The Detroit Lions' second preseason game was marred by the aftermath of Morice Norris’s injury, but for the first three quarters, several players were looking to earn their spot on the team.
One of the areas that’s up for grabs is along the defensive line. The Lions have been trying to upgrade their depth along the unit, selecting Tyleik Williams in the first round of April’s draft and adding Roy Lopez in free agency, but there are still a few spots on the back end that were created when Levi Onwuzurike suffered a season-ending knee injury.
With Alim McNeill recovering from a torn ACL, there is a chance that a standout player in the trenches could play a role in the opening month of the season. One player on the bubble made his case against the Falcons, and the Lions' coaching staff will have to take him seriously going forward.
Lions DT Brodric Martin Makes His Last Stand Against the Falcons
Brodric Martin is expected to be one of the first players to be cut in this year’s camp. But after a quiet three weeks, he made his presence known during the game in Atlanta. The Detroit Free Press’s Dave Birkett noted that Martin was flagged for roughing the passer on his second snap, but he created a tackle for loss on his next snap and created some solid pressure on quarterback Easton Stick.
While Martin finished with one tackle, the former third-round pick has shown signs of life this preseason. Pro Football Focus has given him a 56.4 overall grade on 24 snaps in the first two games. While he’s generated one pressure on nine pass-rushing snaps, he’s also done well against the run with a 63.3 run defense grade on 15 snaps.
This isn’t enough for Martin to convince Lions fans that a breakout season is coming. A third-round pick by the Lions in 2023, Martin has played just five games over the past two seasons. The third-year player also has made minimal impact when he’s been on the field, logging four total tackles, and has yet to log a sack after coming out of Western Kentucky.
But it could make the coaching staff think twice before sending him to the waiver wire. DJ Reader and Williams are the favorites to open the year as starters, but Martin is way down the depth chart behind Lopez, coaching staff favorite Pat O’Connor, and Chris Smith.
Still, Martin had to show something at some point, not just to potentially save himself in Detroit but to announce his presence to teams who may want help in the trenches. While not a dominating performance, it at least started a discussion and could help Martin extend his NFL career just a little bit longer.