Detroit Lions' Receiving Depth Chart Murky After Preseason Opener

The Detroit Lions' receiving depth chart is likely set at the top with Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and Corey Fuller secure in their roles. The rest of the rotation, however, just got a little murkier.

Detroit will probably only carry five receivers on the 53-man roster. That leaves four serious contenders for two spots with a surprise challenger throwing his hat into the ring Thursday night.

Of course, this was only one preseason game. There's a lot of time left before the cuts come, but the 23-3 win over the hapless New York Jets did provide some insight into the future.

Just not of the clarifying type.

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Vets Did Their Jobs

Lance Moore was a known commodity for many years in New Orleans and is hoping to add a year or two to his career in a familiar offense. He certainly didn't hurt himself in the preseason opener.

He also didn't do anything to stand out either. He grabbed both of his targets on simple tosses to finish with 19 yards.

The same can be said for Ryan Broyles. He did fine, snagging two catches for 17 yards and generally being solid but not spectacular.

"

Nice catch and stretch by Ryan Broyles for 7 yards to get first down.

— Mike O'Hara (@MikeOHaraNFL) August 14, 2015"

Essentially, both guys did their jobs, catching the passes that were thrown to them and trying to get upfield. Unfortunately, neither of them had the fun that Greg Salas did.

Salas' Big Day

The 6'2", 210-pound fifth-year veteran looked like a man trying to make the team. He finished with five catches for 92 yards, a score and a few highlights that will keep fans buzzing until next week.

His touchdown came via a back-shoulder-type throw that allowed him to use his large frame and bully his way into the end zone. He followed that up with a long 35-yard first-down catch where he displayed nice hands after slipping behind the cornerback.

"

Greg Salas had seven fewer yards than the entire Jets team through three quarters. Close to Maximum Preseason there.

— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) August 14, 2015"

Salas is still a long shot to beat out either Moore or Broyles. The latter two have experience in the system and weren't given nearly as many chances as Salas to make splash plays.

Still, Salas took advantage of the opportunities he was given, and included his name in the depth chart discussion for now.

T.J. Jones Has Taken Aim at Jeremy Ross

Jeremy Ross wasn't particularly bad in this game. He had a nice 26-yard kick return and a few fair catches.

But T.J. Jones turned heads with his punt returns. Or maybe it was just the fans nodding vigorously at his aggression because nobody wants to see Ross return (pun intended).

"

TJ Jones did better on returns than anyone else by a wide margin. Will get more looks there moving forward.

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) August 14, 2015"

Jones wasn't willing to take a fair catch, instead he darted upfield or toward the sideline to gain an edge on his advancing would-be tacklers. The end result was a 10.3-yard average on three punt returns, which would have been the ninth-best mark in 2014 if stretched out over a whole season.

However, Jones has a lot left to prove before the coaches elevate him over Ross. He did himself a few favors on Thursday night, though, tossing in a tough 15-yard first-down catch later to boot.

"

TJ Jones with a 15-yard catch now. Good first preseason game of his career.

— Josh Katzenstein (@jkatzenstein) August 14, 2015"

The Notre Dame grad showed enough to be a serious threat. He has the athleticism, hands and the aggressive attitude necessary to grab the gig from Ross.

Obviously, whoever wins the return job is going to lock down one of the two remaining receiver spots. Jones has put Ross on the chopping block, which means Salas will have to take down both Broyles and Moore to get a chance.

After one game, the position's depth is about as clear as muddy water. Good luck deciphering the code necessary to determine the message. Your best bet is to wait it out and hope for the best.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.