Detroit Lions Week 1 Stock Report

It's fitting that the first day of school for half of your Facebook feed doubles as the day we shed the preseason label and start discussing real live football.

But first, take a moment and collect yourself. You've followed every single thing the Detroit Lions did and didn't do over the past eight months. You've earned this.

Much like the following five players earned their spot in our Week 1 stock report.

One note before you click through: There won't be any discussion of the unofficial depth chart regarding Laken Tomlinson. The important thing to note is that it was "compiled by media relations." You don't really think that head coach Jim Caldwell would leak trade secrets, do you?

Up: DE Phillip Hunt

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Actually, a couple of the players listed here didn't earn anything but were rather unfortunate recipients of some bad luck. Phillip Hunt doesn't find himself in the group.

Hunt earned his keep this preseason with 11 pressures on 62 pass-rushing snaps, per Pro FootballFocus. Last year's darling, George Johnson, had nine in 57 last preseason, meaning Hunt has been more prolific and efficient.

That's why Hunt woke up Monday morning with a job. Detroit is hoping to turn the Canadian Football League's former sack king into a pass-rushing reserve who provides rest for his weary teammates and anxiety for offensive tackles.

Hunt, however, will still find himself on the lower end of the rotation. Reserve defensive ends Darryl Tapp and Devin Taylor will begin the season as the first two off the bench.

But Hunt has already cleared one hurdle to an NFL career. What's one more with the way his stock has been trending?

Down: LB DeAndre Levy

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

At first, nobody batted an eye.

DeAndre Levy started missing practices the week of the third preseason game. Because teams don't have to disclose injury information in the preseason, nothing was noted since Caldwell has a penchant for resting veterans.

However, it's now been over two weeks since anyone has seen Levy practice. Kyle Meinke of MLive Media Group reported that Levy missed the Labor Day practice, stating, "it's fair to begin wondering whether he'll be in the lineup against Philip Rivers and the Chargers."

Meinke went on to write that Josh Bynes is his likely replacement. There's no need to discuss the talent differential between the two considering Levy has been playing at an unrecognized All-Pro level for two years, while Bynes was a late addition to last year's roster.

Detroit is facing a tough San Diego Chargers opponent on the road this weekend. Should Levy continue his mysterious absence, expect defensive coordinator Teryl Austin to mix in Kyle Van Noy and Travis Lewis, as well to throw multiple looks at the veteran San Diego quarterback.

Up: RB Joique Bell and OT LaAdrian Waddle

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Not everything is doom an gloom on the Lions' injury front.

LaAdrian Waddle has been noteworthy because he hasn't been. You have to dig deep in DetroitLions.com writer Tim Twentyman's "Practice Report" just to find that Waddle was a practice participant.

That may seem trivial, but no news is good news when it comes to Detroit's starting right tackle. The Lions couldn't build any continuity up front after Waddle's initial injury forced Corey Hilliard, Cornelius Lucas and Garrett Reynolds into action last year.

Behind him, Joique Bell is also listed in the same section of Twentyman's report. The same thought pattern holds true for the backfield's veteran leader, meaning his presence is news in and of itself.

With right guard Larry Warford still sidelined with a high ankle sprain, according to the same article, it's imperative that Detroit surround that hole at right guard with enough talent to overcome Manny Ramirez. Yes, he was brought in for this very reason, but Ramirez's one great year in Denver (2013) doesn't mean he's an above-average lineman.

Down: CB Alex Carter

Uncredited/Associated Press

There's a certain DMX ballad that I won't link to here, but suffice it to say, "here we go again" has been the refrain of Alex Carter's preseason.

The third-round rookie didn't participate in early OTAs and minicamps because he was finishing up school at Stanford. Then an ankle injury sidelined him for the majority of training camp.

It appears that ankle hasn't left him alone. Carter will start the season on the injured reserve with a designation to return, per Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News. This means Carter won't be able to practice until at least Week 6 and won't be eligible for game action until after Week 8.

It's difficult to adjust any draft-day grades for Carter at this time. Most (including me) didn't think he would be able to contribute this year as he adjusts to the speed and quickness of the professional game, and that's presuming he doesn't move to safety before he sees the field.

In a sick twist of fate, allowing Carter to study on the sidelines without being thrown to the wolves—or Aaron Rodgers—could be the best thing for his confidence and development. But that's not enough to overcome a rough start to his young career.

Up: WR/KR T.J. Jones

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

All of the anguished looks and solemn head shaking turned to ear-wide grins and fist pumps when the Lions' 53-man roster was revealed.

Out was Jeremy Ross, the one-time return dynamo and third-receiver hopeful for Detroit. In was T.J. Jones, last year's sixth-round pick who missed the season with a shoulder injury.

Caldwell said before the fourth preseason game that players have earned a roster spot in years past by performing well in the last exhibition contest. Jones made good on his word when he flashed the speed necessary to turn a slant into a sprint on a 64-yard touchdown.

That was the final nail in Ross' coffin.

Jones will likely hold down the fifth receiving spot and will handle either punt or kick returns or possibly both. Caldwell has played it close to the vest with those details, but there's no debating where Jones fits.

As for Ross, the one-time Packer was signed to the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad, per Adam Caplan of ESPN, and will likely get another chance someday soon.

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

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.