{"id":171114,"date":"2025-08-24T07:02:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-24T07:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/171114\/"},"modified":"2025-08-24T07:02:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-24T07:02:15","slug":"detroit-lions-stock-report-risers-fallers-at-every-position-vs-texans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/171114\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Lions stock report: Risers, fallers at every position vs. Texans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Detroit Lions<\/a>\u2019<\/strong> fourth and final preseason game of the 2025 season is in the books, and it\u2019s time to check back in on the players who helped or hurt their stock against the Houston Texans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">For injury or rest purposes, the Lions did not play <strong>35 players<\/strong> in this preseason game of the 2025 season, with another six still sitting out due to being on an injury list (PUP\/NFI).<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Let\u2019s take a quick look at an overview of the roster with our <strong>game day depth chart<\/strong>, noting that the players without a position color did not play in this game. Additionally, if a player\u2019s name is written in red, they came into the game with an injury, but if they were injured in the game, their name is boxed in red.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"_1eezmj01\" href=\"https:\/\/platform.prideofdetroit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2025\/08\/Lions-2025-preseason-game-4-vs-Texans.png?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;crop=0,0,100,100\" data-pswp-height=\"1004\" data-pswp-width=\"2776\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img alt=\"\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"w91vxg0\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'\/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'\/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'\/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'\/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'\/%3E%3C\/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='\/%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;)\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lions-2025-preseason-game-4-vs-Texans.png\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Note: Players with an asterisk (*) are rookies<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock up: Kyle Allen<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: Hendon Hooker<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: Jared Goff<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">A second perfect preseason game from Allen has essentially won him the QB2 job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cI thought Kyle did a good job again, this is three games in a row, and practice too, you can\u2019t ever forget about these practices,\u201d Lions coach Dan Campbell said following the game. \u201cYou got some errors in that Chargers game to start the season out, and really from there he\u2019s just gotten better and better and better. Today was just evidence again of him really stepping up. I thought he did a good job. [\u2026] It\u2019s good to see Kyle really take it to where he\u2019s gone. Feel very comfortable with him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">For Hooker, it was another disappointing game, lowlighted by five non-scoring drives and another that ended with a turnover. Campbell didn\u2019t mince words in his post-game presser.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\"><strong>\u201c<\/strong>How much development do you believe there still is? Sometimes does the player need a change of scenery? What about our own depth in other areas?\u201d Campbell asked. \u201cLook, I wish Hooker\u2014and I know he does\u2014would\u2019ve had a better outing, [\u2026] I thought he was prepared. I thought he was ready. Looked pretty calm, just circumstances didn\u2019t work out today.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock neutral: Craig Reynolds, Jacob Saylors<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: Deon Jackson<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Sione Vaki (undisclosed)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Not many surprises with the running backs group. Reynolds looked like RB3, and Saylors is the likely leading candidate for the practice squad.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock up: Isaac TeSlaa*<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock neutral: Dominic Lovett*, Jackson Meeks*, Tom Kennedy, Ronnie Bell<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: Malik Taylor, Jakobie Keeney-James*<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">TeSlaa did a walk-off-worm after catching a gorgeous 33-yard touchdown pass from Allen. The duo called it a day after that, and rightfully so.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">I was really hoping for a showdown between Lovett and Meeks in their battle for WR6, but with Hooker\u2019s struggles, both were blanked on the score sheet. Special teams didn\u2019t help separate them much either, as both were the starting gunners on punt coverage, though Lovett did get a shot as a kick returner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Kennedy and Bell are knocking on the door, but I\u2019m not sure either provides enough special teams juice to warrant a WR6 role. Keeney-James and Taylor didn\u2019t enter the game until the second half, illustrating their spot on the depth chart.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock neutral: Shane Zylstra<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: Zach Horton*, Steven Stilianos, Gunnar Oakes<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">When Allen and TeSlaa exited, so did Zylstra (save a bit of special teams work), which points to him likely winning the TE3 job. Horton looked good as a blocker while at fullback, but he was flagged for a false start on offense and a holding penalty on special teams, certainly hurting his stock.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock up: Kingsley Eguakun, Kayode Awosika<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock Neutral: Dan Skipper, Giovanni Manu, Netane Muti<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: Zack Johnson, Michael Niese, Mason Miller*, Gunner Britton<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: Taylor Decker, Christian Mahogany, Graham Glasgow, Penei Sewell, Tate Ratledge*, Jamarco Jones<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Injured: Miles Frazier* (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/2025\/7\/17\/24469573\/levi-onwuzurike-out-4-games-injury-9-detoit-lions-placed-on-injury-lists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Active\/PUP<\/a>), Trystan Colon (elbow)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Awosika joined Allen, TeSlaa, and Zylstra by exiting after the first two drives (he was replaced by Niese), which points to him likely having security in his reserve roster role. Eguakun looks like he won the C2 role and continues to show well in the run game. Skipper, Manu, and Muti were solid, and if the Lions were keeping 10 offensive linemen, Muti would have a shot\u2014I\u2019m just not sold on that happening.