Lions fans have seen glimpses of how good defensive end Da’Shawn Hand can be in his first two seasons in Detroit. Now it’s time for Hand to stay on the field, step up and unleash his strong play more consistently.
The analysts at Pro Football Focus believe Hand can do it. PFF tabbed Hand as the Lions’ breakout player. In saying Hand could break into “perhaps top-10 status” at his position, the arrow is clearly pointing up.
Staying on the field will be critical. Hand has missed 16 of the 32 games in his two NFL seasons, playing in just three in 2019. He thrived as a rookie, and PFF believes that was a precursor of things to come,
He managed to get in 455 snaps on the year and produced a great 85.2 PFF grade (15th-best at the position), and he was also one of eight interior defensive linemen to produce 75.0-plus grades both against the run and as a pass-rusher.
Hand will be given every opportunity by the Lions to make an impact as a pass rusher along the front. His ability to play inside our outside is a major asset for coach Matt Patricia’s multiple looks.