Bubble Watch is back!
If you’re unfamiliar, Bubble Watch is a weekly feature during Detroit Lions training camp in which we track the progress of players in the team’s roster bubble by predicting which players will and will not make it. We adjust our picks each week based on training camp results, preseason games, and any hints the coaching staff can provide regarding roster composition.
This year, 11 members of Pride of Detroit will be making these predictions each week: Myself, Erik Schlitt, Ryan Mathews, Alex Reno, Morgan Cannon, John Whiticar, Max Gerber, Brandon Knapp, Hamza Baccouche, Zac Snyder, and Al Karsten. I’ll provide additional commentary on each position below.
We start our series with the offense, which is a lot less complicated than the defense.
2024 Detroit Lions Bubble Watch, Week 1: Offense
| Player | Jeremiah | Erik | Ryan | Alex | Morgan | John | Maximum | Brandon | Hamza | Zac | Already | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Jeremiah | Erik | Ryan | Alex | Morgan | John | Maximum | Brandon | Hamza | Zac | Already | TOTAL |
| QB Nate Sudfeld | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| RB Craig Reynolds | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
| RB Zonovan Knight | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | 1 |
| RB Jermar Jefferson | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| WR Antoine Groen | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
| WR Donovan Peoples-Jones | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
| WR Maurice Alexander | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 1 |
| WR Daurice Fountain | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| WR Tom Kennedy | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| WR Kaden Davis | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 1 |
| WR Isaiah Williams | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| TE James Mitchell | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | 10 |
| TE Shane Zylstra | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | OUT | IN | IN | OUT | IN | 9 |
| TE Parker Hessen | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | 1 |
| TE Sean McKeon | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | 0 |
| OT Dan Skipper | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | OUT | IN | IN | IN | OUT | IN | OUT | 5 |
| OL Colby Sorsdal | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
| iOL Kayode Awosika | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | 3 |
| iOL Netane Muti | IN | OUT | IN | OUT | IN | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | OUT | IN | 4 |
| iOL Christian Mahogany | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | IN | 11 |
Quarterback:
- Assuming: Jared Goff, Hendon whore
- Nate Sudfeld: 0 “IN” votes
With Detroit’s roster as good as it is, it’s going to be tough to keep three quarterbacks, and it’s highly unlikely that Hooker doesn’t make the team. That said, the second-year quarterback will also have to prove he’s ready for the backup job, or the Lions may be forced to keep Sudfeld—someone they can trust—to keep the boat afloat if something happens to Goff.
Running back:
- Assuming: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Sione Vaki
- Craig Reynolds: 11 votes
- Zonovan Knight: 1 vote
- Jermar Jefferson: 0 votes
It seems likely that the Lions will keep at least four running backs, and it’s clear who our staff considers to be the top four. But given the new kickoff rules, would the Lions consider keeping a fifth? One staffer thinks it’s a possibility, and Knight seems like the obvious choice for the role. His physicality is a natural fit on special teams.
Wide receiver:
- Assuming: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond
- Antoine Green: 11 votes
- Donovan Peoples-Jones: 11 votes
- Maurice Alexander: 1 vote
- Kaden Davis: 1 vote
- Daurice Fountain, Tom Kennedy, Isaiah Williams: 0 votes
Once again, our staff largely agrees on Detroit’s top five receivers. The bigger question is how many will they keep, and if there is a sixth, who will win that battle? Alexander brings a ton of special teams versatility, including a perfect skillset for returning on the new kickoff. Meanwhile, Davis had a stellar spring. Not only did he win a starting job on a rookie minicamp tryout, but he also made everyday plays during OTAs.
Tight end:
- Assuming: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright
- James Mitchell: 10 votes
- Shane Zylstra: 9 votes
- Parker Hesse: 1 vote
- Sean McKeon: 0 votes
This is the only offensive position where there is no unanimous choice. Part of the debate here will be how many tight ends the Lions keep. Two staffs opted to keep only three, while everyone else had four. Again, the new kickoff rule could come into play here, as bigger players may not be as much of a factor as guys with short-space speed.
That said, most have both Mitchell and Zylstra. Mitchell is entering Year 3 after a slow start to his NFL career, while Zylstra has been in Detroit since 2021 and has been a reliable player. But Parker Hesse and Sean McKeon have also been in this league for a while, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see either of them make the roster.
Offensive tackle:
- Assuming: Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Giovanni Manu
- Colby Sorsdal: 11
- Dan Skipper: 5
Sorsdal appears to be moving back to tackle, and that could have a domino effect on the roster. If he can show enough comfort at his college position, he could certainly take over the OT3 position, which would put Skipper’s roster spot in jeopardy. If Sorsdal were to simply cross-train in the spring to ensure his versatility, Skipper would likely be safe, but it could cost him a veteran interior signing. In short, Sorsdal appears to be a crucial part of how Detroit will construct their offensive line roster.
Inner attack line:
- Assuming: Kevin Zeitler, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow
- Christian Mahogany: 11
- Netan Muti: 4
- Kajode Awosika: 3
Again, this is a numbers game. Eight of our staffers have the Lions keeping nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, two have them keeping 10, and one has them keeping just eight. Everyone believes Christian Mahogany will make the team as a rookie draft pick. But does that leave a needed spot for a veteran guard with experience? Both Muti and Awosika bring that, but have struggled when they’ve actually been on the field. Would the Lions be willing to risk trading those players for a less experienced but potential upgrade?