Time to take a closer look at the Detroit Lions’ snap count in their 48-42 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

attack

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff: 79 (100%)
Hendon Hooker: 0 (0%)

After playing 80 offensive snaps last week, the Lions are now playing 79. That’s a lot of playing time for the offense.

Running backs

Jahmyr Gibbs: 59 (75%)
David Montgomery: 24 (30%)
Craig Reynolds: 0 (1%) – 20 special teams snaps (56%)
Sione Vaki: 0 (0%) – 29 (81%)

With Montgomery dealing with an injury and the Lions forced to abandon the running game, they leaned on Gibbs more heavily than they normally do. His 75 percent play percentage was the highest of his 2024 season. With Montgomery potentially out for the season, it will be interesting to see if Gibbs becomes the workhorse or if Reynolds/Vaki the 1B becomes Gibbs’ 1A.

Tight ends

Sam LaPorta: 77 (97%)
Brock Wright: 18 (23%) – 19 (53%)
Shane Zylstra: 1 (1%) – 22 (61%)

Here too, the game situation probably determines how the Lions use their personnel. The Lions threw it 59 times, equivalent to just 15 games rushing. That meant more eleven players (a running back, a tight end) and, as a result, significantly less playing time for Wright.

Wide receiver

Amon-Ra St. Brown: 72 (91%)
Jameson Williams: 69 (87%)
Tim Patrick: 64 (81%)
Allen Robinson: 6 (8%)
Maurice Alexander: 0 (0%) – 6 (17%)

And here is the other half of more than 11 employees. Patrick’s 64 snaps are a season high for him, and Williams’ 69 snaps were the second-most this season – behind only Detroit’s game against the Buccaneers, when they threw the ball 55 times.

Offensive line

Penei Sewell: 79 (100%) – 7 (19%)
Graham Glasgow: 79 (100%) – 7 (19%)
Taylor Decker: 79 (100%)
Frank Ragnow: 79 (100%)
Kevin Zeitler: 79 (100%) – 7 (19%)
Dan Skipper: 5 (6%) – 16 (44%)
Christian Mahogany: 0 (0%) – 7 (19%)
Michael Niese: 0 (0%) – 7 (19%)
Colby Sorsdal: INACTIVE
Kayode Awosika: INACTIVE
Giovanni Manu: INACTIVE

The starting offensive line was finally back together, and Taylor Decker returned to the lineup and played every snap. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the Lions’ best performance from their front five. However, Dan Skipper deserves congratulations for catching a touchdown and then reportedly heading straight to the hospital for the expected birth of his child.

defense

EDGE

Josh Paschal: 57 (81%)
Levi Onwuzurike: 53 (76%) – 9 (25%)
Za’Darius Smith: 30 (43%)
Jonah Williams: 11 (16%) – 4 (11%)
Al-Quadin Muhammad: 8 (11%)

Paschal had a lot of playing time after his return, mostly on the sidelines. Onwuzurike also saw a lot of playing time in his first game back from injury. Despite spending most of his playing time on the sidelines, it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll be pushed inwards now that Alim McNeill is out for the season.

For the second week in a row, Za’Darius Smith had very modest playing time. Coach Dan Campbell explained last week why he played a smaller role.

“We took some reps away from him in some areas so we could really utilize him to his full potential and really showcase some of those reps, the third-down reps, second-and-long reps,” Campbell said. “He was still playing base downs and his performance was really good. So we’re trying to be smart with him and maximize the reps we get out of him.”

Will this strategy continue if injuries continue to rise?

DT

DJ Readers: 49 (70%)
Alim McNeill: 40 (57%) – 5 (14%)
Pat O’Connor: 29 (41%) – 23 (64%)
Myles Adams: INACTIVE
Brodric Martin: INACTIVE

The Lions went back to center back a bit with Paschal, Reader and Onwuzurike all capable of playing on the inside. However, expect Adams and/or Martin to be active next week since McNeill is not in the lineup.

Linebackers

Jack Campbell: 70 (100%) – 3 (8%)
Ben Niemann: 44 (63%) – 29 (81%)
David Long: 29 (41%) – 23 (64%)
Ezekiel Turner: 28 (40%) – 29 (81%)
Kwon Alexander: 12 (17%)
Trevor Nowaske: INACTIVE – INJURED

Since there was no Nowaske, it was replaced by a committee. Niemann and Alexander started at SAM and WILL linebacker, respectively, but Detroit quickly adjusted its strategies and gave Long and Turner a lot of playing time.

It was a battle for the entire unit as the Bills intentionally targeted the linebacking corps in the passing game and Detroit had no answer. Hopefully Nowaske and Alex Anzalone – who can return from IR this week – get healthy soon.

Cornerbacks

Terrion Arnold: 70 (100%) – 1 (3%)
Kindle Vildor: 49 (70%) – 20 (56%)
Amik Robertson: 24 (34%) – 6 (17%)
Carlton Davis: 16 (23%)
Khalil Dorsey: 2 (3%) – 11 (31%)
Emmanuel Moseley: INACTIVE

This unit suffered two serious hits during the game, with Carlton Davis suffering a broken jaw and Khalil Dorsey suffering a broken leg. That means it was up to Kindle Vildor to survive the rest of the game. It will be interesting to see if Vildor starts next week or if the Lions do some mix and match. Moseley is likely to be in the mix, and it’s possible Ennis Rakestraw will also be in the mix when he returns from injured reserve.

Security

Brian Branch: 70 (100%)
Kerby Joseph: 67 (96%) – 11 (31%)
Jamal Adams: 12 (17%) – 3 (8%)
Brandon Joseph: 0 (0%) – 18 (50%)

Same old usage in Safety. Jamal Adams may fit better into the linebacker category, although he played nine of his snaps at outside or slot corner. Either way, when he’s in the lineup, it’s close to the edge of battle.

Special teams

Jake Bates: 14 (39%)
Jack Fox: 10 (28%)
Hogan Hatten: 10 (28%)