The Detroit Lions gave home fans at Ford Field a solid effort in a hard-fought 17-13 win over the Washington Commanders. It wasn't perfect, of course, but given the circumstances, head coach Dan Campbell should feel great about himself and his troops.
That's especially the case with a handful of roster-bubble guys who may have played their way onto the 53-man roster. This is the perfect time to make a strong impression, especially in those spots that are still up for grabs.
While we should always take the preseason with a fistful of salt, the Lions should feel much more comfortable with some of their guys after today's game. With that in mind, let's dive in and give them their flowers.
3 Lions players who may have locked up a roster spot in Week 2
Juice Scruggs
With Cade Mays out indefinitely with a 'freak'' hand injury, the Lions are scrambling at center. They've moved guys all around, with Tate Ratledge looking like a potential stopgap. That's why watching Juice Scruggs play a decent and error-free game may have been so refreshing.
Centers don't need to make flashy plays. In fact, they're rarely a talking point for good reasons. By contrast, those who replaced Scruggs made him look like the best choice at the position, as it got pretty ugly at one point.
Seth McLaughlin and Michael Niese looked like deer in the headlights there. The offense kept going backward with consecutive false-start penalties, and that's something they can't afford to have when it actually counts.
Trayveon Williams
The Lions have one of the best running backs in the game, and there's absolutely no one who can pose a threat to Jahmyr Gibbs. That said, depth is paramount, and with Isiah Pacheco dealing with an injury, the Lions need some help here.
Sione Vaki has been hurt and underwhelming for most of the offseason. TrayVeon Williams, on the other hand, didn't need much time to make a strong impression, logging 10 carries for 36 yards and a touchdown to go along with one catch for 24 yards.
It's the preseason, and he did it against backups, but the Lions are pretty much unsettled at running back. Vaki may not make the 53-man roster, so the competition between him and Jacob Saylors for the RB3 job will get red hot in the final week of preseason.
Jackson Meeks
If you've been paying attention, this shouldn't come as a surprise. In fact, Kerby Joseph tried to warn everyone about Jackson Meeks before the first dress rehearsal, and thus far, he's done plenty to prove him right.
A former wide receiver, Meeks is transitioning to tight end, a position of need in Detroit. Sam LaPorta's availability for the start of the season is up for grabs, and Meeks looked the part with four catches for 33 yards.
Moreover, Meeks seems to be aiming for the gunner spot on special teams, and he may have sealed it by forcing a fumble on the punt returner in the final drive of the game. That's the type of value and versatility that gets you on the 53.
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