Less than a week out from NFL roster cuts, the Detroit Lions’ coaching staff is totally torn on their linebacker corps, with Jimmy Rolder making an absolutely wild eight-vote leap, throwing the whole position into chaos. While some positions are getting clearer, the battle for those final defensive spots is still raging, and nowhere is it messier than at linebacker.
Defensive Line Battles Heating Up, New Names Emerge
Over on the defensive line, things are starting to firm up for the Lions, but a couple of new names are making a serious push. Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Wonnum, and Derrick Moore are locks at defensive end, no surprise there. Ahmed Hassanein still holds strong with 11 “IN” votes. But Eric O’Neill just busted onto the bubble after a massive week, snagging a pick-six in training camp and delivering some seriously disruptive snaps against the Commanders in Saturday’s preseason game. No votes for him yet, but you can’t ignore that kind of late surge!
At defensive tackle, Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams are clearly in. Levi Onwuzurike, Tyler Lacy, and Skyle Gill-Howard are all holding steady with 11 votes. But Mekhi Wingo is back in the mix, finally getting on the field and looking disruptive in a preseason game, even picking up a vote this week. Then there’s Ben Stille, a brand-new addition to the bubble. This dude has been repping high in camp, playing just about every spot on the D-line, and he’s been pretty darn disruptive for over a week now. Could he challenge Chris Smith, who has 10 votes, or even sneak in as an eleventh defensive lineman? That’s a huge question for the final decision-makers.
Linebacker Chaos: Rolder on the Rise, Clark on the Slide
This is where the real drama is unfolding. Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Malcolm Rodriguez are safe bets at linebacker. Beyond them, it’s a total free-for-all, with the staff completely split. Devin White holds steady with 11 votes, and Trevor Nowaske isn’t far behind with 10. But then you have Jimmy Rolder. The guy just exploded onto the scene, picking up a shocking eight votes this week! Talk about making a statement when it matters most. On the flip side, Damone Clark saw a massive drop of six votes, leaving him with just two. Troy Reeder has one vote, but Erick Hunter and Joe Bachie are still waiting for their first. This position is wide open, and Rolder’s incredible jump has absolutely intensified the competition for those last few coveted spots.
With roster cuts less than a week away, the Lions have some brutal decisions coming. Will Rolder’s late surge stick? Who gets left out in the cold after months of grinding? Every snap, every rep, has come down to this for these players, and the final puzzle pieces are about to be clicked into place.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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