Detroit Lions: Five Things The 2016 Preseason Taught Us

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Sep 1, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) looks on from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field. Lions win 31-0. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

1. If Matthew Stafford goes down, the Lions are in trouble.

We kind of already knew this, but if there was any doubt before the preseason started that the Lions lacked a solid backup quarterback, it was promptly erased.

Neither Dan Orlovsky nor Jack Rudock was very inspiring in the preseason, Orlovsky throwing a couple of really bad pick-sixes in the first two weeks of the exhibition schedule and Rudock struggling to throw the ball downfield. Both of them made some good plays, Rudock at times looked quite competent, but neither pf them were consistent even against the second and third-string defenses they always faced.

Fortunately for the Lions, Stafford has started every game for the last five seasons and has shaken the “injury-prone” moniker he picked up at the start of his career. Hopefully for them, neither Orlovsky nor Rudock will see the field except maybe in a blowout win.

This also goes for other positions where the Lions lack depth. When Eric Ebron went down during a mock game at Ford Field with what was feared to be an Achilles injury the week before the preseason, the Lions fanbase lost its collective mind, and for good reason, as the Lions lacked anyone to fill his position adequately. Although Ebron was okay, the lack of depth at tight end, tackle, defensive end, linebacker and cornerback all mean that one injury to a key player could potentially derail the Lions’ season.

Next: Number 2

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