Zach Zenner should make the Detroit Lions' roster. If not, he’s going to be playing somewhere else in the NFL this fall.

His performance over the past two weeks has taken Zenner from a player destined for the Detroit practice squad to a player who, if the Lions cut him, would likely not make it all the way through waivers to reach that status.

That’s how good Zenner has been in August.

Players like him show up from time to time, smaller school rushers or receivers with massive college production, but questions about whether it’ll translate to the NFL.

Zenner’s college production -- three straight 2,000-yard seasons -- was never a question. But how would that work against players much faster, much stronger than the ones he saw at South Dakota State?

So far, the answer is just fine. Absolutely fine.

Yes, it is only the preseason, but unlike last week, where Zenner gained the majority of his yards against players who are unlikely to make NFL rosters, Zenner was magnificent Friday against the Jaguars. The more important part of it -- Zenner did most of his running against Jacksonville’s first unit.

He showed he can be just as good -- if not better -- when he’s facing an opponent’s starters. Zenner had eight carries for 85 yards against the Jaguars, but the biggest runs came against that first group, including a 41-yarder where he took a perfect path with the ball around the tackle, saw open field and ran down the sideline.

This is the key for Zenner. He looked more like the one-cut-and-go runner he needs to be against Jacksonville than he did earlier in camp. He’s breaking more tackles than he did at the start of the preseason. He’s running stronger and appears to be gaining confidence with every carry or catch he has.

Unlike some players who have one good preseason game and then fall off, Zenner has consistently improved.

He’s a realist and understands his main role once the regular season begins could be on special teams, especially with Ameer Abdullah and Joique Bell around. If there’s a reason the Lions don’t keep Zenner -- and it’s the only conceivable one at this point.

But Bell is still on the PUP list and Zenner has shown enough and done enough to prove he is an NFL running back. That’s reason enough for the Lions to find a way to keep him on the roster.