Tag: C.J. Moore

Rookie expectations: David Blough, Amani Oruwariye preparing to start

The Detroit Lions are about to face off against the Chicago Bears for their annual Thanksgiving Day game. Unfortunately for them, a short week means that injured players have less time to heal and prepare, leaving the rookies to fill their roles.

The Detroit Lions are about to face off against the Chicago Bears for their annual Thanksgiving Day game. Unfortunately for them, a short week means that injured players have less time to heal and prepare, leaving the rookies to fill their roles.

Here’s what to expect from the rookies before Thursday’s game:

Quarterback David Blough

Matthew Stafford has been ruled out.

Jeff Driskel, limited with a hamstring injury, is not expected to play.

Now, the Lions have to rely on undrafted rookie David Blough to lead the offense this Thanksgiving.

The rookie out of Purdue, who the Lions acquired via trade from the Cleveland Browns, has yet to play a snap in a regular-season game. With Cleveland in the 2019 preseason, he completed 58 percent of his passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns, along with two interceptions.

The level of competition will be much higher than they were in the preseason. The Bears have one of the best defenses in the league at the moment, so the rookie will have a lot to prove.

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Running back Ty Johnson

Johnson’s rookie campaign has slowed down immensely due to Bo Scarborough’s recent successes on offense. Once thought to be the team’s starter, Johnson has taken just 31 snaps on offense since the Lions signed Scarborough two weeks ago, rushing six times for 17 yards and making three receptions for a mere 10 yards.

Facing off against a solid Bears’ run defense that is allowing just 3.7 yards-per-carry this season, Johnson isn’t expected to contribute much on offense this week.

Tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Isaac Nauta

Despite taking the most tight end snaps last week, Hockenson managed to keep his name clear from the box score. He was targeted twice but failed to make a reception on either pass. Expect the team’s first-round pick to start once again, but don’t expect him to make a difference on offense — especially if his shoulder injury continues to be burdensome.

Nauta, who played in his first regular season game last week, took a bulk of his snaps from the fullback position. While only used for a handful of offensive snaps, the rookie tight end showed promise as a run blocker. His ability as a lead blocker could make an impact in Detroit’s run game. Expect the rookie’s role to be limited to fullback and special teams against Chicago.

Offensive lineman Beau Benzschawel

The undrafted rookie was active for the first time in his career on Sunday but never saw the field.  With both Frank Ragnow and Kenny Wiggins being full participants in practice, expect Benzschawel to make his way back to the inactives list.

EDGE Austin Bryant

Bryant’s NFL debut last week showed some promise in his limited action. The rookie was credited with one quarterback pressure, where he was able to make a hit on Washington’s Dwayne Haskins.

With both Trey Flowers and Da’Shawn Hand limited in practice, Bryant may have another opportunity to see the field this week.

Linebacker Jahlani Tavai

The last time the Lions faced the Bears, Tavai walked out of that game with three tackles and a sack. Despite his usage on-field going down drastically in recent weeks, the rookie could still have the chance to make some big plays. He’ll be used in a much more limited role, coming in as an extra linebacker in some situations. Expect the rookie to see the same success he had last time.

Cornerbacks Amani Oruwariye and Michael Jackson

One of the most pleasant surprises of the Lions’ 2019 seasons was the sudden emergence of Amani Oruwariye. After spending most of the season on the bench, the fifth-round pick found himself in the starting lineup against Washington, subbing in for an injured Rashaan Melvin.

In his first full game as a Lion, Oruwariye blanketed receivers, allowing just half of the passes that came his way, with an average passer rating of 18.7 against him.

With Melvin still listed on the injury report, expect this rookie to come in and contribute heavily on defense once again.

Fellow rookie cornerback Michael Jackson received his first snaps as a pro on special teams. If he is active again this week, his role isn’t expected to change.

Safeties Will Harris and C.J. Moore

For the third time this season, rookie Will Harris saw the field for every defensive snap in the game.

While he started the season strong, his skills in coverage have started to look like an issue. He has missed almost a fifth of the tackles he’s attempted this season and has allowed an average of nearly 12 yards-per-completion.

With Tracy Walker limited again with his lingering knee injury, Harris may be starting again this week. Hopefully, his struggles don’t show up in this matchup.

