Detroit Lions depth chart: How will LB rotation look if captain misses Week 3?

The Detroit Lions (1-1) look to avoid their first losing streak since 2022 when they head to Arizona to face the Cardinals (1-1) in Week 3 action from State Farm Stadium.

This post will offer an update on the depth chart while considering injuries, rotation changes and elevations from the practice squad ahead of Sunday afternoon's game from out west:

Nothing new to report here, as Jared Goff and Co. will look to get back on track after a brutal showing in the red zone. Goff has captained this team for nearly two years without consecutive losses, so there is confidence the quarterback will elevate his play from a ho-hum start.

Running back

The Lions abandoned the run against the Bucs last week, and that is not expected to be the case out in Arizona. Goff threw a whopping 55 times, while David Montgomery never got into a groove. Montgomery ran only 11 times for 35 yards and one touchdown. He was more effective in the passing attack as Jahmyr Gibbs lifted the ground game and struggled as a receiver, a role reversal in the strange showing in Week 2.

Arizona's defense has impressed against the run so far. Still, it's hard to imagine the Lions deploying a plan of attack similar to last week.

"I think what we were – we wanted to open up the run game really with a pass game, and there again where the run game, it was somewhat a mirror image," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "Ben (Johnson) and I were talking this morning, it was somewhat a mirror image of the playoff game a little bit. Once we got to the fourth, and that's where we just couldn't quite get our run game going in the fourth and when we did, that's another area where it's a no gain, it's a gain of three and now all of a sudden you're third-and-seven, you find a way to get it out, you go back to the run game. You're not getting the yards that you want to get and it kind of sends you back to the pass game, that's all."

Wide receiver: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick

: Kalif Raymond, Allen Robinson, Isaiah Williams (QUESTIONABLE)

The beef has been elevated from the practice squad. Isaiah Williams is likely headed for an inactive. However, the Lions elevated both Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson from the practice squad. Patrick made his team debut last week, playing 30-plus snaps and catching two passes, while this will be Robinson's debut for the Lions. After this game, Patrick will have one remaining elevation from the practice squad, and Robinson will have two.

It's almost like the Lions felt last week's brutal showing in the red zone, too. Kidding aside, these two physical, outside receivers with height should help the passing attack down in the nitty gritty areas. And with Jameson Williams cooking to open the year, look for more balance and efficiency with the wide receivers. Amon-Ra St. Brown was back stuffing the box score, but 11 catches on 19 targets is still unlike the Sun God.

"The idea is to see if we can open this up a little bit and use him a little bit more, but he's big, he's physical, his catch radius is pretty enormous," Campbell said of Patrick. "So, there's a place for him here, and yeah, I see us using him moving forward.

"I don't know if anything it could take – probably where you use him a little bit more, you take a little bit off Jamo, take a little bit off (Raymond) Leaf, that's probably where most of it comes from, to be honest with you, and you just kind of roll those guys through."

Tight end

Sam LaPorta has endured a quiet start to the season. But neither he nor the Lions are worried.

"Last week it was St. Brown, this week it's LaPorta, next week it's going to be somebody else. That's just the nature of the beast," Ben Johnson, the team's offensive coordinator, said. "That's what we've got right now. We've got a lot of weapons and it's hard to guarantee someone five to eight targets every single game, that's not how it works."

Offensive lineStarters: LT Taylor Decker, LG/C Graham Glasgow (QUESTIONABLE), C Frank Ragnow, RG Kevin Zeitler, RT Penei Sewell

Backups: OT Dan Skipper, OG Kayode Awosika, OL Michael Niese, OT Giovanni Manu, OT/OG Colby Sorsdal

Graham Glasgow is expected to be good to go. Glasgow finished with back-to-back limited participation in practice, and the head coach said he was trending in the right direction. Giovanni Manu and Colby Sorsdal were inactive last week, and that's unlikely to change.

Defensive lineEDGE Starters: Aidan Hutchinson

DL Starters: Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, DJ Reader

Backups: Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal, James Houston, Mekhi Wingo, Kyle Peko

Marcus Davenport is cleared for action once again. But I wouldn't be surprised to see the Lions ease him back into work, considering his injury history, also the play from Levi Onwuzurike and the return of DJ Reader. Onwuzurike has played a ton of snaps at big defensive end through two weeks, and the line has been among the league's best. Don't change it now.

Davenport's return to the pass rush also feeds into this group's versatility, with Onwuzurike more than able to kick inside or out. Josh Paschal will likely see more action in his inside-outside role. But James Houston may be headed for another round of a healthy scratch.

Backups/special teams: Ben Niemann, Trevor Nowaske

It's hard to get a feel for Alex Anzalone's chances of playing with the unpredictable nature of concussion protocol. The team captain practiced on a limited basis twice to end the week, and that's a great sign. But it's hard to speak for certain with that type of injury and situation.

The Lions have prepared well for this moment, with Jack Campbell or Derrick Barnes able to handle the green dot when needed. Also, they have worked a number of these linebackers into action early in the season, with Barnes playing all over the field and Malcolm Rodriguez back in the defensive rotation. Jalen Reeves-Maybin played a role on third down late last year, and he's more than able and trusted by the staff to handle more work if needed.

Related:

"I have said this all along - I have plenty of trust in that linebacker room," Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said earlier this week. "Jack has done a good job for us going from OTAs and training camp, backing Alex up in being able to make the calls and stand in front of that huddle. I have no issue with that."

Cornerback starters: Carlton Davis III, Terrion Arnold (QUESTIONABLE), Amik Robertson (slot)

Safety starters: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph

Backups: S Brandon Joseph, S Loren Strickland, CB Kindle Vildor, CB Khalil Dorsey, DB Ifeatu Melifonwu (OUT), CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (OUT)

Terrion Arnold was dealing with a finger injury in last week's game and then an illness throughout the week of practice. But the Lions never sounded the alarms and said their top rookie is expected to play in his first NFL road trip. Melifonwu remains out of action, with many, including yours truly, starting to wonder why he wasn't placed on injured reserve. Rakestraw is out after suffering a hamstring injury in pre-game warmups last week.

Four names dominated the snaps last week, and that's expected to remain the same. Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch and Carlton Davis III played 100% of the snaps. Arnold missed only four plays, while Amik Robertson (18) and Kindle Vildor (four) didn't see much action.

Special teams K - Jake Bates

P - Jack Fox

LS - Hogan Hatten

Kickoffs - Jake Bates

KR - Craig Reynolds

PR - Kalif Raymond

Tom Kennedy has fielded the only two kickoff returns for the Lions on the season. Opponents seem content with knocking the ball out of the end zone, letting the offense open on the 30.

BETTING: