Lions-Cardinals snap counts: Kenny Golladay is your No. 3 WR

Here’s a look at the snap counts for the Lions-Cardinals season opener.

Offense:

Quarterbacks

Matthew Stafford: 71 snaps (100%)
Jake Rudock: 4 special teams snaps (13%)

Running backs

Ameer Abdullah: 36 (51%)
Theo Riddick: 21 (30%)
Dwayne Washington: 14 (20%) — 19 special team snaps (63%)

“Fullback”

Alex Barrett: 1 (1%)

Tight ends

Eric Ebron: 51 (72%)
Darren Fells: 32 (45%) — 9 (30%)
Michael Roberts: 6 (8%) — 18 (60%)

Wide receivers

Marvin Jones Jr.: 68 (96%)
Golden Tate: 63 (89%) — 1 (3%)
Kenny Golladay: 44 (62%) — 1 (3%)
TJ Jones: 19 (27) — 1 (3%)

Offensive tackles

Rick Wagner: 71 (100%) — 4 (13%)
Greg Robinson: 71 (100%) — 4 (13%)
Joe Dahl: 4 special teams snaps (13%)

Guards/centers

Travis Swanson: 71 (100%) — 4 (13%)
Graham Glasgow: 71 (100%) — 4 (13%)
T.J. Lang: 71 (100%) — 4 (13%)

Observations

• There was no mistaking it: Kenny Golladay was the team’s No. 3 receiver on Sunday. That came as quite a surprise considering how TJ Jones was treated as such during the preseason. Even though Golladay made the best of his opportunities in the second half, this doesn’t necessarily mean the job is permanently his. Head coach Jim Caldwell likes to stress that every week is different in terms of matchups. Jones could be the better play against other teams going forward.

• Always good to see the entire offensive line play 100 percent of the snaps (knock on wood).

• I’m a little surprised to see Ameer Abdullah only playing half of the snaps on offense. Granted, he wasn’t very effective in this game, but he’s supposed to be one of the bigger playmakers on this offense. I’d think you would want him out there more.

• No, that isn’t a mistake. Defensive end Alex Barrett took one snap as a fullback when the Lions were in the red zone.

Defense:

Defensive end

Anthony Zettel: 46 (61%) — 5 (17%)
Cornelius Washington: 40 (53%) — 5 (17%)
Ezekiel Ansah: 34 (45%)
Jeremiah Valoaga: 16 (21%)
Alex Barrett: 14 (19%)

Defensive tackle

Haloti Ngata: 40 (53%) — 5 (17%)
A’Shawn Robinson: 39 (52%) — 5 (17%)
Akeem Spence: 35 (47%)
Jeremiah Ledbetter: 33 (44%) — 4 (13%)

Linebackers

Jarrad Davis: 75 (100%) — 5 (17%)
Tahir Whitehead: 51 (68%) — 5 (17%)
Paul Worrilow: 12 (16%) — 26 (87%)
Steve Longa: 2 (3%) — 21 (70%)
Jalen Reeves-Maybin: 0 (0%) — 21 (70%)

Cornerbacks

Darius Slay: 75 (100%) — 5 (17%)
Quandre Diggs: 58 (77%) — 10 (33%)
DJ Hayden: 41 (55%) — 8 (27%)
Nevin Lawson: 32 (43%) — 7 (23%)
Jamal Agnew: 1 (1%) — 18 (60%)

Safety

Glover Quin: 75 (100%) — 6 (20%)
Tavon Wilson: 74 (99%)
Miles Killebrew: 29 (39%) — 21 (70%)
Charles Washington: 3 (4%) — 21 (70%)
Don Carey: 0 (0%) — 25 (83%)

Observations:

• Jarrad Davis playing every single snap in his rookie debut was expected, but is still very impressive.

• Speaking of impressive, Haloti Ngata leading all defensive tackles in snaps at age 33? The old man still has it. Let’s just hope he doesn’t run out of steam too early.

• The Lions are very clearly still easing Ezekiel Ansah in, who just came off of the PUP list a week and a half ago. He didn’t look all that effective in half of the defensive snaps.

• I don’t know if anyone expected Nevin Lawson and DJ Hayden to split snaps as the team’s No. 2 outside cornerback. Neither of them played very well on Sunday, so I would expect this trend to continue into next week against the Giants.