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Each week, we'll take a look at how the Detroit Lions' rookies fared the week before. This series will typically run the morning after a game. Maybe this is a good sign for Detroit, but the Lions didn't need as much production from their rookie class as they did a season ago, when they found immediate starters in Ezekiel Ansah, Larry Warford and a bunch of early contributors. Detroit's season-opening 35-14 win against the Giants showed the Lions have some rookies that will contribute early, but this could be a veteran-laced team at least early on. Here's how the rookies looked on Monday night: TE Eric Ebron (first round, North Carolina): Ebron played 20 snaps (30 percent) and was clearly the third tight end used by the team behind Brandon Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria. Ebron didn't see a ton of targets, either. Matthew Stafford looked his way twice and Ebron didn't haul in either catch -- although he didn't drop either one. Figure he'll end up getting more snaps as the season goes on. LB Kyle Van Noy (second round, BYU): He's on injured reserve/designated to return. He won't be doing anything for at least the first half of the season. OL Travis Swanson (third round, Arkansas): The only active offensive lineman who didn't see an offensive snap, but that's how the Lions want it this season because it means the interior line is healthy. He had nine special teams snaps, including some as a blocker on kick return. He's going to play special teams barring injury all year. DE Larry Webster (fourth round, Bloomsburg): Webster was inactive for the Lions on Monday night. CB Nevin Lawson (fourth round, Utah State): Lawson's development came real fast against the Giants. Lawson was thrown into the nickel role almost immediately after Bill Bentley left with a knee injury and he played 49 defensive snaps against the Giants along with 17 special teams snaps. He appeared to fare well, too, considering he was facing Victor Cruz most of the night. Lawson had one tackle and Pro Football Focus has Lawson targeted four times, allowing three receptions. Not great, but not terrible either, considering he was going to play only special teams entering the game. DT Caraun Reid (fifth round, Princeton): Reid played three snaps and registered a quarterback hit. He's going to be a rotational guy at best behind Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley but the hope for the Lions is he'll eventually be able to play a few more snaps per game. Somewhat weird to me is he played no special teams snaps. That was one of the things he did best at Princeton. WR TJ Jones (sixth round, Notre Dame): Is on the physically unable to perform list for now. Won't play until midseason more than likely. Even then will be down the depth chart at receiver. K Nate Freese (seventh round, Boston College): Freese made two field goals (27, 28 yards) and missed a field goal badly wide left from 43 yards out. Decent first outing for him, especially since he rebounded from the first miss to make two relative chip shots. OL Cornelius Lucas (undrafted, Kansas State): Lucas is the team's fourth tackle, but he was inactive against the Giants. S Jerome Couplin (undrafted, William & Mary): The safety played 23 total snaps (16 special teams, seven defense) and in those defensive snaps, had two tackles. He won't be replacing starter James Ihedigbo any time soon, but this was a good first step for Couplin, who could one day make a run at being a big contributor for Detroit.
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