Lions Stock Watch After Chargers Loss

The Detroit Lions learned plenty about their depth in their preseason opener.

In Thursday's lopsided loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, plenty of players vying for roles and spots on the roster were given the opportunity to showcase their abilities.

While the score indicates a poor performance, there were still some players who stepped up and owned their chances.

Here's the latest stock watch heading into the third week of Lions training camp.

Stock up

Isaac TeSlaa

TeSlaa has an NFL-ready build and good speed. After the Lions' 'Inside the Den' documentary revealed that the coaching staff sees an immediate role for him, Thursday's game provided a sample of the type of impact he can have on the offense early in his career.

While the rookie hasn't supplanted Tim Patrick as the third wideout by any means, he looks ready to contribute right away. He had two catches of 20-plus yards, including one that showcased his run-after-catch ability and physicality when he dropped his shoulder into a defender.

The Lions will find ways to utilize him early, be it on crossing routes or fades that would allow him to use his size to make plays.

Ahmed Hassanein

While Hassanein didn't have the flashiest performance, the tape indicates that he was consistently putting himself in position to get after the quarterback. He narrowly missed a sack in the first half, and was around the ball constantly.

Detroit has its top two edge rushers set in Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport. However, with Davenport's durability issues and the fact that Josh Paschal is on the NFI list, there is a path for the rookie to carve out a spot on the two-deep, and he'd be ready to contribute at a moment's notice.

In an ideal world, the Lions can play him in spot duty and let him develop behind the scenes. However, there's enough natural ability within this player that he could wind up being impactful as a rookie. He showed Thursday that his development is in a good place.

Giovanni Manu

Manu got plenty of action, mostly in the second half of Thursday's game. He showed some growth from last year, looking more confident in his pass sets and physical in the run game.

The key to his development has always been to unlock his natural gifts within his game, and his technique appears to have grown since the preseason last year. With the injury to Dan Skipper, Manu could be in store for more reps as the preseason progresses, and as such he'll have a chance to demonstrate that what he did on Thursday can be consistent.

Ian Kennelly

Kennelly announced his presence on the field with authority Thursday, suplexing Nyheim Miller-Hines to the turf on one of his first snaps on the field. The undrafted free agent out of Division II Grand Valley State showed plenty of physicality, which is a key trait for a safety.

In defending the run, Kennelly showcased that he is unafraid to come down and deliver a hit. This trait can translate to special teams, and as such gives him a fighting chance at earning a roster spot. Consistency and production will be key for him throughout the remainder of the preseason.