Lions-Ravens snap counts: Several rookies see boost in playing time

Here’s a look at the Detroit Lions’ snap counts from their Week 13 game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Offense:

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford: 54 snaps (86%)
Jake Rudock: 9 (14%)

Running backs

Theo Riddick: 40 (63%)
Tion Green: 21 (33%) — 4 special teams snaps (11%)
Zach Zenner: 4 (6%) — 22 (63%)

“Fullback”

Nick Bellore: 3 (5%) — 31 (89%)

Tight ends

Darren Fells: 31 (49%) — 12 (34%)
Eric Ebron: 29 (46%)
Michael Roberts: 20 (32%) — 4 (11%)

Wide receivers

Marvin Jones Jr.: 59 (94%)
Golden Tate: 51 (81%)
Kenny Golladay: 48 (76%)
TJ Jones: 9 (14%) — 17 (49%)

Offensive tackles

Taylor Decker 63 (100%) — 3 (9%)
Rick Wagner: 21 (33%) — 1 (3%)
Brian Mihalik: 15 (24%) — 12 (34%)

Guards/centers

Graham Glasgow: 63 (100%) — 4 (11%)
Corey Robinson: 63 (100%) — 4 (11%)
T.J. Lang: 56 (94%) — 1 (3%)
Don Barclay: 34 (54%) — 5 (14%)

Observations:

• Not only did Tion Green jump Dwayne Washington in the depth chart, but he very clearly jumped Zach Zenner, too. At this point, it’s quite possible we see Green active for the final four games of the season, even when Ameer Abdullah gets healthy.
• Another rookie who saw a big bump in playing time was tight end Michael Roberts, This was the highest percentage of snaps he’s received all year, and his big red zone catch may earn him more playing time down the line.
• While we’re on the rookie train, Kenny Golladay’s 48 snaps were a season high. He had never played more than 68 percent of snaps in a game. Against the Ravens, he was in 76 percent of the time.
• The offensive line was a mess after Rick Wagner went down. Corey Robinson played some time at tackle, as did Brian Mihalik, while Don Barclay and Robinson spent some time in the interior, as well.

Defense:

Defensive end

Anthony Zettel: 58 (91%) — 3 (9%)
Ezekiel Ansah: 31 (48%)
Cornelius Washington: 26 (41%) — 5 (14%)
Dwight Freeney: 17 (27%)
Kasim Edebali: 7 (11%) — 1 (3%)

Defensive tackle

A’Shawn Robinson: 42 (66%) — 11 (31%)
Akeem Spence: 37 (58%)
Christian Ringo: 19 (30%)
Jeremiah Ledbetter: 18 (28%) — 15 (43%)

Linebackers

Tahir Whitehead: 64 (100%) — 8 (23%)
Jarrad Davis: 51 (80%) — 8 (23%)
Paul Worrilow: 34 (53%) — 20 (57%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 32 (50%) — 17 (49%)
Steve Longa: 0 (0%) — 23 (66%)

Cornerbacks

Darius Slay: 63 (98%) — 8 (23%)
Quandre Diggs: 59 (92%) — 4 (11%)
Nevin Lawson: 33 (52%) — 11 (31%)
DJ Hayden: 22 (34%) — 9 (26%)
Teez Tabor: 17 (27%) — 9 (26%)

Safety

Glover Quin: 64 (100%) — 8 (23%)’
Miles Killebrew: 7 (11%) — 23 (66%)
Charles Washington: 2 (3%) — 23 (66%)
Don Carey: 0 (0%) — 31 (89%)

Observations:

• Dwight Freeney played in 17 snaps in his Lions debut, which was right around where most people expected. Anthony Zettel, on the other hand, saw a career-high 91 percent of defensive snaps. That’s a ton for a defensive lineman in Teryl Austin’s system. Zettel has played in at least 80 percent of snaps in the past three games.
• We all expected Sunday to be a breakout game for Miles Killebrew, but the Lions had other plans. Killebrew shockingly played in just seven snaps against the Ravens, while Quandre Diggs spent most of the game at safety.
• Continuing our theme of rookies getting more playing time, Jalen Reeves-Maybin saw a season-high 32 snaps on Sunday, as the Lions went linebacker heavy against the Ravens.
• Teez Tabor also played in a career-high 17 snaps on Sunday. Unfortunately, the rookie cornerback did not make it onto the box score.