The Detroit Lions' preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals was a mixed bag, with some players shining and others leaving questions. Here's a deep dive into five Lions who hurt their roster chances, along with personal commentary and analysis.
Michael Niese, Center
Niese's performance was a concern, to say the least. While he had a good block to spring Raheem Blackshear on a 24-yard run, his overall play at center was underwhelming. The fact that he skipped a snap off the turf, resulting in a 5-yard loss, and another poor snap was salvaged by Luke Altmyer, is a major red flag. As a center, Niese needs to corral the football better, and his history of poor snaps is a cause for concern. In my opinion, Niese's future with the Lions is uncertain, and he'll need to clean up his act if he wants to make the roster.
Dominic Lovett, Wide Receiver
Lovett tied for the team lead in receiving with three catches for 28 yards, but his performance left a lot to be desired. His three receptions came on a team-high eight targets, but he failed to haul in more than half of them, dropping two. Lovett's unimpactful play on special teams, where he bobbled one of his two punt returns, didn't help his case either. With competition at both wide receiver and special teams, Lovett needs to separate himself from the pack to justify a roster spot. In my view, he'll have to step up his game significantly to make the cut.
Luke Altmyer, Quarterback
Altmyer's performance was complicated to judge, as he moved the ball downfield with some authority and had a fair number of excellent passes. However, he didn't dominate, and his two interceptions didn't help his cause. Altmyer had a chance to stake his claim ahead of Joshua Dobbs on the depth chart, but he came up short. In my opinion, Altmyer's performance was underwhelming, and he'll need to step up his game if he wants to beat Dobbs for the starting quarterback job.
Miles Frazier, Offensive Lineman
Frazier's performance against the Bengals made me think twice about his roster spot. While he was fine as a guard with the first team, he was overshadowed by the likes of Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller. Frazier also showcased his rawness, getting beat badly on a sack. In my view, his ability to play across the offensive line makes him valuable, but we need to see some good offensive line play. Frazier's future with the Lions is uncertain, and he'll need to step up his game if he wants to make the roster.
Payton Turner, Defensive End
Turner's lack of playing time against the Bengals is a concern, as he needs these snaps to show that he deserves a roster spot. The front seven played well against the Bengals, and Turner will need to step up his game if he wants to keep up with his competition. In my opinion, Turner's future with the Lions is uncertain, and he'll need to get on the field soon to avoid getting outpaced by his competition.
