Former Alabama defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson (86) has been impressive in his short stint with the Lions. Photo Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
DETROIT — When the Detroit Lions trim their roster to 53 next week, one of the biggest decisions they’ll have is at a seven-deep defensive tackle spot that for now looks like the strength of the team.
Haloti Ngata is healthy and playing at a high level, unlike last year when he showed up at training camp with a hamstring injury and spent most of August on the physically unable to perform list.
Tyrunn Walker has said repeatedly that he feels more at home in his second season in the Lions’ attacking front than he did when he arrived as a two-gapper last year.
Rookie second-round pick A’Shawn Robinson has flashed enough of late that he could find himself a rotational player early in the year.
“I think what I’ve seen in the last few weeks is he’s trending in the right direction and so we’re going to continue to keep moving him,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “If he continues to develop, we’re going to be happy with where he is as we get into the season.”
The bigger question up front is what happens beyond those three, as Stefan Charles, Caraun Reid, Khyri Thornton and Gabe Wright can all make a claim for a roster spot.
The Lions lured Charles, a big run-stuffer, away from the Buffalo Bills as a restricted free agent this fall, though he’s played mostly with the third-team defense this summer. Reid, Thornton and Wright all have experience in the system, with Reid the most polished of the group, Wright the biggest project (as a fourth-round pick from 2015) and Thornton having arguably the best camp.
Historically, the Lions have kept four or five defensive tackles on their roster, with defensive ends Devin Taylor and Wallace Gilberry (and to a lesser extent, rookie Anthony Zettel) also capable of playing inside in nickel packages.
Austin said the final two preseason games will be “very important” when it comes to evaluating the bubble players at the position, though he said he could see himself lobbying to keep more defensive tackles on the 53-man roster.
“I think as a defensive coordinator, what I try to do is fight to keep our best players that we can regardless of position,” Austin said. “And I would do a disservice to our team if we kept a guy just because we say we needed another (player) because of rotation and we let a better football player go. I would never fight for that. I’d fight for the best players for our team because the best players that will help us win.”
NOTES: RB Ameer Abdullah said he “very much” wants to make his preseason debut Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens (7 p.m.). Abdullah shed the no-contact jersey he’d been wearing all summer this week, and the second-year back said he could benefit from some live reps on his surgically repaired shoulder. … RB Zach Zenner effectively won the Lions’ No. 3 running back job on Thursday when the team released veteran Stevan Ridley. Zenner played ahead of Ridley in the running back rotation most of the summer, so the transaction didn’t come as a huge surprise. The Lions did guarantee $250,000 of Ridley’s salary when they signed him this summer. Rookie Dwayne Washington likely will be the Lions’ No. 4 back after his strong preseason. … TE Eric Ebron will miss his third straight preseason game Saturday because of an ankle injury. Ebron hasn’t done anything meaningful in practice since Aug. 6, but the Lions remain hopeful he’ll be ready for the start of the season. Graham Glasgow and Josh Bynes are among other players not expected to see any action Saturday.
