Top-graded Lions in preseason loss to Giants

Football is back and that means it’s time for Detroit Lions player grades!

As always, it’s important to remember that these are very small samples from the team’s first game action in months — a game that didn’t feature starters.

With that in mind, let’s check out Pro Football Focus’ player grades from Thursday’s game against the New York Giants.

RELATED: Takeaways from Detroit Lions' preseason loss to Giants

Offense

The top-graded Lions offensive players were:

• Center Duke Clemens — 90.0
• Offensive tackle Dan Skipper — 89.0
• Offensive tackle Connor Galvin — 79.5
• Running back Sione Vaki — 76.1
• Offensive lineman Kayode Awosika — 69.3
• Tight end Parker Hesse — 69.3
• Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones — 69.0
• Center Michael Niese — 68.6
• Wide receiver Isaiah Williams — 68.5
• Offensive lineman Jake Burton — 66.4

Meanwhile, the lowest-graded Lions were quarterback Nate Sudfeld (38.1), offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (43.7) and running back Jermar Jefferson (45.4).

Overall, those numbers seem to pass the eye test, as Sudfeld struggled most of the game and Jefferson totaled just nine yards on five carries while Vaki flashed in his brief action, Williams led the team with four catches for 35 yards, and Peoples-Jones had Detroit’s biggest play of the game.

For as well as Galvin played, it’s extremely unfortunate that he was injured and may be out for awhile.

Defense

The top-graded Lions players on defense were:

• Amik Robertson — 87.4
• Linebacker Mitchell Agude — 81.5
• Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. — 80.3
• Defensive end Nate Lynn — 78.5
• Safety Brandon Joseph — 78.3
• Linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin — 73.4
• Linebacker Isaac Ukwu — 71.8
• Defensive tackle Brodric Martin — 71.5
• Safety Loren Strickland — 70.3
• Cornerback Steven Gilmore — 68.2

Rookie corner Terrion Arnold was also solid (67.1). Meanwhile, the lowest-graded Detroit defenders were edge James Houston (28.0), defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo (28.3) and linebacker DaRon Gilbert (40.9).

Those poor grades may be more surprising, as each of those three had a flash play. However, they also had plays where they were out of place and missed assignments, thus their lower scores.

Gilbert still led the Lions with four tackles.

On the positive side, Lynn and Ukwu each recorded a sack, and Lynn was credited with a whopping five pressures in 22 snaps, easily the most on the team, which generated 17 as a whole.

Ukwu and Houston each had two while Wingo and Martin had one, and Joseph snagged an interception.

The Lions are back in action next Saturday for their second preseason game, which will be in Kansas City.