Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills: Lions Preseason Week 4 Game Preview
Not only are pictures worth a bunch of words, but they can also tell you that the Detroit Lions' preseason Week 4 matchup with the Buffalo Bills is for the backups.
You will see little to none of Matthew Stafford and probably even less of Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything to watch.
The roster cuts are just starting to heat up, and some positional battles have to be determined.
So what specifics should you be watching for during the final "meaningless" game on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET? Click through to find out.
Detroit Lions Preseason Week 3 Recap
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Calvin Johnson made his preseason debut, but his effect on the offense was questionable. And it's not his fault.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford looked too excited to have his best weapon back and lacked the distribute-to-the-open-man philosophy he worked to perfection the week prior.
Johnson finished with two catches for 27 yards. However, some questionable throws were aimed in his direction, including one interception.
Stafford did rebound with a series of easy throws, and the offense ran the ball much better than in previous weeks. The lasting positive offensive images of the game should be Reggie Bush's speed and the offensive line's dominance.
Defensively, the front seven found its groove, racking up six sacks. Linebacker Tahir Whitehead, who earned the starting nod over Ashlee Palmer, went off for 11 tackles and three sacks, according to ESPN.com.
Oh, and the Lions notched a one-point win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It didn't seem relevant, but my editors may disagree.
News and Notes
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Roster Cuts
The Lions made their first round of cuts to reach the 75-man limit. Most of them weren't surprising, but we did receive some clarity about the makeup of the team.
For starters, Nate Freeze won the place-kicking competition. Giorgio Tavecchio didn't perform much worse than the rookie, but he was included in the first wave of cuts.
The only other name that might strike a chord among the faithful was Jonte Green. He never developed, and his fourth-quarter pick last week was much too little, too late. His release also means the Lions haven't given up on draft mate Chris Greenwood.
Detroit Claims a Couple off Waivers
The good teams never stop churning the bottom of their roster in search of diamonds in the rough. Detroit isn't in that category yet, but it's trying anyway.
The Lions picked up tight end Michael Egnew and fullback hybrid Emil Igwenagu.
There's zero possibility either of these guys make the active roster. The fullback spot is locked down by Jed Collins, and the tight end depth chart is packed. Both guys will be trying out for a spot on the practice squad.
In the Market for a Defensive Back?
The most intriguing story is the latest breaking. Apparently, the Lions aren't just scouring the waiver wire for secondary help.
"The Lions are making calls around the league looking to bolster their secondary. The Browns are gauging interest in their DL
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) August 26, 2014"
It isn't uncommon for teams to trade their depth for another's this late in the game. Both teams can shore up a weakness by giving up someone they were going to cut anyway.
The Lions are unlikely to land anyone who will have a huge impact on the season. Rather, this is a sign the front office isn't sold on the team's current depth. Which is funny, since everybody else had that figured out months ago.
Injury Report
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| Player | Position | Injury Status |
| T.J. Jones | Wide Receiver | Out—PUP-R |
| Montell Owens | Running Back | Questionable |
| Kyle Van Noy | Linebacker | Out** |
*All injury statuses from Rotowire.com.
**Injury status is the author's guess based on Kyle Meinke's Mlive article.
The Lions have done extraordinarily well in avoiding major injuries. Even though Kyle Van Noy could miss up to six weeks if the diagnosis is a sports hernia, Detroit will have escaped the preseason without a devastating setback.
The possible loss of Van Noy is offset by the emergence of Tahir Whitehead, which was covered in the Game 3 recap. Detroit will have options moving forward, and the linebacking depth is strong enough to withstand the limited damage.
Jones, on the other hand, is assured of a six-week regular-season absence. The team named him to the PUP-reserve list last week, which means he can't even practice until Week 7 at the earliest.
Owens did practice, according to MLive, which means he's probably been cleared for game action. He survived the first round of cuts and will be battling George Winn and Mikel Leshoure for one of the last roster spots.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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LaAdrian Waddle or Corey Hilliard vs. Bills' Starters
The right tackle position has been tightly contested throughout the offseason, and the answer still isn't clear. In fact, it's still "very, very close," according head coach Jim Caldwell, as reported by Mike Rothstein of ESPN.com.
Hilliard racked up the reps with the first team this week. If Caldwell sticks to his rotation, Waddle will get the starting nod this week and will have a chance to prove himself against a very stout front seven, including a one-on-one matchup with Mario Williams.
Tahir Whitehead vs. Ashlee Palmer
Strong-side linebacker is another position where the Lions lack clarity, although things are much less hazy.
Rookie Kyle Van Noy was presumed by most to be the starter, but the injury denoted on the last slide means he's likely out of the competition for now. That leaves last year's starter (Palmer) and last week's hero (Whitehead) to duke it out.
Palmer has value as a utility reserve linebacker, and that's probably it. Whitehead has set himself up nicely so long as he can perform half as well as did last week.
Ryan Broyles vs. Kris Durham
Kevin Ogletree garnered plenty of buzz throughout training camp. However, that success hasn't translated well to the actual games.
At least, it hasn't gone as well for him as it has for Durham and Broyles.
Broyles—who was left on the bench until late last week—continues to do everything right. He has yet to record a drop and has shown enough burst and elusiveness to be a viable weapon.
Durham has been more involved with the first-team offense. He's also had some impressive moments, particularly his strong touchdown catch against the Raiders on a poorly thrown ball.
So don't say there's nothing to watch for this week. The kicker is actually the only contested spot that has been settled thus far.
Lions' X-Factor of the Week: Theo Riddick
This is Riddick's week to shine. With Reggie Bush and Joique Bell shelved within the first quarter, Riddick will get plenty of touches to show why he was the talk of the offseason.
Considering the Buffalo Bills have no reason to keep their studs out there, Riddick should find plenty of room to operate in an offense that's going to feed him mercilessly.
Prediction
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If I wouldn't guess at a score when the starters are supposed to play a half, rest assured the fool's errand won't be completed with the headliners on the bench most of the game.
So, for the last time this season, I'll walk you through a few more specific predictions.
- Tahir Whitehead cements himself as the starter. We've already broken down how well Whitehead has been performing, and there's no reason to think he'll slow down. He's been a tackling machine who has proved he can rush the passer.
- Ryan Broyles forces his way up the depth chart. Broyles finished his college career as the all-time leader in receptions for a reason. He catches everything. Anytime he's gotten a chance to show what he can do, he's held onto the rock and moved the sticks. That's a prototypical third wide receiver.
- Nick Fairley will set the tone for his season. Presumably, the starters won't be playing more than a series or two (if at all) this week. Fairley isn't a starter. He'll have plenty of chances to show what kind of effort he wants to put forth. If he forces the issue and makes plays, he'll be a valuable piece moving forward. If not, this is definitely his last season in Detroit, if it wasn't going to be already.
Just for the record, I predicted the Lions would rack up three sacks last week. They doubled that number. Heed my word.
But don't bookmark it or remind me of it later.
As with every game this year, check back for our live blog and quick-reaction game grades on the Detroit Lions Bleacher Report page.
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