:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13517437/20120728_pjc_af2_442.0.jpg)
The media got a chance to watch Wednesday's Detroit Lions organized team activity, giving them a look at which players were getting reps with the first team. Jim Schwartz stressed that the rotations should be taken with a grain of salt since this is merely an OTA and because the Lions are alternating first-team reps. What's more, Schwartz made it clear that jobs are going to be won based on what happens in training camp and the preseason, not in OTAs.
While all of this is true, it's still interesting to examine who got first-team reps at positions where starting spots are up for grabs. The current rotations may not mean much by the time training camp rolls around in a couple months, but at the very least, we're getting an early glimpse at who could be in the mix for starting spots at positions like offensive tackle, offensive guard, defensive end, linebacker and cornerback.
On Wednesday, according to Tim Twentyman and Dave Birkett, the following players took first-team reps at the aforementioned positions:
- LT: Riley Reiff
- RG: Dylan Gandy
- RT: Jason Fox
- RDE: Willie Young
- OLB: Travis Lewis
- RCB: Ron Bartell
Clearly rookies like Larry Warford and Ziggy Ansah haven't had enough time to unseat guys like Gandy and Young at their respective positions, at least not for Wednesday's OTA. It's probably only a matter of time until that changes, though.
Perhaps the most interesting thing from the list above is that Lewis got No. 1 reps over Ashlee Palmer and Tahir Whitehead. Palmer very well may have been running with the first team on Tuesday, but at the very least this shows that the vacant starting job at outside linebacker is without a doubt up for grabs.
Since this was simply one practice, it's impossible to make any drastic conclusions about who might be the favorite to start at a certain position. In all likelihood, we should get a much better idea about what a possible depth chart might look like when the Lions hold their mandatory minicamp in June. And even if we don't, it should become clear who has the edge to start at these positions pretty early on in training camp.