Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears snap counts: Rookies continuing to see increased role in game plan

Here are the Detroit Lions’ snap counts from Week 15’s game against the Chicago Bears

Offense:

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford: 63 snaps (100%)

Running backs

Theo Riddick: 33 (52%)
Tion Green: 23 (37%) — 9 special teams snaps (39%)
Ameer Abdullah: 8 (10%) — 2 (9%)
Jamal Agnew: 2 (3%)

Tight ends

Eric Ebron: 27 (43%)
Michael Roberts: 26 (41%) — 5 (22%)
Darren Fells: 24 (38%) — 7 (30%)

Wide receivers

Marvin Jones Jr.: 62 (98%)
Kenny Golladay: 50 (79%)
Golden Tate: 47 (75%) — 1 (4%)
TJ Jones: 13 (21%) — 2 (9%)

Offensive tackles

Taylor Decker 63 (100%) — 4 (17%)
Corey Robinson: 63 (100%) — 4 (17%)
Brian Mihalik: 0 (0%) — 4 (17%)

Guards/centers

Joe Dahl: 63 (100%) — 6 (26%)
Graham Glasgow: 63 (100%) — 4 (17%)
T.J. Lang: 32 (51%) — 2 (9%)
Don Barclay: 31 (49%) — 2 (9%)

Observations:

• Well, I think we have a pretty clear answer to last week’s Ameer Abdullah question. Abdullah was benched, and he firmly remains in the dog house. He only got eight snaps on Saturday despite being fully healthy. Theo Riddick was your starter, but his wrist injury could give Abdullah the chance to reclaim the position next week.
• Good job, Joe Dahl! The young guard played in every snap in his NFL starting debut, and he earned the team’s highest PFF grade to boot!
• Career-high in snaps for rookie tight end Michael Roberts. He jumped Darren Fells in playing time this week, although all three TEs had a pretty even split.
• With Roberts, Tion Green and Kenny Golladay all receiving a huge chunk of playing time, the Lions offensive rookie skill players are taking over.

Defense:

Defensive end

Anthony Zettel: 45 (65%)
Ezekiel Ansah: 36 (52%)
Dwight Freeney: 32 (46%)
Cornelius Washington: 31 (45%) — 3 (13%)

Defensive tackle

A’Shawn Robinson: 50 (72%) — 2 (9%)
Akeem Spence: 36 (52%) — 1 (4%)
Christian Ringo: 21 (30%)
Jeremiah Ledbetter: 20 (29%) — 4 (17%)

Linebackers

Tahir Whitehead: 69 (100%) — 3 (13%)
Jarrad Davis: 41 (59%) — 2 (9%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 27 (39%) — 15 (65%)
Paul Worrilow: 19 (28%) — 14 (61%)
Nick Bellore: 0 (0%) — 18 (78%)
Steve Longa: 0 (0%) — 16 (70%)

Cornerbacks

Darius Slay: 66 (96%) — 3 (13%)
Nevin Lawson: 48 (70%) — 10 (43%)
Teez Tabor: 44 (64%) — 10 (43%)
DJ Hayden: 24 (35%) — 5 (22%)
Jamal Agnew: 0 (0%) — 9 (39%)

Safety

Glover Quin: 69 (100%) — 3 (13%)
Quandre Diggs: 69 (100%) — 3 (13%)
Miles Killebrew: 7 (10%) — 16 (70%)
Charles Washington: 5 (7%) — 16 (70%)
Don Carey: 0 (0%) — 18 (78%)

Observations:

• It appears Dwight Freeney has been promoted from third down pass rusher to a straight backup. Granted, the Bears found themselves in a lot of passing downs in this game, and Freeney’s playing time may go down as long as Andy Dalton doesn’t throw the ball 45 times next week. Still, it’s good to see Freeney being able to shoulder this much playing time this late in his career.
• Teez Tabor saw even more playing time after setting career highs last week in both snaps and percentage of playing time. He is firmly above DJ Hayden in the depth chart now, and yet, Hayden is still the one that’s sticking out as the bigger liability.
• The Lions have their two starting safeties set for the rest of the year—and maybe next year with the way Quandre Diggs is playing. Where that leaves Miles Killebrew, I do not know.