegated to special teams duties.
It was certainly interesting to see Niese active over Sorsdal, particularly given Sorsdal’s versatility to back up both guard and tackle. However, Sorsdal did struggle in training camp and the preseason with his move back to tackle, so it’s clear the Lions believe he needs more development.
EDGE:
Aidan Hutchinson: 70 (90%)
Marcus Davenport: 49 (63%)
Josh Paschal: 22 (28%)
James Houston: INACTIVE
If there was anyone out there who believed the Lions may try to scale Hutchinson back from his high usage last year to keep him fresh, it doesn’t appear that’s in the plans. The third year defensive end continues to have a high motor and doesn’t seem to slow down throughout the entire game, seeing as his final play was a sack. In fact, 70 snaps is actually a career high for Hutchinson.
Speaking of highs, Davenport’s 49 snaps was the sixth-highest in his career, with only two games in the past four years reaching that mark. He’s clearly going to be a big part of this defense, and he proved his worth with four quarterback hits on Matthew Stafford and a half-sack.
Paschal had just a small rotational role, while Houston appeared to be a healthy scratch—indicating how low he is on the totem pole right now.
DT:
Alim McNeill: 68 (87%) — 4 (15%)
Levi Onwuzurike: 50 (64%) — 4 (15%)
Kyle Peko: 37 (47%)
Chris Smith: 8 (10%)
Mekhi Wingo: 6 (8%) — 4 (15%)
DJ Reader: INACTIVE
More career highs here, as McNeill’s ridiculous 68 snaps is 10 more than his previous high. And what an accomplishment for Onwuzurike! Not only was this his first career start, but his 50 snaps was two more than his previous high and well above his typical average of about 20 snaps per game.
Linebackers
Alex Anzalone: 78 (100%)
Derrick Barnes: 64 (82%) — 12 (46%)
Jack Campbell: 44 (56%) — 9 (35%)
Malcolm Rodriguez: 14 (18%) — 22 (85%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 3 (4%) — 22 (85%)
Ben Niemann: 0 (0%) — 18 (69%)
Trevor Nowaske: INACTIVE
This is pretty interesting and a bit unexpected. Anzalone playing every snap is not a surprise, but seeing Jack Campbell—in his first year taking over the MIKE linebacker position full-time—limited to just 56 percent of snaps was surprising. Both Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes often took his spot in the defense in subpackages.
That said, maybe we shouldn’t have been all that surprised when it comes to Barnes’ eye-popping 64 snaps. The coaching staff has been talking him up all offseason (again), and while he was seemingly focused on the SAM linebacker position, we know he can thrive at MIKE, as well.
Cornerbacks
Carlton Davis: 77 (99%)
Terrion Arnold: 76 (97%)
Amik Robertson: 36 (46%)
Ennis Rakestraw: 3 (4%) — 11 (42%)
Khalil Dorsey: 0 (0%) — 16 (62%)
Kindle Vildor: 0 (0%) — 15 (58%)
Last time the Lions played the Rams, Brian Branch—who was playing nickel—played 98 percent of the snaps. This time around, the Lions were in nickel less than half the time, as evidenced by Amik Robertson’s 36 snaps. That’s a drastic change in strategy, and it speaks to their confidence in their front seven to roll with just four defensive backs for most of the game. Detroit managed to keep the offense in front of them, so the strategy arguably worked.
Rookie Ennis Rakestraw only saw the field a few times, serving as an injury replacement in short spurts.
Safety
Brian Branch: 78 (100%) — 9 (35%)
Kerby Joseph: 75 (96%) — 9 (35%)
Brandon Joseph: 0 (0%) — 9 (35%)
Ifeatu Melifonwu: INACTIVE
Loren Strickland: INACTIVE
No surprises here, other than maybe Branch and Joseph logging special teams snaps. However, once Melifonwu and/or Strickland come back, I would imagine those extra duties will be taken off Branch’s and Joseph’s plates.
Jake Bates: 9 (35%)
Jack Fox: 8 (31%)
Hogan Hatten: 8 (31%)
Special teams happened, too.
Detroit’s dining scene just got even more flavorful with the opening of Sunda New Asian, bringing modern Southeast Asian cuisine to the city.
Restaurant owner Billy Dec joins the show to share what guests can expect from the new hotspot, from bold dishes and incredible cocktails to an energetic atmosphere.
Watch the video above to see what’s cooking up at Sunda New Asian.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Detroit Lions podcast includes Purple Insider Matthew Coller to talk about NFC North offseason moves.
Nolan and Richard are joined by Purple Insider Matthew Coller to talk about NFC North offseason moves.
By this point in the offseason, it’s well documented who the Detroit Lions have added, as well as who they’ve lost.
Former Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays was the prize of free agency. He’ll replace Graham Glasgow in the middle of Detroit’s offensive line. Clemson’s Blake Miller, selected 17th overall in April’s draft, is poised to quickly take over at the tackle spot opposite Penei Sewell, stepping in for Taylor Decker. The pass rush was overhauled across from Aidan Hutchinson, with Ahmed Hassanein and Tyler Lacy being the only other edge defenders still on the roster from last season.
