2025 Detroit Lions 16-man practice squad projection ahead of training camp, the Lions aren't giving up on a few guys yet

On Wednesday morning, we put out our pre-training camp depth chart projection for the Detroit Lions. Now it's time to take a look at the players who didn't make our 53-man roster and project who sticks around on the 16-man practice squad. 

1. QB Hendon Hooker: Just because I don't have Hooker making the 53-man roster, that doesn't mean I think they're just done with him. He heads to the practice squad and works his way back up. 
2. RB Craig Reynolds: The Lions moving forward with Sione Vaki is inevitable, but Reynolds is too important to the culture to let him get far. Therefore, I have him coming back on the practice squad. 
3. WR Tom Kennedy: I don't know where it is, but there's a league rule that says Tom Kennedy has to be with the Lions at all times. 
4. WR Dominic Lovett: Ultimately, I feel like undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks has the better chance of making the 53-man roster than Lovett does at this time, but Lovett can spend the year developing his game and making it hard to say no next time.
5. TE Shane Zylstra: Zylstra is a solid receiving tight end who's worth keeping around just in case. 
6. OL Kayode Awosika: The Lions would be wise to not let this guy get too far away. He played well in the times when the Lions needed him on the field. 
7. OT Mason Miller: This player intrigues me because I think the Lions would like to take their time with him and see where he can go. But he's probably not there just yet. 
8. Edge Isaac Ukwu: Really interested to see how Ukwu does this summer. He was pretty good last summer and even got a few elevations during the 2024 season. 
9. DT Brodric Martin: Yeah, it hasn't worked out, but it's hard to see the Lions just fully giving up on this guy. They're probably going to want to see what he can add from here.
10. DL Myles Adams: He was good for the Lions in short spurts in 2024, and the Lions would probably like to see if he can build on that, but not on the main roster. 
11. Edge Keith Cooper Jr: Really had a strong showing at rookie mini-camp and should find himself having a Ukwu-like summer that gets him an extended look. 
12. LB Ezekiel Turner: The Lions are really strong at linebacker, so they can't keep everyone. Turner is a strong veteran to keep around just in case. 
13. S Loren Strickland: This guy hits really hard, and I think the coaching staff loves that, but he might not be the strongest candidate to make the 53-man roster
14. S Ian Kennally: Another guy the Lions would probably like to grow with over time. 
15. LB Anthony Pittman: A solid special-teams linebacker who can fill in if the Lions need him to. 
16. OT Colby Sorsdal: Like Martin, the Lions might not be fully giving up here just yet. They might want to see if they can get something out of him.