Undrafted rookie C.J. Moore has remained relatively quiet this season on defense but he’s shown some promise on special teams. With injuries at the safety position, expect Moore to be active again this week with a limited role on defense.

Rookie report: newcomers outperform expectations despite loss to Washington

The Detroit Lions had 11 rookies active in Week 12 and the newcomers outperform expectations, including Amani Oruwariye, who had his first career interception.

In the Detroit Lions’ 19-16 loss to the Washington Redskins, several rookies were able to see the field for the first time in their careers.

Due to a slew of injuries to key players, Detroit had 11 rookies active for this game, most of any game this season.

How did the rookies perform?

The most surprising performance of the day came from the team’s fifth-round pick: cornerback Amani Oruwariye.

His career had quite the rough beginning, starting with him dropping much farther in the draft than expected, and then not being able to unearth himself from the bottom of the cornerback depth chart.

The rookie out of Penn State, who had just nine defensive snaps prior to the game, ended up taking over the second outside corner role in place of the injured Rashaan Melvin. In his first career start, he had five tackles, two passes defended, and an interception.

Oruwariye outperformed any expectations of him heading into the game and could see extended playing time throughout the last few games of the season.

Seventh-round pick Isaac Nauta also showed some promise in his first NFL game. The rookie tight end served as the team’s primary fullback and delivered some key blocks in the run game. Though he didn’t show up in the passing game, he did prove that he could be valuable for the offense moving forward.

Safety Will Harris once again played every defensive snap against Washington and had a very up-and-down game. He made four tackles and made one pass deflection, but also showed the same struggles in coverage that he has all season. Hopefully, Tracy Walker returns soon, but Harris has provided some sustainable depth in his absence.

Pass rusher Austin Bryant played his first NFL snaps since being activated from injured reserve and showed some promise in his limited role. His name stayed clear of the box score for the most part, but he did record one quarterback hit in his 16 snaps.

T.J. Hockenson, Jahlani Tavai, Ty Johnson, and C.J. Moore all had relatively quiet games despite getting their fair shares of snaps.

Michael Jackson Sr. and Beau Benzschawel both were active for the first time in their careers, but neither contributed much. Jackson had two snaps on special teams and Benzschawel did not see the field.

With the way Detroit’s season is going, these rookies have more of a chance to see the field and show that they have what it takes to play in the NFL. With a hefty injury report heading into the Thanksgiving game against Chicago, expect these rookies to once again go above and beyond expectations.

Lions week 12 snap counts: Oruwariye steps up in Melvin’s absence

The Detroit Lions had 11 rookies active on game day, and for the most part, they all played significant or scheme-specific roles on Sunday.

When examining the Detroit Lions (3-7-1) snap counts from Week 12, a few key things stood out. Of the 46 players active for the Lions in Washington, 11 of them were rookies, including Isaac Nauta, Austin Bryant, Beau Benzschawel, and Michael Jackson, all making their NFL debuts.

That and more takeaways from this week’s snap counts below:

Jeff Driskel continues snap streak

Jeff Driskel — 75, 100-percent

Despite Driskel’s playing style leading to him getting hit with frequency, he still manages to stay on the field for every snap.

Lions use 7 of 8 active offensive linemen

LT Taylor Decker — 75, 100-percent
LG Joe Dahl — 74, 99-percent
C Graham Glasgow — 75, 100-percent
RG Kenny Wiggins — 68, 91-percent
RT Tyrell Crosby — 75, 100-percent
OG Oday Aboushi — 8, 11-percent
OT Tyrell Crosby — 5, 7-percent
OL Beau Benzschawel — 0, 0-percent

The Lions have nine offensive linemen on their active roster. With Frank Ragnow out due to a concussion, that left them with eight healthy — all of which were active on Sunday. Typically the Lions only deploy seven offensive linemen on game days and that held true again yesterday, with Benzschawel still waiting to see his first NFL snaps.

Scarbrough leads the backfield again

Bo Scarbrough — 38, 51-percent
Ty Johnson — 27, 36-percent
J.D. McKissic — 11, 15-percent

Scarbrough was once again one of the bright spots in the Lions offense and the Lions leaned on him for the second week in a row. Behind him, Johnson and McKissic flipped roles from last week, with the game plan calling for more of a ground presence.

WR snaps have been consistent

Kenny Golladay — 68, 91-percent
Marvin Jones Jr. — 67, 89-percent
Danny Amendola — 46, 61-percent
Marvin Hall — 10, 13-percent

This snap count distribution has been fairly close to what the Lions have deployed since Driskel took over at quarterback. The only difference being Hall’s snap counts declined a bit after he left the game early with a lower leg injury.

Hockenson see lowest snap counts of the season

T.J. Hockenson — 33, 44-percent
Jesse James — 32, 43-percent
Logan Thomas — 28, 37-percent
Isaac Nauta — 10, 13-percent

Most young quarterbacks rely on tight ends as safety valves, but that has not been the case with Driskel. That may not be the primary reason the tight ends snaps counts dropped this week, — Hockenson was added to the injury report late Saturday — but it was likely a factor.

Nauta, who was just promoted to the active roster on Saturday, saw several snaps out of the backfield filling in for injured fullback Nick Bawden.

Interior DL snaps

A’Shawn Robinson — 43, 72-percent
Damon Harrison — 38, 63-percent
John Atkins — 25, 42-percent
Mike Daniels — 9, 15-percent

These snaps counts are very similar to what we saw from this group last week, which begs the question — why isn’t Daniels seeing the field more?

EDGE players see a big bump in snaps

Romeo Okwara — 56, 93-percent
Devon Kennard — 55, 92-percent
Austin Bryant — 16, 27-percent

Last season, Okwara routinely had multiple games where he received over 90-percent of snaps, but his numbers declined with the addition of Trey Flowers. With Flowers missing this week with a concussion, Okwara was back over 90-percent once again.

Bryant began the game only seeing the field on third downs but saw his snaps increase in obvious passing situations.

Linebackers dip in snaps

Jarrad Davis — 51, 85-percent
Christian Jones — 30, 50-percent
Jahlani Tavai — 29, 48-percent
Miles Killebrew — 16, 27-percent

All three primarily off-the-ball linebackers saw a slight dip in snaps. This is only the fourth game this season where Davis saw less than 90-percent of snaps, Tavai saw his snaps drop after a month in the 60th percentile, while Jones saw his lowest snap counts of the season.

Like Bryant in the last section, Killebrew saw the field on third downs and obvious passing situations as the game wore on.

Oruwariye steps up in Melvin’s absence

Darius Slay — 60, 100-percent
Justin Coleman — 60, 100-percent
Amani Oruwariye — 45, 75-percent

Last week, Oruwariye took over for Mike Ford in the fourth cornerback spot, and this week with Rashaan Melvin unable to play due to injury, Oruwariye was once again promoted into a more prominent role.

Oruwariye flashed the skill level he showed off in training camp and secured his first career interception:

Safety use was clear and defined

Tavon Wilson — 60, 100-percent
Will Harris — 60, 100-percent
C.J. Moore — 7, 12-percent

With no Tracy Walker, the Lions leaned heavily on Wilson and Harris, only turning to Moore when they went into three safety sets.

Special teams

Miles Killebrew — 26
Dee Virgin — 26
Mike Ford — 23
Steve Longa — 21
Jalen Reeves-Maybin — 21
Isaac Nauta — 21
C.J. Moore — 20
Ty Johnson — 17
Logan Thomas — 15
Jesse James — 11
Amani Oruwariye — 11
Will Harris — 10
Christian Jones — 9
J.D. McKissic — 6
Jarrad Davis — 5
Tavon  Wilson — 4
Justin Coleman — 4
Marvin Hall — 3
Danny Amendola — 3
Michael Jackson — 2

With no Jamal Agnew available, the Lions turned to Ty Johnson on kick returns and Marvin Hall on punt returns, but when Hall went down, the team needed veteran Danny Amendola to field the final three punts.

Michael Jackson saw his first-ever NFL snaps yesterday, getting two looks on special teams.

Rookie expectations: Extensive injury report provides opportunities

Setting the Detroit Lions rookie expectations for Week 12: Extensive injuries provide plenty of opportunities for rookies to step up.

With an extensive injury report heading into their game against Washington, the rookies of the Detroit Lions may see an increase in their snaps this week.

