Detroit Lions’ best and worst PFF grades from preseason Week 1 loss
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Lions opened up their preseason on Thursday night against the New York Giants, and the results were less than desirable in the 14-3 loss.
While there were certainly some players that stood out, the defense had a lapse in the second quarter, and the offense struggled all night long, especially while quarterback Nate Sudfeld was in the game.
Granted, things didn’t get much better when second-year signal-caller Hendon Hooker got in the game, but he at least provided a spark on a 14-play, 88-yard drive that ultimately stalled near the Giants’ goal line.
But the fun with Hooker was short-lived, as he ended up leaving the game after his second drive because of a concussion, head coach Dan Campbell revealed after the game. Still, at least he offered something.
Pro Football Focus has released its overall grades for the Lions, and as you’d expect they were not kind to Sudfeld, and rightly so. Detroit did see multiple rookies crack the top five on both sides of the ball, which is definitely encouraging.
Let’s see how things shook out.
Detroit Lions PFF gradesTop-5 grades: Offense
C Duke Clemens: 90.0
OT Dan Skipper: 89.0
OT Connor Galvin: 79.5
RB Sione Vaki: 76.1
TE Parker Hesse: 70.0
Bottom-5 grades: Offense
QB Nate Sudfeld: 38.1
OT Giovanni Manu: 43.7
RB Jermar Jefferson: 45.4
WR Tom Kennedy: 46.5
OG Ike Boettger: 46.6
Top-5 grades: Defense
CB Amik Robertson: 87.4
LB Mitchell Agude: 81.5
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.: 80.3
DE Nate Lynn: 78.5
S Brandon Joseph: 78.3
Bottom-5 grades: Defense
LB James Houston: 28.0
DL Mekhi Wingo: 28.3
LB DaRon Gilbert: 40.9
CB Morice Norris: 42.1
DL Chris Smith: 42.5
Author(s)
After cutting his teeth with Bleacher Report, Mike Moraitis has covered the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans for FanSided, and the Titans and New York Giants for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. On top of his duties with Sporting News, Mike is the managing editor and lead writer for Titans Wire.
