Preseason may not mean much to the casual fan, but for the Detroit Lions, it could be an indicator of how 2025 will end up for them. The Lions were one of the best teams in the NFL a year ago with a 15-2 record but 16 players on season-ending injured reserve exposed their depth and was a key reason they were bounced in the divisional round by the Washington Commanders.
With that in mind, Detroit didn’t make as many moves to enhance their starting lineup this offseason as they did to get quality pieces behind them. The offseason program was one data point to see if Brad Holmes’s efforts were successful but the preseason games gives them a chance to see how they’ll respond in a game situation.
One player on the bubble used that chance to cement his place on the roster and he could use the next couple of weeks to climb the depth chart and earn a bigger role over the final two preseason games.
Rock-Ya Sin Looks Like a Roster Lock After Lions 2nd Preseason Game
The Lions signed Rock-Ya Sin back in March and he’s battled to retain his roster spot ever since he put pen to paper. A former second-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts, Ya-Sin has bounced around since he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022, spending time with the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers over the past two seasons.
Coming into Detroit, Ya-Sin appeared to be a longshot to make the roster. But he’s made his case thanks to his performance in the first two preseason games.
Ya-Sin played 17 snaps in the Hall of Fame Game against the Los Angeles Chargers and made a pair of run stops while posting a 75.3 overall grade according to Pro Football Focus. Saturday’s performance was a suitable encore, playing 18 snaps and making two more run stops while allowing a pair of receptions in coverage for four yards.
The Lions have also been resourceful in bolstering Ya-Sin’s bid to make the roster. He played 21 snaps at free safety in the win over the Falcons and could be a way to mask his flaws in coverage where he’s allowed a 98.6 passer rating and 11 touchdowns on 241 career targets.
With Dan Jackson landing on injured reserve with a leg injury and Morice Norris in concussion protocol after being taken off in an ambulance on Friday night, Ya-Sin is showing versatility for a secondary that needs it. If he continues to perform well, he could claim a roster spot in the coming weeks and have a chance at a bigger than expected role when the season begins.