Here’s what to expect from the rookies in this week’s game:

Quarterback David Blough

Blough will serve as Jeff Driskel’s backup once again, but don’t expect much from the undrafted rookie. Barring any unforeseen injuries, his duties will be limited to the sidelines.

Running back Ty Johnson

Johnson has struggled as of late and was quickly passed on the depth chart by recently-signed Bo Scarborough. Johnson will still get some looks on third downs and provides some speed and ability in both the passing and running games, but he won’t get the nod as the starter.

Johnson could also play a role on special teams as a kick returner while Jamal Agnew sits out with an ankle injury.

Tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Isaac Nauta

T.J. Hockenson was just recently added to the injury report, listed as questionable with a shoulder injury. His injury may keep him out of this matchup, which means the team could be relying more on Logan Thomas, Jesse James, and Isaac Nauta.

Nauta, who was just promoted to the active roster, will serve two roles against Washington. Aside from being the fourth — or third — tight end on the depth chart, the rookie out of Georgia could get some first-team reps at fullback with Nick Bawden on injured reserve.

Offensive lineman Beau Benzschawel

Benzschawel has yet to see the field this season, but he could find himself active today due to starting center Frank Ragnow being ruled out with a concussion. The undrafted rookie is versatile and provides some depth at center and both guard spots.

Linebacker Jahlani Tavai

Tavai has been used all around the defense this season, lining up at all four linebacker positions on 58-percent of defensive snaps. While he hasn’t solidified a starting role, he has been a regular contributor for the Lions.

The rookie has two sacks and 36 tackles on the year and could have himself a big game due to Washington’s top two running backs dealing with injuries.

Cornerbacks Amani Oruwariye and Michael Jackson

Both rookies have had quiet seasons, with Oruwariye taking a total of nine defensive snaps and Jackson being a weekly inactive.

With starting cornerback Rashaan Melvin listed as questionable and backup nickel corner Jamal Agnew ruled out, the two rookies could be active for this matchup and provide substantial depth at the position.

Darius Slay and Justin Coleman will still be starters, and Mike Ford will likely be the next man up, but either/both Oruwariye or/and Jackson could be active today.

Safeties Will Harris and C.J. Moore

While Tracy Walker sits out of this game with a knee injury, expect Harris to once again fill that role. The rookie has struggled in recent weeks, having six missed tackles and allowing a 112.4 passer rating against him.

Moore has been dealing with an injury in practice all week but will be ready to go against Washington. He will see the field as a third safety in specific defensive sub-packages while also being a core special teamer on punt and kick returns.

Lions Week 12 injury designations: Matthew Stafford, 5 others ruled OUT

The Detroit Lions announced their injury designations ahead of their trip to Washington, ruling out six players, including Matthew Stafford, Frank Ragnow, Trey Flowers, Da’Shawn Hand, Tracy Walker, and Jamal Agnew.

The Detroit Lions (3-6-1) have announced their injury designations ahead of their Week 12 trip to Washington (1-9) and they will be without six players, all of which are significant weekly contributors on game day.

Let’s take a closer look at who won’t play, whose status is in question and those who will play on Sunday despite being banged up.

Ruled OUT

QB Matthew Stafford (back, hip)
C Frank Ragnow (concussion)
EDGE Trey Flowers (concussion)
DL Da’Shawn Hand (ankle)
S Tracy Walker (knee)
RET. Jamal Agnew (ankle)

Stafford was ruled out at coach Matt Patricia’s morning press conference, which shouldn’t be a surprise given it was reported his injury could last up to six weeks. Jeff Driskel will get his third start under center in Honolulu Blue.

Ragnow is still in the league’s concussion protocol and the Lions will need to shuffle the offensive line to account for his absence. Graham Glasgow will shift inside to center, while Kenny Wiggins will be promoted into the starting lineup at right guard.

Flowers is also in concussion protocol and the Lions will need to turn to a collection of players to replace him on the edge. Romeo Okowara has missed the last two weeks with an injury but is no longer listed on the injury report and will be expected to start. He won’t be expected to replace Flowers on his own as the Lions have recently turned to linebackers Christian Jones and Jahlani Tavai to assist in setting the edge.

