Lions Lineup Coming 'Into Focus'
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The fourth and final preseason game is just a few days away, yet the Detroit Lions still have some important decisions to make.
Two of those decisions are at right tackle and right guard.
In the first preseason game, Dylan Gandy started at right guard and Corey Hilliard at right tackle. In the second game Jake Scott started at right guard and Jason Fox at right tackle. Last Thursday in the third game, rookie Larry Warford started at right guard and Fox again started at right tackle.
"I think there's still possibilities there but it's coming into focus," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Monday. "It's coming into focus over the course of training camp. There could still be something that could change our minds. It's important to finish strong, finish the way we started. All our positions are starting to come into a little focus but none of them are cemented yet."
Since Fox, the Lions' fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft, started the last two games, perhaps the Lions are leaning his way for the starter's job?
"We'll keep that to ourselves," Schwartz said. "All those guys are competing and they're all doing well. We'll have very good options at that position."
As for Fox, he said he doesn't have a clue.
"They haven't said anything to us," Fox said. "It's still preseason in my mind. All I can control is me. I've got to play to the best of my abilities in the game Thursday and it'll sort out how it sorts out."
In his career, Fox has played in five games with no starts. Hilliard has played in 37 games with five starts.
"He's a really good player. Corey's a heck of a player," Fox said. "They've obviously showed a lot of faith in him and he's been in the league a long time. He's playing some really good football right now."
Fox is currently listed on the first team on the Lions' unofficial depth chart, but he knows that's no guarantee of anything. But he does feel confident in his performance to date and he is focused on Thursday's game in Buffalo.
"Preseason's not over and this game's another opportunity to get better and show who I am,' Fox said.
Notes: Among the players who did not practice Monday were DE Ziggy Ansah, DT Ndamukong Suh, WR Calvin Johnson, WR Ryan Broyles, G Leroy Harris, S Louis Delmas, S John Wendling, TE Michael Williams, RB Montell Owens and P Sam Martin. Schwartz declined to give any details about injuries, including Ansah, who collided with Harris on Saturday and may have a concussion. ... LB Chris White, acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for quarterback Thaddeus Lewis, practiced for the first time with his new team Monday.
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