Today, we’ll try to take our analysis a step further, identifying a few patterns within Detroit’s offseason approach and exploring what those acquisitions, retentions and departures mean for a Lions team looking to bounce back and reemerge as a title contender in 2026.
Detroit’s offense had its own share of issues throughout 2025. But what the defense produced down the stretch with the season on the line failed to meet reasonable expectations. Opponents averaged 28.1 points and 382.1 yards per game from Weeks 12-18, a stretch that resulted in four losses. Pinning all of Detroit’s defensive woes on one factor would be foolish (and you can’t ignore the role injuries played), but an inconsistent, at best, pass rush certainly didn’t help. The Lions owned the third-slowest time to pressure (2.86 seconds) in the NFL last season, according to Next Gen Stats.
Aside from the retooling opposite Hutchinson, the Lions also seemingly put an emphasis on acquiring interior defensive linemen who can get after the passer. Levi Onwuzurike is back after his contract tolled last season — Josh Paschal, a run-defending lineman who also had his contract tolled but was released in March, wasn’t afforded the same opportunity — and the Lions spent a couple of late-round draft picks on Texas Tech’s Skyler Gill-Howard and Tennessee’s Tyre West. Both players were drafted because of the flashes they’ve shown as pass rushers, particularly Gill-Howard, whose win rate in 2025 (14.4%) ranked 10th out of the 512 FBS interior defenders who rushed the passer on at least 100 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Copying the Super Bowl champions isn’t always wise — every team’s personnel has its own set of skills — but it’s striking how much Detroit’s defense differed from that of the Seattle Seahawks, who rode their defense on the way to winning the franchise’s second title. The Lions led the league in use of base defense (three linebackers) last season, deploying those packages for 657 plays, according to Next Gen Stats. The Seahawks were last, with 66 plays. It was the opposite for use of nickel defense (five defensive backs), with the Seahawks leading the league (815) and the Lions at 32nd (355). Of course, Seattle is unique, given head coach Mike Macdonald’s defensive system and nickelback Nick Emmanwori’s immediate impact as a rookie.
The Lions won’t overhaul their entire scheme in one offseason, but it’s difficult to see their moves in totality and not come away thinking they could lean more on nickel packages in 2026. Alex Anzalone, one of the league’s better linebackers against the pass, allowed the Lions to play base defense as much as they did, as he was comfortable in coverage. He’s now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions added a number of viable options to play nickelback next season, including veterans Christian Izien Jr. and Roger McCreary, as well as fifth-round rookie Keith Abney II (Arizona State).
Assuming the starting five, from left to right, winds up being Sewell, Christian Mahogany, Mays, Tate Ratledge and Miller, Detroit’s offensive line will have an average age of 25.2 next season. That’s down from 2025 (27.8) and 2024 (29.8). In no way does the influx of youth indicate surefire success, but the Lions would certainly be set up for sustained success if each of the five projected starters reach their ceilings. The offensive line could be even younger if 2025 fifth-rounder Miles Frazier, who is 11 months younger than Mahogany, wins the starting job at left guard. Juice Scruggs, another contender at left guard, is nine months older than Mahogany. Ben Bartch, 27, is the veteran option.
Whether Mays continues ascending at center will be key to Detroit’s success in 2026. He’s only started 20 games at the position over his four seasons in the NFL, and all of those starts have come within the last two years. He showed week-to-week growth in his 12 starts in 2025, enough for the Lions to commit $25 million ($14 million guaranteed) to him over the next three years. Mays surrendered 13 pressures last season and didn’t allow sack, according to PFF.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
How the PWHL unveiled Detroit’s team amid much fanfare
Chris Ilitch, Mary Sheffield, Jayna Hefford and Amy Scheer talk about the PWHL Detroit team on May 6, 2026.
Josh Sciba comes to the Detroit Professional Women’s Hockey League team with a tremendous recent accolade.
Named to coach the ninth franchise in the PWHL’s history on Thursday, May 28, Sciba joins the team fresh off having served as an assistant coach with the women’s team that won the gold medal at the 2026 Milano Olympics.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited for the opportunity to become the coach of PWHL Detroit and beyond grateful for the trust placed in me to help lead the organization from the beginning,” Sciba said in a statement. “This is home and especially meaningful for me and my entire family, knowing Detroit’s rich hockey history and identity firsthand and how much the women’s hockey community has been yearning for this moment.”
The Detroit PWHL team has taken shape over the past month: From being introduced on May 6 in a gala event at Little Caesars Arena (where the team will play starting late November/early December 2026) to naming Manon Rheaume general manager on May 15.
“Josh is a highly respected coach with a knowledge of the game and experience at all levels of women’s hockey that set him apart, and his passion for teaching and individual character are qualities I value in a leader,” Rhéaume said in a release “Hockeytown is in his blood, and this is an opportunity I know he is eager to embrace with an understanding of what it means to represent this city and be part of its legacy.”
Next on the agenda is shaping the roster itself, which will happen at the June 17 expansion draft at Detroit’s Fox Theatre.
Sciba, 41 and a native of Westland, has spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for the PWHL’s New York Sirens and brings more than 15 years of coaching experience to the role.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
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