ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions are heading into a playoff rematch with the Washington Commanders this weekend.
It’s a chance for them to keep up with the Green Bay Packers in the division, not to mention inside the crowded NFC playoff picture. There are plenty of questions that need answers this week, so here are our answers for three of those:
Who is going to start at left guard?
It sounds like it’s going to be Kayode Awosika to start at left guard. But that doesn’t feel set in stone for the rest of the season, with Dan Campbell publicly pondering about shifting things around on the offensive line.
Still, in the first game without Christian Mahogany, the Lions are planning on starting Awosika. They have turned to Awosika in these moments before, and while they might move some things around, Awosika has a chance to win a starting job this weekend. He saw action at left and right guard as the first option off the bench in the previous game.
Awosika has started seven games for the Lions over the last three seasons, including one playoff game in 2023. Taylor Decker, the team’s starting left tackle, said he has zero concern playing next to Awosika again. He even turned to him during the Vikings game and said, “This is nothing new.”
Campbell has mentioned the possibility of getting more action for Trystan Colon and potentially tapping into his experience at center. The Lions coach said he’s considered everything when asked about moving Graham Glasgow back to guard, too.
“Well, I think we’ll start right now as usual,” Campbell said. “Yode (Awosika) goes in, and then we may start putting Colon in some spots here and move these guys around ... So, we’ll start as we kind of ended that game the other day, and then maybe we start moving some pieces around.
“So, that’s kind of where I’m at now. Doesn’t mean that I will do it, but I mean I’d like to do it today, at least a play or two and see what that looks like, see where we’re at. Maybe some walkthrough reps.”
We’ve heard this before. But is Isaac TeSlaa’s role finally about to grow?
If you feel like you’re reading this for the third time this season. Don’t worry, you probably are. The Lions are again saying it’s time to increase rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa’s role.
TeSlaa’s snaps and usage have plummeted in recent weeks. After back-to-back games with 20-plus offensive snaps, TeSlaa has only played 12 snaps over the previous two games. He has one catch since Week 2, and only two targets dating back to Week 3.
With the Lions looking to infuse more consistent explosion into their passing attack, getting the 6-foot-4, 214-pound rookie on the field more would be a good start. Kalif Raymond is always going to have a role on this offense for as long as he’s here. He should, and that’s not changing. But Raymond has basically been used as a fast-motion decoy rather than a legit WR3 through eight games.
TeSlaa has made the most of every chance thrown his way, dating back to training camp. The Michigan native has three catches for 54 yards and two touchdowns on only six targets this season.
Fellow wide receiver Jameson Williams said TeSlaa loves being here, and doesn’t think for a second that the rookie is anything close to being “discouraged.” Williams loved hearing that offensive coordinator John Morton planned to get TeSlaa involved more, saying, “I think that’s good for us because we got a lot of playmakers, and adding another playmaker is even more dangerous for other teams.”
“We’re going to get him the ball more,” Morton said. “And that helps with the other guys, so they’re not always playing 65, 70 plays. But we’re real happy with where he’s at. (Raymond) Leaf -- all these guys have a different skillset, and they’re all going to play. So, I think that’s important. And yeah, we’re going to get him more involved.”
How are the Lions approaching the rematch with the team that sent them packing in the playoffs last year?
The consensus around the locker room and among coaches seems to be, “Sure, if someone needs to remember last year’s crushing playoff loss for a little boost of motivation, then go for it.”
But the Lions are a different team this year, and so are the Commanders. The Lions are 5-3, stuck in the middle of a tight divisional and conference race. Washington is 3-6, missing its starting quarterback and top receiver as the Commanders cling to life.
There is a reason the Lions are eight-point favorites for a road matchup against a team that beat them in the playoffs back in January.
Aidan Hutchinson said, “Any good team will use anything they can for motivation,” and that Campbell has been using it to make points this week. Lions quarterback Jared Goff said there is something to that, but he feels they are more worried about avoiding a losing streak than any notions of revenge against the Commanders.
Goff added that if anyone needs to use it as a little boost, then he can understand some of that. And while Campbell might have used it as motivation earlier in the week, the Lions coach echoed his quarterback’s stance to end the week.
“There may have been a place and time, but it’s like -- we just all want to win,” Campbell said on Friday. “I mean, we just lost. And that, more than anything, you want to do everything you can to put in all the work you can, do all the little things right, check all the boxes to give yourself the best chance to come away with a win after a loss.
“Honestly, that’s what I’m thinking about right now. That’s what I’m thinking about. I don’t want to have another loss, and I know our guys don’t either. So, we’ve got to be ready to go, though, man.”
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