:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56136185/usa_today_9410703.0.jpg)
As the Detroit Lions finished the open portion of training camp practices this week, we here at Pride Of Detroit got our final looks at the team before their preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
New players have emerged in some of the Lions’ biggest camp battles while others have fallen off the map. Before the players get a chance to make a real impression in a game-like scenario, let’s take another look at the players on the Lions bubble and where they stand in relation to the 53-man roster.
Below are our predictions for whether these “bubble” players will be in or out come cut day.
Previously:
2017 Bubble Watch - Offense
| POD Staffer | QB Jake Rudock | QB Brad Kaaya | RB Dwayne Washington | RB Matt Asiata | WR Jace Billingsley | WR TJ Jones | WR Jared Abbrederis | WR Keshawn Martin | TE Cole Wick | TE Tim Wright | T Storm Norton | OT Cornelius Lucas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POD Staffer | QB Jake Rudock | QB Brad Kaaya | RB Dwayne Washington | RB Matt Asiata | WR Jace Billingsley | WR TJ Jones | WR Jared Abbrederis | WR Keshawn Martin | TE Cole Wick | TE Tim Wright | T Storm Norton | OT Cornelius Lucas |
| Jeremy Reisman | In | Out | Out | In | Out | In | Out | Out | In | Out | Out | Out |
| Alex Reno | In | Out | Out | In | Out | Out | Out | In | In | Out | Out | In |
| Kent Lee Platte | In | Out | In | Out | In | In | Out | Out | In | Out | Out | In |
| Chris Lemieux | In | Out | Out | In | Out | In | Out | Out | Out | In | In | Out |
| Justin Simon | In | Out | In | Out | Out | In | Out | Out | Out | In | Out | In |
| Mike Payton | In | Out | Out | In | In | In | Out | Out | Out | In | In | Out |
| Andrew Kato | In | Out | Out | In | Out | In | Out | Out | Out | In | Out | In |
| Ryan Mathews | In | Out :( | In | Out | Out | In | Out | In | Out | In | Out | In |
| Kyle Yost | In | Out | Out | In | Out | In | Out | Out | Out | In | Out | In |
| Change | 0 | -1 | 2 | -2 | -1 | 0 | -2 | N/A | 2 | N/A | 0 | 1 |
New to bubble watch: WR Keshawn Martin, TE Tim Wright
Off the bubble: OT Cyrus Kouandjio
The biggest mover in this week’s Bubble Watch is also the newest Lions player on the roster. Tim Wright, despite being added on Wednesday morning, has jumped to the front of the line at tight end, drawing six of nine votes to make Detroit’s final 53.
Interestingly enough, Cole Wick also received two additional votes from last week. This indicates that just about everyone on the staff believes the Lions will carry at least four tight ends.
At running back, the scales are tipping back in Dwayne Washington’s direction. This week, he stole two votes from Matt Asiata, leaving Washington with three “In” votes and Asiata with six.
Keshawn Martin was added to the bubble after a surprisingly impressive set of practices. As a result, Jared Abbrederis is now a unanimous “Out,” despite a bounceback after a slow start to training camp.
2017 Bubble Watch - Defense
| POD Staffer | DE Brandon Copeland | DE Jeremiah Valoaga | DT Khyri Thornton | DT/DE Jeremiah Ledbetter | CB DJ Hayden | CB Johnson Bademosi | CB Quandre Diggs | CB Jamal Agnew | S Don Carey | S Alex Carter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POD Staffer | DE Brandon Copeland | DE Jeremiah Valoaga | DT Khyri Thornton | DT/DE Jeremiah Ledbetter | CB DJ Hayden | CB Johnson Bademosi | CB Quandre Diggs | CB Jamal Agnew | S Don Carey | S Alex Carter |
| Jeremy Reisman | In | Out | Out | In | In | In | Out | In | Out | In |
| Alex Reno | In | In | Out | In | In | In | Out | In | Out | In |
| Kent Lee Platte | Out | In | Out | In | In | Out | Out | In | Out | In |
| Chris Lemieux | Out | In | Out | In | Out | In | Out | In | Out | In |
| Justin Simon | Out | In | Out | In | In | Out | In | In | Out | In |
| Mike Payton | In | Out | Out | In | In | In | Out | In | Out | In |
| Andrew Kato | Out | In | Out | In | In | In | Out | In | In | In |
| Ryan Mathews | In | In | Out | In | In | Out | Out | In | In | Out |
| Kyle Yost | In | In | Out | In | In | In | Out | In | In | In |
| Change | -2 | N/A | 0 | 0 | N/A | -2 | -1 | 0 | -5 | 2 |
New to Bubble Watch: DE Jeremiah Valoaga, CB DJ Hayden
Off the bubble: DE Anthony Zettel, DT Ego Ferguson
There were two new defensive players added to the bubble for two very different reasons. DJ Hayden’s grip on the starting nickel cornerback job may be slipping, although only one Pride of Detroit staffer has him “Out” at the moment.
Undrafted rookie Jeremiah Valoaga, on the other hand, is riding a wave of momentum. With the Lions desperate for a healthy, flashy defensive end, Valoaga’s impressive week has resulted in eight of nine staffer having him “In” as of now.
The biggest loser of the week appears to be safety Don Carey. Carey has made a living on the Lions as a special teams king, but with increased competition via Alex Carter and youngster Charles Washington, his six-year career in Detroit could be in jeopardy. But Bob Quinn loves him some special teams, so it’s no surprising there are still three holdouts for Carey.