With no Flowers or Hand in the lineup, the Lions interior pass rush will take a significant hit. Hopefully, Mike Daniels can bring the heat, because the rest of the defensive linemen have underwhelmed in creating pressure.

Walker is one of the key players in allowing Patricia to execute his multiple scheme and without him on the field, the safety group will be limited. Expect Tavon Wilson and rookie Will Harris to start, with undrafted rookie C.J. Moore (who is also injured) or Miles Killebrew in the third safety role.

Agnew loss means the Lions will need to turn to their reserves for both punt and kick return duties. Last week, speedster Marvin Hall was called upon to replace Agnew, which will likely be the case again this week, but we could also see Danny Amendola returning punts and Ty Johnson on kick returns.

Questionable

CB Rashaan Melvin (ribs)

Melvin was not listed as injured on Wednesday or Thursday but popped up on the injury report with a limited practice on Friday. Mid-week injuries tend to be troublesome, so even if he is active on Sunday, he may see limited snaps.

Not listed with an injury designation

RT Rick Wagner (concussion)
DT Damon Harrison (groin)
S C.J. Moore (hamstring)
P Sam Martin (abdomen)

Wagner is not listed with an injury designation, suggesting he is either close to, or has, cleared the league’s concussion protocol. Expectations are he will start on Sunday at right tackle.

Harrison has gone through this same routine each week since injuring his groin almost a month ago and no reason to think things have changed — full practice to open the week, a rest day on Thursday, limited on Friday, and start on Sunday.

Moore was limited Wednesday and Thursday but was upgraded to a full practice on Friday. He looks good to go on Sunday.

Unless Martin suffers a setback this weekend, he is expected to play on Sunday. If he needs to be replaced, the Lions would turn to Matt Wile, who would need to be promoted from the practice squad.

Lions Week 12 injury report: Rick Wagner, Sam Martin upgraded Thursday

Updating the Detroit Lions injury report after Thursday’s practice: there was very little progress among the injured Lions players today.

The Detroit Lions (3-6-1) are working to get healthier before they head to Washington (1-9) for Week 12.

For the majority of injured players, their status remained the same, which is not a great situation for the seven highly valuable contributors who have been unable to practice for the last two days.

Thursday’s changes

RT Rick Wagner (concussion) — upgraded to a full practice
P Sam Martin (abdomen) — upgraded to limited
Damon Harrison (groin) — No practice, rest day

Wagner is still moving through the NFL’s concussion protocol but with a full practice under his belt today, he only needs medical clearance from an independent doctor in order to be eligible to play on Sunday.

Martin continues to get limited work/rest days in hopes he will be available to play come Sunday.

Despite not being listed on yesterday’s injury report, Harrison returns to the list today for his standard rest period. Harrison has taken every Thursday off since injuring his groin in Week 7.

Still unable to practice

QB Matthew Stafford (back, hip)
C Frank Ragnow (concussion)
EDGE Trey Flowers (concussion)
DL Da’Shawn Hand (ankle)
S Tracy Walker (knee)
RET. Jamal Agnew (ankle)

Over the weekend, it was reported that Stafford’s injury could last up to six weeks, but he may be able to return sooner. Former Lion Herman Moore suggested the Lions should consider shutting him down for the season but on Wednesday, Stafford said he doesn’t want that and plans to return as soon as possible. After another missed practice, it doesn’t look like returning this week will be an option.

Ragnow and Flowers are currently in concussion protocol and by not being ready to practice on Thursday, their chances of playing on Sunday have been significantly reduced.

Hand, Walker, and Agnew are still unavailable to practice which is not positive news for their potential availability. On the bright side, all hope is not yet lost. Last week, Walker was able to return to practice on Friday and play in the game on Sunday, illustrating things can happen late in the week — even if it is rare.

Limited practice

C.J. Moore (hamstring)

Moore continues to put together limited practices and after not missing snaps last Sunday, he’s in a decent spot heading into tomorrow’s final practice.

What to expect from the Lions’ rookies against the Cowboys

Setting expectations for the Detroit Lions’ rookies in their Week 11 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field.

The rookies of the Detroit Lions have a tough matchup ahead of them with the Dallas Cowboys coming to town in Week 11.

Despite many seeing increased roles in recent weeks, their levels of on-field success have varied.