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock up: Al-Quadin Muhammad, Mitchell Agude<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock neutral: Nate Lynn<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: Isaac Ukwu<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Injured: Josh Paschal (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/2025\/7\/17\/24469573\/levi-onwuzurike-out-4-games-injury-9-detoit-lions-placed-on-injury-lists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Active\/NFI<\/a>), Ahmad Hassanein (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/detroit-lions-injury-report\/139429\/ahmed-hassanein-injury-news-lions-rookie-edge-to-miss-significant-time\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pectoral<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Muhammad solidified his spot as EDGE 3, and Agude had arguably his best game of the preseason, but was it too little too late? Lynn has been the best of the reserve trio (Lynn-Ukwu-Agude), and did get a couple of pressures in this game, but it\u2019s also hard to predict if he did enough to win a spot. Ukwu has been steadily getting better, but again, it\u2019s hard to justify a spot for him right now.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock up: 4i Pat O\u2019Connor, 4i\/3T Keith Cooper*<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock neutral: NT\/3T Chris Smith, 3T Myles Adams<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: NT Brodric Martin<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: DJ Reader, Tyleik Williams*, Roy Lopez, Mekhi Wingo<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Injured: Alim McNeill (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/2025\/7\/17\/24469573\/levi-onwuzurike-out-4-games-injury-9-detoit-lions-placed-on-injury-lists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Active\/PUP<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">O\u2019Connor started at the 4i, which is likely where he the role he\u2019ll have to begin the season. Cooper continues to be steady, but the Lions\u2019 4i depth and Wingo\u2019s acclimation period will likely determine his spot on the roster. Smith and Adams have been steady, and both started this game: Smith at nose tackle and Adams at 3-technique. It\u2019s worth pointing out that when Martin came on, Smith shifted to the 3T in the second half, illustrating his dependability.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock up: SAM\/MIKE Trevor Nowaske<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock neutral: MIKE Zach Cunningham, WILL Grant Stuard<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: MIKE Anthony Pittman, WILL DaRon Gilbert<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Injured: Malcolm Rodriguez (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/2025\/7\/17\/24469573\/levi-onwuzurike-out-4-games-injury-9-detoit-lions-placed-on-injury-lists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Active\/PUP<\/a>), WILL Ezekiel Turner (injured ankle)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Nowaske made plays from the SAM and MIKE roles, and was arguably the team\u2019s best defender against the Texans. In base sets, Nowaske played the SAM with the first and second teams, but when the Lions went into second-team nickel sets, he shifted to MIKE and showed off his range to run the field.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock up: Allan George<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock down: Nick Whiteside, Tyson Russell, D.J. Miller<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/2025\/7\/29\/24476681\/detroit-lions-injury-update-terrion-arnold-leaves-practice-early\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(hamstring)<\/a>, Amik Robertson, Khalil Dorsey<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Injured: Luq Barcoo (?)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Tough day for the cornerbacks group, as even the player who made positive plays would make an obvious mistake just a few plays later. For example, George was upgraded to a starting role in this game, and showed great toughness setting the edge on a pulling lineman, executing textbook stacking-and-shedding. Unfortunately, just a few plays later, he got caught pushing inside too much and left a backside lane open for a rushing touchdown.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock up: Erick Hallett, Loren Strickland<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock neutral: Rock Ya-Sin, Avonte Maddox, Ian Kennelly*<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Did not play: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph (undisclosed)<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Injured: Morice Norris <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/detroit-lions-injury-report\/138929\/lions-injury-updates-morice-norris-back-at-team-facility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(concussion)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Hallett got the start at safety and has now started at all five defensive back spots this preseason. That incredible versatility gives coaches a sense of security and will certainly help his chances of making the roster. Strickland didn\u2019t take the field until the second half for the third straight game, but he was smashing anyone who entered his part of the field. He looked great as a safety, but I still am confused as to why he\u2019s not getting many starting special teams reps, despite earning a spot on last year\u2019s roster because of his play in the third phase. Kennelly didn\u2019t pop as much on defense, but he continues to start in multiple phases of special teams, even expanding his role on kick return.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Stock neutral: Jake Bates, Jack Fox, Hogan Hatten<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Hatton executed a solid tackle on punt coverage and then stood up and flexed toward his teammates. I asked him about it in the locker room after the game, and he laughed, saying it probably felt like a bigger hit to him than it showed on TV. It\u2019s always nice to see the players having a good time during the preseason.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"duet--article--comments-link _1jdgahs9\" href=\"http:\/\/www.prideofdetroit.com\/detroit-lions-preseason\/139540\/detroit-lions-stock-report-risers-fallers-at-every-position-vs-texans#comments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">21 Comments<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Detroit Lions\u2019 fourth and final preseason game of the 2025 season is in the books, and it\u2019s&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":171115,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[16242,69755,51,50,52],"class_list":{"0":"post-171114","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"tag-detroit-lions-analysis","9":"tag-detroit-lions-preseason","10":"tag-headlines","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-top-stories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115082464051221733","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}