If there wasn’t anything more useless than preseason power rankings, it’s the preseason depth chart after the first week of training camp.
Monday the Lions released the first depth chart of the season which yielded a few surprises.
First, rookie running back Ameer Abdullah was listed behind Theo Riddick in the absence of Joique Bell. By all account Abdullah has been the most impressive back so far in camp and has some believing he could give Bell a run for his money once he returns from the PUP list.
Other areas of note include Tahir Whitehead ahead of Kyle Van Noy who missed significant time last season due to injury and quite frankly didn’t really impress upon his return.
With Haloti Ngata also on the PUP list, Caraun Reed and Tyrunn Walker are listed as the starters at defense tackle while on offense Manny Ramirez is listed ahead of first round draft pick Laken Tomlinson at right guard.
Here’s the entire depth chart via Mlive.com.
OFFENSE
QB: Matthew Stafford | Dan Orlovsky | Kellen Moore | Garrett Gilbert
RB: Theo Riddick | Ameer Abdullah | George Winn | Desmond Martin/Zach Zenner
FB: Michael Burton | Emil Igwenagu
WR: Calvin Johnson | Corey Fuller | Lance Moore | Greg Salas/Jarred Haggins
WR: Golden Tate | Jeremy Ross | Ryan Broyles | TJ Jones/Andrew Peacock/Vernon Johnson
LT: Riley Reiff | Michael Williams
LG: Manny Ramirez | Laken Tomlinson | Torrian Wilson
C: Travis Swanson | Darren Keyton | Al Bond | Braxston Cave
RG: Larry Warford | Taylor Boggs
RT: Cornelius Lucas | Corey Robinson | Xavier Proctor
DEFENSE
DE: Darryl Tapp | Devin Taylor | Corey Wootton
DT: Tyrunn Walker | Gabe Wright | Roy Philon | Jerel Worthy
DT: Caraun Reid | Jermelle Cudjo | Kerry Hyder
DE: Ezekiel Ansah | Larry Webster | Phillip Hunt
OLB: Tahir Whitehead | Kyle Van Noy | Brandon Copeland
MLB: Stephen Tulloch | Travis Lewis | Kevin Snyder
OLB: DeAndre Levy | Josh Bynes | Julian Stanford
CB: Darius Slay | Chris Owens | Josh Wilson | R.J. Stanford
CB: Rashean Mathis | Nevin Lawson | Crezdon Butler | Quandre Diggs/Alex Carter
SS: James Ihedigbo | Don Carey | Brian Suite | Taylor Mays
FS: Glover Quin | Isa Abdul-Quddus | Nate Ness | Isaiah Johnson
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Matt Prater | Kyle Brindza
P: Sam Martin
LS: Don Muhlbach
KO: Sam Martin | Matt Prater, Kyle Brindza
H: Sam Martin | Kyle Brindza
KR: Jeremy Ross | Josh Wilson | TJ Jones | Ryan Broyles/Ameer Abdullah/Quandre Diggs
PR: Jeremy Ross | Golden Tate | Ryan Broyles | TJ Jones/Ameer Abdullah