It’s been a very long time since the Detroit Lions had their bye back in Week 5. A litany of injuries, as well as general fatigue from playing 12 weeks in a row with odd routines (two games on Thursdays, four primetime games) left the Lions beaten and battered entering Monday night’s game in San Francisco.
The Lions leaned on depth more than usual in the 40-34 win over the 49ers to improve to 14-2.
Perhaps the best example is that 13 different Detroit defenders were on the field for at least 50 percent of the 64 total snaps. That’s a testament to the reliance on depth.
Two players, LB Jack Campbell and CB Amik Robertson, played all 64 snaps. The starting safety tandem of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch each played 63, with CB Terrion Arnold at 58. Arnold played every snap outside of hte entire first 49ers drive of the third quarter, when he sat in favor of Kindle Vildor.
The defensive line and linebackers rotated in and out with abandon:
DL Levi Onwuzurike – 46
DL DJ Reader – 45
DL Josh Paschal – 43
LB Trevor Nowaske – 42
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin – 40
DL Za’Darius Smith – 33
DL Pat O’Connor – 32
Add in versatile Ifeatu Melifonwu and his 38 reps, which were divided between safety, slot and outside LB (in function), and it was very much a mix-and-match affair for coordinator Aaron Glenn.
Myles Adams played just 10 reps but was impactful in those as a pass rusher. Chris Smith, elevated from the practice squad, played nine. Ezekiel Turner was on the field for just six, yet somehow managed to be victimized for two Niners TDs.
Rookie DB Morice Norris only appeared on special teams. Emmanuel Moseley did not play at all despite being active.
Offense
The substituting was also evident on offense, though not to the extent of the injury-strapped defense. The starting line and Jared Goff all played every snap, with the exception of right tackle Penei Sewell missing one play. Sewell was replaced by Dan Skipper, who also saw 10 reps as an extra offensive lineman. Detroit even played rookie guard Christian Mahogany as a seventh OL twice in the game.
Craig Reynolds took over more of the reps normally allotted to injured David Montgomery in this one. Reynolds played 24 snaps to starter Jahmyr Gibbs’ 37, and several of those plays for No. 13 came early in the game. Jermar Jefferson was on the field for seven, with rookie Sione Vaki getting just one offensive rep. Jefferson did not appear on special teams, while Vaki led all Lions with 21 special teams reps.