It’s not that it shouldn’t be the case, but head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions has obviously run the team like a meritocracy. There won’t be any preference based on contract amount, draft position, or prior performance. Earn it now, or else someone else might get your playing time and, if applicable, your job or roster slot.
Three Lions players who might lose their jobs to rookies this year have already been examined by us. Here, the focus will be slightly different as a rookie who makes an impact during training camp and the preseason will be given consideration rather than players whose spots on the squad may be in jeopardy.
We’ll now examine Lions players who may lose playing time (snaps) to a rookie who establishes his merit instead. That again does not imply that these players will be benched. Simply that a youngster could steal a role that they appear to be in line for right now. Though that idea is always susceptible to change due to injuries and other circumstances, these three Lions should be wary when training camp begins the following month.
3 Detroit Lions who may lose snaps to a rookie this year
3. RB Craig Reynolds
Reynolds was included on our roster of Lions players who might lose their position on the team to a rookie. However, given this context’s change in meaning and the notion that he’s a popular player who will be challenging to cut, there’s a good chance Sione Vaki, a rookie, will get more snaps than him. The new context of “losing snaps” has a very straightforward basic logic. Vaki possesses the necessary upside and pure talent that Reynolds lacks.
Although Vaki performed admirably in his limited running back role at Utah last season, the Lions see him primarily as a running back. That in and of itself may reveal something about Reynolds’ precarious position in the hierarchy.
Vaki feels like a viable possibility to return kickoffs because he is expected to be deployed on special teams. Preseason games and/or camp workouts provide an opportunity to try him there.
There won’t be much offensive rushing by the Lions’ third-string running back unless one of David Montgomery or Jahmyr Gibbs is hurt. However, Vaki gives the competition a level of raw quality that was absent a year ago, which leaves Reynolds open to playing a smaller part eventually.
