Detroit Lions: What We've Learned Through Week 3 of Preseason

It takes years for the offseason months to melt away, and then training camp goes by in the blink of an eye. Right now, the Detroit Lions find themselves firmly on the edge of the regular season, with only Labor Day between them and the San Diego Chargers.

There are a lot of miles and decisions that stand in the way also. Uncomfortable conversations and exploratory phone calls dot the to-do list.

Even still, it's almost here. You need to be informed. Click through for the latest from Allen Park.

Cutdown Could See Broyles Leave Town

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

All NFL teams have to trim down their rosters to 75 players next week. That's going to leave some tough decisions for Detroit.

With 88 players currently on the team, the Lions still have 13 calls to make. Here are three that could ruffle a few feathers across the Internet.

WR Ryan Broyles

The writing has been on the wall for almost a year now. Nothing has happened to change that. Broyles didn't see a single target until the fourth quarter against Washington in Week 2 of the preseason after spending almost as many games as Kellen Moore on last year's inactive list.

You can almost lock this one in. Broyles will either be traded for a late-round pick or will likely be cut, giving him a chance to catch on with another team.

WR Greg Salas

People will surely bring up Salas' five-catch, 91-yard performance against the Jets the next time Corey Fuller drops a pass. But the 27-year-old veteran doesn't bring the potential or versatility of the younger guys such as Vernon Johnson. The Lions will keep the rookie around for a closer look over a veteran they ultimately won't keep.

QB Kellen Moore

Moore's backup candidacy has taken a DeAndre Levy-level hit over the past two weeks. Whichever way the team decides to go regarding two or three quarterbacks, there will be critics, since his play hasn't warranted inclusion on the 53-man roster at this point.

Don't Commandeer Ameer Just Yet

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

The only person to outshine Greg Salas in the opener was running back Ameer Abdullah.

The Nebraska product cut sharply, embarrassing opponents and impressing the opposing sideline. Jets head coach Todd Bowles called him "about as quick as Barry Sanders," per Dom Cosentino of NJ Advance Media, starting a hype train that only Soul Asylum could understand (there were a lot of songs about trains in the '90s).

However, head coach Jim Caldwell has been quick to put the brakes on. For a guy who won't utter more than two or three different words about an injury, he was adamant that Joique Bell would return as the "bell cow," per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

And that's likely to be the case. Detroit will rotate in all of its top three backs depending on the situation and hot hand, with Abdullah getting a nice chunk—but not the majority—of carries.

The Defensive Line Should Be Fine

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Injuries looked destined to knock the defensive line off its axis for the season opener. Haloti Ngata wasn't sure he'd be ready, according to MLive.com's Kyle Meinke. Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported Ezekiel Ansah has missed practice with an injury, and Caraun Reid reportedly suffered a high-ankle sprain.

But things have calmed down a bit.

Ngata has begun putting in work on the sideline, per Birkett, giving hope that he's back on track. No one affiliated with the team will come out and say Ngata will be good to go, yet the odds are increasing quickly.

Ansah and Reid haven't been seen on the field at all. The former is unlikely to play in the third preseason game, per Meinke , although there's been nothing to indicate the injury is serious.

Reid, on the other hand—err, foot—will need some time. According to Birkett, he's still in a walking boot, but the sting of his loss is aided by the recent strong play of Tyrunn Walker and Jermelle Cudjo.

Mayhew Makes Moves

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

General manager Martin Mayhew hasn't met many trades that he couldn't squeeze for a late-round draft pick.

Offensive tackle Michael Williams was the latest to snag a seventh-rounder for Mayhew's burgeoning quiver of 2016 selections. The move was received with indifference by the media and anger from the fans.

The latter group thought a seventh-rounder wasn't enough since Williams had shown promise during the Jets game. He flashed enough agility to execute offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's beloved stretch play and pass protected well.

However, it's no lock the Lions are going to keep four offensive tackles on the roster after Larry Warford's injury. So if the eighth lineman is going to be interior offensive lineman Taylor Boggs, who has had a solid preseason, getting something for a player on the verge of getting cut was a smart move.

Stafford Still Slinging

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

We've touched on Matthew Stafford's form every week since training camp started. The bulk of the reporting was sourced from practice observations or gleaned from his limited game tape.

This time, the story comes straight from offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's mouth, via Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News:

"

I would say he's just playing faster, which you would expect as you become more comfortable. The difference between good and great is just a split second at that position, and I think he's just seeing things a little faster and also knows when he can throw into some looks that last year maybe were a little cloudy that are much more clear to him.

"

For all of the bluster about third wide receivers and replacement defensive tackles, no player has the season so squarely on his shoulders. A slight elevation in Stafford's play can cover up a lot of flaws in other areas.

The Lions often looked good in the hurry-up offense last year, finishing off three straight comeback wins in the middle of the season. Perhaps Stafford's quicker recognition and hopefully improved protection (45 sacks last year) will loosen up Lombardi and Jim Caldwell's reigns and let Stafford catch teams off guard.

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.