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The Detroit Lions bolstered an already strong offensive line this offseason, signing former first-round tackle Germain Ifedi in May 2023.
Now, just a few months later, the seven-year NFL veteran could find himself on the outside of the roster bubble.
The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy predicted, in an August 14 story projecting the Lions’ 53-man roster, that Ifedi would not be among the nine offensive linemen the Lions are expected to keep this season. Pouncy predicted that it could come down to a battle with reserve lineman Matt Nelson for the final spot on the roster, with Lions veteran getting the nod over Ifedi.
Ifedi is two seasons removed from his time as a reliable starter with the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks, who drafted him 31st overall in 2016. Last year with the Atlanta Falcons, he appeared in every game but started in none of them, earning a 45.4 grade from Pro Football Focus, among the 10 worst scores for NFL tackles.
Battle for Spots at O-Line
Pouncy noted that the top of the offensive line depth chart in Detroit is set, with Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker set at tackle, Jonah Jackson at left guard, Frank Ragnow at center and a battle for the starting spot at right guard between Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Graham Glasgow.
Colby Sorsdal, a fifth-round pick in the 2023 draft, will also make the cut and likely start his career as a reserve guard, Pouncy added, leaving the rest of the preseason roster up in the air.
“The final two spots are where it gets dicey,” he wrote. “Nelson has made the 53-man roster in recent years, but it has been a struggle this time around. The Lions use him in their jumbo package and like him in that role, but when they’ve trotted him out as a left tackle, he’s gotten worked by both Detroit’s defensive line and the [New York] Giants’. Still, he gets the nod over Ifedi and [Obinna] Eze for now.
Nelson and the rest of the O-Line graded poorly in the team’s 21-16 preseason win against the Giants, according to SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit.
“Unfortunately, things didn’t go so smoothly for the unit,” wrote Morgan Cannon, who gave the squad a D+. “Backup tackle Matt Nelson had an especially rough day through three quarters of play, and as the case has been throughout the most of camp, those vying for roster spots behind the starters did little to separate themselves from the rest of the pack.”
Lions Line Expected to be ‘Great’ in 2023
There are high expectations for Detroit’s offensive line going into the coming season. MLive.com’s Kyle Meinke noted the team is coming off their best rushing season since the Barry Sanders years, while Jared Goff was just one sack above a career low.
While the line is heavy with talent at the top, Meinke added in a July 21 position group preview that there would be competition for the backup spots.
“Beyond the big six, there is good competition brewing across all positions up front,” he wrote. “Matt Nelson has been a reliable swing tackle, and played a critical role in Detroit’s jumbo sets. But Germain Ifedi, a former first-round pick, provides some intriguing upside in that competition, while rookie Colby Sorsdal was a right tackle in college too. Sorsdal spent most of the offseason program working at guard, while Ross Pierschbacher offers some flex as a guard who continues to share most of the center reps with Glasgow.”
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