Who played well against Giants

The Detroit Lions got their first taste of live action in a game setting Thursday night in the sloppy conditions at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants in the preseason opener.

The Lions rested most of their expected starters for the regular season to avoid an unnecessary injury and give ample opportunity to young players or those engaged in a position battle or positioned deeper on the depth chart in the 14-3 loss to the Giants.

The product on the field Thursday night wasn’t the prettiest as the Lions only mustered three points, but it also “wasn’t awful” as head coach Dan Campbell put it on the TV broadcast. This gave the staff a chance to see the Lions’ depth pieces and rookies in different game situations, and test out new strategies, including with the NFL’s new kickoff rules.

Here are a few players that stood out, both in a good and bad way, for the Lions last night in the exhibition action.

Winners

CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

The hope for rookies in the preseason is they fit their pre-draft billing. First- and second-round cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. did their jobs last night starting against the Giants’ second-team offense led by quarterback Drew Lock. (Starter Carlton Davis III did not suit up.) Arnold played the first three series, and did not see any action in a quiet night for him.

Rakestraw played longer into the first quarter and recorded three tackles. He showed a knack for handling himself against speedy receivers in man coverage, and was able to finish a tackle.

SHAWN WINDSOR:Hendon Hooker brought a burst of light to Lions on a wet and dreary night. Then it was over.

Another example: Lock shouldn’t have thrown this ball into double coverage in the first place, but Rakestraw was all over Isaiah Hodgins’ post route at the top, and it ends in an easy interception for safety Brandon Joseph.

S Brandon Joseph and the pass defense

Brandon Joseph started at safety with Kerby Joseph getting the night off. He created the Lions’ only points with his first-quarter interception, showing good instincts to jump the route, knocked down another pass and had three solo tackles while fitting against the run in the box early.

The Lions’ secondary had a good night in the rainy conditions, holding the Giants to 95 passing yards on 12 completions. The Lions recorded two sacks, one from Nate Lynn and one from Isaac Ukwu, with Brodric Martin helping create Lynn’s opportunity. Robertson had a good night from the starting nickel spot with two tackles and breaking up a pass.

K Jake Bates

Bates, a Michigan Panthers standout in the United Football League in the spring, didn’t have a perfect start to camp kicking field goals, but nailed his only attempt in his debut — a 53-yarder from the left hash in the first quarter — for the Lions’ only points. The only knock on his performance was the kickoff penalty he got for landing the ball short of the new kickoff landing zone on a line drive attempt, giving the Giants the ball at their own 40-yard line.

LS Hogan Hatten

Hatten showed versatility that could give him extra consideration in the snapping competition with incumbent Scott Daly. Hatten, an undrafted free agent out of Idaho, played linebacker in the fourth quarter in addition to his snapping duties. The Lions’ TV broadcast said Campbell came to him with the idea during team walkthroughs Wednesday, and Hatten held his own and got in on two tackles.

WR Isaiah Williams

The Lions rested three receivers, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond, and let the rest of the players in the room get plenty of snaps. Isaiah Williams, an undrafted free agent out of Illinois, had the best night with four catches for 35 yards. He got open a few times one-on-one underneath and made a nice catch against tight coverage in the red zone. Last year’s seventh-round pick Antoine Green had three catches for 13 yards before exiting with a “neck concussion,” and veteran Donovan Peoples-Jones hauled in a 26-yard catch over the middle in the second half.

RB Sione Vaki

Sione Vaki, the Lions’ second fourth-round pick in 2024, showed some pop with the ball in his hands, finishing with 29 yards on four carries and as a returner.

Losers

QB Nate Sudfeld

Sudfeld, 30, started the game at quarterback but struggled with the opportunity before giving way to Hendon Hooker for the second half and eventually having to finish the game after Hooker’s injury. He completed 13 of 24 passes for 96 yards with one interception in the red zone and was sacked four times. He was not consistently accurate and the Lions offense could not move the ball.

Hooker had the offense moving up and down the field in his two series, completing five of nine passes for 36 yards while adding 34 yards rushing, but had to leave the game early and was diagnosed with a concussion, the team said.

S Morice Norris

The biggest play of the game was the Giants’ 48-yard touchdown run courtesy of second-year back Eric Gray. The Giants offensive line created a nice hole to the second level where Norris, an undrafted free agent safety out of Fresno State, had the chance to tackle him but came up completely empty instead, leading to the touchdown. Norris had been having a good camp before the game as a depth option at safety playing as a centerfield option

WR Daurice Fountain

Fountain had been one of the early names to watch in camp for the wide receiver No. 3 job after running next to St. Brown and Williams, but he failed to record a catch on three targets Thursday. The Lions targeted 18 players on passing plays last night, with 12 recording at least one catch.

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