Here’s what to expect from this year’s rookie class:

Quarterback David Blough

With starting quarterback Matthew Stafford sitting out once again, Blough will go into this game as Jeff Driskel’s backup. The undrafted rookie has yet to see the field this season, and that isn’t expected to change today.

Running back Ty Johnson

Johnson’s availability for this game was uncertain heading into this week, but the Lions sixth-round pick has cleared concussion protocol and is ready to play against Dallas. The rookie running back will be the team’s starter but will share his reps with J.D. McKissic and newly signed Bo Scarborough.

Tight end T.J. Hockenson

Hockenson’s rookie campaign has not been that of a player taken eighth overall, but his role on the offense is clearly defined.

A bulk of the rookie’s snaps have come from the slot while fellow tight ends Jesse James and Logan Thomas lined up from the traditional inline tight end spot.

Hockenson has made 25 catches on 44 targets this season with just two drops. Interestingly enough, 17 of those 25 receptions went for first downs. If he could keep up that kind of success in short-yardage situations, the offense will have a much easier time moving the sticks against Dallas’ strong pass defense.

Offensive lineman Beau Benzschawel

The undrafted rookie has yet to play in a regular-season game, and with a healthy interior offensive line, don’t expect anything different from him.

Linebacker Jahlani Tavai

Tavai has been showing some improvement throughout the season, seeing his snap counts rise steadily. While his increased workload has led to a decrease in Jarrad Davis’ reps at MIKE, it has actually caused Davis to thrive in a new role.

Tavai has done well as a pass-rusher and against the run, but there’s still work to be done in pass-defense. Expect him to get a fair share of snaps from the inside linebacker role while Davis and Devon Kennard hold the outside spots.

Cornerbacks Amani Oruwariye and Michael Jackson Sr.

Both rookies have had fairly quiet seasons, with Oruwariye being active for two games and Jackson yet to suit up for one.

Detroit’s cornerback group is looking to be at full health for the first time in weeks, meaning that these two could see themselves as healthy scratches on the inactive list this week.

Safeties Will Harris and C.J. Moore

For the second week in a row, Harris has taken every single defensive snap for the Lions. Despite a clear-cut starting role, the third-round pick has struggled to cover opposing receivers.

Harris has allowed an average 113.7 passer rating against him along with one touchdown. Expect this rookie to have a rough matchup against Dallas’ talented trio of wide receivers.

In a much more limited role on defense, Moore has yet to allow a reception against him. His usage on defense will go back down this week if Tracy Walker returns to the field, but expect the undrafted rookie to rotate in on defense while playing a bulk of Detroit’s special teams snaps.

Lions week 10 snap counts: Jarrad Davis thrives on lower snap counts

Detroit Lions Week 10 snap counts observations include Jarrad Davis’ having his best game of the year in a game where he saw his lowest snap counts of the season.

When examining the Detroit Lions (3-5-1) snap counts from Week 10, one glaring thing stood out: Jarrad Davis’ had his best game of the year in a game where he saw his lowest snap counts of the season.

That and more takeaways from this week’s snap counts below:

No Matthew Stafford means it’s Jeff Driskel time

Jeff Driskel — 83, 100-percent

With Stafford’s status moving forward very much in question, we may see a lot more of Driskel in the near future.

Guard rotation declines, Tyrell Crosby steps up

LT Taylor Decker — 83, 100-percent
LG Joe Dahl — 75, 90-percent
C Frank Ragnow — 83, 100-percent
RG Graham Glasgow — 79, 95-percent
RT Rick Wagner — 28, 34-percent
RT Tyrell Crosby — 56, 67-percent
OG Kenny Wiggins — 15, 18-percent

Wiggins saw one series filling in for Glasgow and one for Dahl, down from the two series he had seen in previous weeks.

Crosby took over for Wagner when he left the game due to a concussion and Crosby will likely hold down this position as Wagner moves through the NFL protocol.

The Lions continued to use six offensive linemen sets — four times in this game — beginning with Crosby in his typical role. But when Crosby was needed to take over at right tackle, Wiggins took over this role for the final three snaps.

