Detroit Lions backup quarterback battle not all about the quarterbacks
By Zac Snyder
Jake Rudock and Brad Kaaya are in a battle to be Detroit Lions backups, but winning a roster spot isn’t all about the performance of the quarterbacks.
We know Matthew Stafford will be the Detroit Lions’ starting quarterback. That has never been up for debate. Jake Rudock has been the presumptive number two ever since the team decided not to bring back Dan Orlovsky, but drafting Brad Kaaya brought on the possibility of a battle for the spot behind Stafford on the depth chart.
It didn’t take long to show that Rudock has progressed since last season and has a firm grasp as the number two. Rudock has looked comfortable and in control of the offense in preseason play, leaving Kaaya to battle for a roster spot as the third quarterback.
With Rudock locked in as the number two, it may not matter how well Kaaya finishes the preseason. It’s a numbers game at the bottom of the roster and carrying a third quarterback is likely low on the priority list. No team wants to have to see a backup quarterback on the field, much less a third-stringer, and the roster spot could instead be used on a player capable of contributing to the team during the regular season.
MLive’s Kyle Meinke summed it up well in his most recent 53-man roster prediction:
"With all the injuries in the front seven and on the offensive line, the Lions probably won’t have the luxury of carrying a third QB. The secondary could get crowded too because of all the special teams aces there. Kaaya is getting better, but the roster math just isn’t working in his favor."
A roster spot may be doubtful, but that doesn’t make Kaaya a wasted pick or mean his days with the Lions are dwindling. I look for him to be handled much the same way the Lions handled Rudock a year ago. Rudock wasn’t able to land a roster spot right away but stuck around on the practice squad, eventually earning his way on to the active roster to avoid being poached by another team.
Next: Thinning of Lions' roster has begun
It is possible Kaaya would be claimed or choose to go to another team, but that seems unlikely. His play has been generally acceptable in the preseason but there isn’t any immediate indication that teams made a big mistake by letting him slide to the sixth round. That makes it unlikely another team is willing to commit the roster spot.