Jahmyr Gibbs is taking over as the Detroit Lions’ Week 12 snap counter.

Even though he is not the team’s starter, Detroit Lions rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs continues to see a large share of snaps.

On Thanksgiving, the Detroit Lions were defeated by the Green Bay Packers. Let’s examine the team’s Week 12 snap counts to get a better understanding of their personnel decisions.

Quarterbacks for the offense

Jared Goff scores 84 (100%)
N/A for Teddy Bridgewater

Despite the loss, the Lions played 84 offensive snaps, the second most this season, trailing only the Raiders (86).

Running back

Jahmyr Gibbs (60%)

23 (27%) David Montgomery
1 (1%) Craig Reynolds — 13 (57%) special teams snaps
(FB) 6 (7%) Malcolm Rodriguez — 16 (70%)

 

While some of this is likely due to game situation—the Lions falling behind early and having to abandon the running game—it’s still telling that Jahmyr Gibbs out-snapped David Montgomery nearly three-to-one. In almost every situation, the rookie has earned the team’s trust. Montgomery, on the other hand, is still making the most of his opportunities, outrunning Gibbs 71 yards to 54, including the team’s lone rushing touchdown.

Montgomery was injured near the end of the game but returned to the game. Still, it’s something to keep an eye on early next week.

Congratulations to Malcolm Rodriguez on his first NFL catch!

Sam LaPorta has a score of 77 (87%).
28 (33%) — 10 (43%) Brock Wright
James Mitchell: 5% — 30%

There have been no significant changes here, as James Mitchell remains primarily a special teams contributor.

Broad receivers

St. Brown, Amon-Ra: 77 (92%)
54 (64%) Josh Reynolds
Jameson Williams (63%): 53
24 (29%) Kalif Raymond — 5 (22%)
Donovan Peoples-Jones: 8 (ten percent).
Antoine Green is currently inactive.

Jameson Williams’ playing time has stabilized around 60-65%, as the Lions gave Kalif Raymond and Donovan Peoples-Jones more opportunities this week. Raymond made the most of his, finishing with 90 yards, his fourth-best total of all time. Peoples-Jones, on the other hand, did not get a single target in his eight snaps. He was also mysteriously removed from special teams this week. Last week, he was on the kick return team.

The offensive line

Taylor Decker has a perfect score of 84 (100%).
Graham Glasgow (84%) — 1 (4%)
Penei Sewell received an 84 (100%) rating. — 1 (4%)
Frank Ragnow scored 83 (99%).
Kayode Awosika (53%) — 1 (4%)
Colby Sorsdal (38%): 32 — 1 (4%)
9 (11%) — 1 (4%) Dan Skipper
DNP Michael Schofield (active)
Jonah Jackson has been ruled out.

Frank Ragnow only missed one snap while being examined by trainers for a minute or two before returning to the game.

However, rookie Colby Sorsdal’s short leash stood out. Sorsdal was benched before the end of the first half in favor of Kayode Awosika after struggling early in the game. Both players received some of the lowest PFF ratings on the team (Sorsdal: 48.2; Awosika: 30.8), and they collectively allowed 10 of Detroit’s 25 pressures. Jonah Jackson, please return soon.

The Lions also used a sixth offensive lineman (Dan Skipper) far more than usual in this game.

Defense

EDGE:

Aidan Hutchinson (95%): 53
Josh Paschal (52%): 29 — 1 (4%)
5 (22%) — 23 (41%) — John Cominsky
Charles Harris (23%): 13 — 9 (39%)
8 (14%) Romeo Okwara
INACTIVE (healthy scratch) Julian Okwara

Because of the Lions’ overall health, Julian Okwara was designated as a healthy scratch for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, Aidan Hutchinson is barely leaving the field, and Detroit is still looking for an effective rusher to replace him. Although Josh Paschal and John Cominsky continue to get the most opportunities, they only combined for three pressures in this game. Despite this, Paschal earned the team’s highest defensive PFF grade (78.3), owing largely to a strong performance as a run defender.

The Lions’ bench players aren’t faring much better when it comes to pass rush opportunities. Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris combined for two pressures on 17 pass rush snaps.

DT:

Alim McNeill received 45 (80%) — 6 (26%).
22 (39%) — 6 (26%) Benito Jones
Quinton Bohanna (39%): 22
7 (12%) Levi Onwuzurike
INACTIVE (healthy scratch) Isaiah Buggs
Brodric Martin is currently inactive (healthy scratch).

Despite leaving the game to be evaluated for a concussion, Alim McNeill played the most defensive snaps of the season. The nose tackle reps were split evenly between Benito Jones and Quinton Bohanna, indicating a quick increase in trust in Bohanna—despite earning the lowest PFF grade on the Lions’ defense and recording only one tackle in the game.

Isaiah Buggs was activated this week after regaining his health, but the Lions clearly prefer both Jones and Bohanna in the lineup. Buggs has had an unusual fall from grace after this coaching staff sung his praises all year.

Linebackers

54 (96%) Alex Anzalone
Derrick Barnes (71%): 40 — 8 (35%)
31 (55%) Jack Campbell — 9 (39%)
(LB) 2 (4%) Malcolm Rodriguez — 16 (70%)
1 (2%), Jalen Reeves-Maybin — 21 (91%)
0% for Anthony Pittman — 21 (91%)
Trevor Nowaske is currently inactive (healthy scratch).

Derrick Barnes appears to have surpassed Jack Campbell on the depth chart after taking more snaps in two straight games. It’s worth noting that Campbell’s experiment as a pass rusher on the EDGE appears to be mostly over. According to PFF, he has only played 10 snaps on the edge in the last four games.

Cornerbacks

Brian Branch: 5 (22%) — 56 (100%)

Cam Sutton: 56 percent (100%) — 1 percent (4%)

Jerry Jacobs: 56 percent (100%) — 1 percent (4%)

Will Harris: 0 — 16 (70%)

Khalil Dorsey: 0 — 20 (87%)

Chase Lucas: 0 — 21 (91%)

Steven Gilmore is currently inactive.

On Sunday, no corner left the field because Detroit preferred to stay in a nickel base for almost the entire game. Brian Branch, once again, served in a variety of capacities. Though primarily a nickel cornerback for the team, he would occasionally drop into the box as a strong safety or even replace Tracy Walker as a deep safety.

Safety

Kerby Joseph: 5 (22%) — 56 (100%)

Tracy Walker received 42 (75%) — 5 (22%).

Melifonwu Ifeatu: 0% — 14 (61%)

Tracy Walker saw a lot more action than last week, as the Lions frequently used two-high safeties to stop the Packers’ deep ball. Unfortunately, Detroit’s strategy didn’t pan out as planned, as Jordan Love connected on five of eight passes of at least 15 yards downfield.