Ty Johnson’s exit forces J.D. McKissic into the spotlight

J.D. McKissic — 58, 70-percent
Paul Perkins — 15, 18-percent
Ty Johnson — 12, 14-percent
Nick Bawden — 11, 13-percent

Depending on the severity of Johnson’s concussion, we could see a roster move at the position sometime this week. Regardless of what happens, McKissic has proven himself as Driskel’s preferred safety valve — he saw seven targets in the passing game — and will likely be holding down an extensive role moving forward.

Three receiver sets see the majority of the snaps

Kenny Golladay — 78, 94-percent
Marvin Jones Jr. — 76, 92-percent
Danny Amendola — 56, 67-percent
Marvin Hall — 11, 13-percent

Golladay and Jones rarely left the field, while Amendola has now put together four games in a row of over 60-percent of offensive snaps.

Hall’s numbers were down a bit from normal, but with Driskel at the helm — and coaches keeping things simple for him in his first start — it’s not overly surprising. As Driskel gets more comfortable in this offense, expect him to take more deep shots downfield — he has the arm strength to do it — and that means more opportunities for Hall.

Tight end snaps declining

T.J. Hockenson — 48, 58-percent
Jesse James — 28, 34-percent
Logan Thomas — 18, 22-percent

With the Bears’ weakness covering the tight end, these numbers were surprisingly low. Over the last month, Hockenson has seen about two-thirds of snaps, while James has leveled off at around one-third.

Lions DL snaps down due to injury

A’Shawn Robinson — 29, 51-percent
Damon Harrison — 25, 44-percent
Mike Daniels — 21, 37-percent
John Atkins — 20, 35-percent
Kevin Strong — 12, 21-percent

Every player on this list either (save Atkins) entered the game with an injury, suffered an injury during the game, or both. Expect these numbers to increase with their health.

Flowers snaps rise, Kennard’s decline

Trey Flowers — 50, 88-percent
Devon Kennard — 39, 68-percent

With no Romeo Okwara available and injuries on the interior, Flowers saw a significant increase to snap count — his highest of the season.

Kennard has seen his snap percentage drop from the 90-percentile to the 80-percentile, but this week was a season-low. The Lions use a heavy rotation at linebacker in this game and Kennard’s usage reflected that.

Jarrad Davis sees lowest snaps of season, thrives

Jarrad Davis — 44, 77-percent
Christian Jones — 41, 72-percent
Jahlani Tavai — 38, 67-percent

Davis, like Kennard, saw his lowest snap percentage of the season, but Davis responded with his best game of the year. Maybe the light bulb turned on for Davis in this one, but with less responsibility on his plate — Tavai was calling plays at different points during this game —  he responded in a positive way.

Jones snaps stayed close to his average snap total, while Tavai’s streak of seeing over 50-percent of defensive snaps is now at five games in a row. Tavai’s increase in responsibilities and consistent snap counts suggest a larger role for him in the near future.

3 and 4 corner sets rise

Rashaan Melvin — 57, 100-percent
Darius Slay — 55, 96-percent
Justin Coleman — 46, 81-percent
Mike Ford — 15, 26-percent

Slay and Melvin were back to their starting cornerback roles, while Coleman settled back into his typical nickel corner role. Coleman was replaced on the field at times by Ford in an apparent effort to exploit a speed-on-speed matchup.

3 safety sets return to average

Will Harris — 57, 100-percent
Tavon Wilson — 56, 98-percent
C.J. Moore — 22, 39-percent

Despite Tracy Walker missing another game, the Lions returned to their standard three safety rotation usage, with undrafted rookie Moore taking on his highest defensive snap counts of the season.

Moore also led the team in special teams snaps. As usual, he and Dee Virgin are one-two in third-phase snaps.

Special teams

C.J. Moore — 27
Dee Virgin — 26
Jalen Reeves-Maybin — 23
Steve Longa — 23
Nick Bawden — 22
Logan Thomas — 22
Mike Ford — 20
Will Harris — 19
Jamal Agnew — 17
Paul Perkins — 16
Christian Jones — 11
Amani Oruwariye — 9
Tavon  Wilson — 9
Jesse James — 6
Jahlani Tavai — 5
Justin Coleman — 5
Jarrad Davis — 4
Devon Kennard — 4
Trey Flowers — 4
Marvin Hall — 4