Storylines to watch for in Lions' preseason finale against Steelers

The Detroit Lions play their final preseason game of the season at Ford Field against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday.

There are a few positional battles to keep an eye on as final roster cuts will be made by Tuesday afternoon.

Here are some storylines to watch for on Saturday when the game kicks off at noon.

Backup Quarterback

While Jared Goff will be the starter under center for the fourth consecutive season, the backup quarterback spot is up for grabs between Nate Sudfeld and Hendon Hooker.

Head coach Dan Campbell has previously indicated he's leaning towards having the more experienced Sudfeld as the backup, Hooker could still make the decision a challenging one with a solid performance against the Steelers.

Sudfeld is the safer option but Hooker offers more upside while still working on his craft.

Hooker played in the preseason opener against the New York Giants but suffered a concussion. He was able to get cleared in time for the Kansas City Chiefs game but Sudfeld started while he took over the second half.

Campbell said earlier this week that Hooker will get plenty or reps against the Steelers, giving him a chance to show his worth for the backup role.

It'll be interesting to see whether the Lions keep two or three quarterbacks on its roster.

No. 3 Tight End

While Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright are locks to make the team at the position, the rest of the room is unsettled.

The team hasn't made it clear whether they want to keep three or four tight ends and the final preseason game could help determine that.

Parker Hesse, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra are all competing for the final spots. It may not be much of a competition if Detroit decides to keep three on the roster as Hesse has made himself for versatile in taking on fullback duties.

However, if the Lions keep four, Mitchell and Zylstra could be fighting for that final spot. Both players are more pass-catchers than blockers (like Hesse) so whoever makes more of an impact in the game Saturday could surely find themselves on the team come next week.

No. 4 Wide Receiver

The top three spots at wide receiver are solidified by Campbell's team still needs a fourth wideout to step up.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond headline the group but now it will come down to four receivers to earn the next depth chart spot on Saturday.

Isaiah Williams is most likely the leading candidate so far this preseason, as he's performed well in comparison to others competing for the spot that include Donovan Peoples-Jones, Daurice Fountain, and Kaden Davis.

Campbell has also said he doesn't want Raymond to handle a heavy workload as the receiver will also see time on special teams as a returner.

If Williams once again shows consistency at the position against the Steelers, he may lock up the fourth spot. Otherwise, it could be up for grabs.

Edge Rusher Depth

It's a crowded room of edge rushers for the Lions as the team decides on who will fill out the depth at the position.

Led by Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal, the Lions have some players that may stand out more due to their versatility in playing multiple positions.

James Houston, Isaac Ukwu, Mathieu Betts and Mitchell Agude all will have opportunities to prove their worth in the preseason finale.

Ukwu, an undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss, has impressed Campbell so far and could be a leading candidate out of the names listed to solidify himself on the 53-man.

Although, a player who can play the SAM linebacker could be preferred, especially in defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's defense. Ukwu doesn't have a ton of experience playing that position, but that doesn't mean Campbell doesn't want him.

“When he got in here in the spring, he was last on the depth chart; it was, ‘Well, where can this guy play? He’s not the biggest guy. He’s not really a SAM, is he a defensive end?’ And he’s just steadily gotten better, and better and better, and he plays much bigger than he is. He plays longer than his length says. Every time we give him an opportunity, he just shows up," Campbell said earlier this week about Ukwu.