We're a few weeks away from the Detroit Lions opening up training camp. The Lions rookies report 30 days from now to be exact. Training camp is always a big time of year when players can get starting spots, make the 53-man roster or at least get some good tape out there. It's also a time for guys that are getting slept on to show what they got.
As we approach camp, we went up and down the roster looking for players the guys that are getting looked past a little bit too much and could show everyone that they're wrong for doing that. We found three, here they are:
Zonovan Knight
The Lions have one of the best running back duos in the league with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Then they just drafted Sione Vaki in the fourth round and the expectation is that the team will carry four running backs and that fourth spot is just automatically going to Craig Reynolds. Knight might have something to say about that.
Knight was solid for the New York Jets in 2022 and would probably still be there and a part of the rotation if they didn't make the mistake of releasing him to sign Dalvin Cook.
Last year Knight started out with the Lions practice squad and got signed to the active roster in September when there were injuries. He was getting carries over Reynolds at that time. Unfortunately he suffered a season ending injury in his second game. Had he not, he had a real shot to be the teams RB3 in 2023. He could beat out Reynolds this summer and make the squad.
Khalil Dorsey
The Lions have a brand new cornerback room right now with Carlton Davis, Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw and Amik Robertson. Those guys spots are written in ink. But there's one guy who's spot should also be written in ink and that's Dorsey.
Last year Dorsey came on and made some big time special teams plays in the regular season.
He also helped out on defense when the Lions benched Jerry Jacobs and he did alright. So far he's had a solid spring that saw him take a couple interceptions to the house. Dorsey is a guy that can be depth at player at corner, but can be invaluable on special teams where he can be a gunner and possibly a return man in a pinch like he was in 2023.
Kayode Awosika
The Lions drafted Christian Mahogany in April and he's definitely going to make the team, but that shouldn't mean that Awosika is just done in Detroit. The guard has been with the Lions since 2022 and he's started five games in the last two seasons, Including the NFC Championship game. He played fairly well in all of them.
There were some games, like his starts against the Raiders and Bears last year, where he looked really good and like a guy that could maybe play more in the future. Both the Lions guards aren't slated to be around much longer as they're both in their 30's. Awosika, who is just 25-years-old, could be someone the Lions possibly look to for a starting role in the future.
