Five likely winners and five likely losers at Detroit Lions training camp
By Ash Thompson
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – AUGUST 13: Edwin Jackson #53 of the Indianapolis Colts makes a tackle against Michael Roberts #80 of the Detroit Lions in the first half of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 13, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Winner: Michael Roberts
Michael Roberts does not have any hurdles in front of him for playing time. If he plays well, he will be, at worst, the Lions number two tight end. Bob Quinn has set up the scenario to give Roberts every chance to take a huge role in the offense.
Roberts is not the most spectacular athlete, but there is not Eric Ebron to compare him to. He is not the best blocker in the league, but there is no Darren Fells to compare him to. The only thing in Roberts’ way is himself.
He is a mammoth of a man at six feet, five inches and 265 pounds. He caught an ungodly number of touchdown passes in his senior season of college. That Toledo team ran through Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, and Roberts showed a knack for slipping out of coverage off play-action fakes.
Loser: Levine Toilolo
One dimensional players will likely have trouble finding snaps for the Lions in 2018. Levine Toilolo‘s blocks. The only dimension I can find for him outside of that is that if he and Theo Riddick are on the field at the same time, defenses may be confused by the fact that the Lions two most obvious keys for opposing plays are on the field at the same time.
Roberts profiles as Toilolo but with receiving upside. Roberts is also a Bob Quinn draft pick, while Toilolo is a hired gun. Quinn showed with Steven Ridley in 2016 that a free agent who does not grab a role immediately may find a pink slip instead.
Next. What Ricky Jean-Francois adds to the Detroit Lions roster. dark
For every company dollar made, there is a dollar spent. Suck is the way of things in a world of finite resources and opportunity. Fortunes are won and lost in the same moment, as part of the same transaction. For these NFL players, one man’s achievement is another’s failure. There are 53 spots, 22 starting offensive and defensive positions. There are 90 people hoping to claim them. I love the preseason.