Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Rising/Falling: Detroit Lions Week 1

Each week, we'll take a look at who or what might be rising or falling with the Detroit Lions.

RISING:

Tahir Whitehead: The third-year linebacker entered the preseason locked into a special-teams role and likely slotted as Detroit’s fifth linebacker. Now, he’s going to be a starter through a variety of circumstances. First, Whitehead played well throughout camp and always seemed to be around the ball. His lateral speed also helped there. He was also aided by an injury to Kyle Van Noy, giving him a chance to first back up and then overtake Ashlee Palmer as a strongside linebacker.

Nick Fairley: Not difficult for him to be on this list, especially since he is once again down 10 pounds and once again in the starting lineup for the Lions. The fourth-year defensive tackle has always been one of the most talented players on the roster but has been inconsistent. It appears his latest demotion might have finally given him the focus he needs as he begins his contract season.

Corey Fuller: The receiver won a roster spot and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in some sort of role within the offense at some point this season. He has an interesting height/speed composition that a lot of the other Lions receivers don’t have, so if he can continue to grow into the position, he could be a factor in the team’s offense before too long. But making the roster over Kris Durham, for now, merits inclusion on this list.

FALLING:

Kyle Van Noy: He’s out for half of his rookie season and won’t be able to practice for six weeks. He may pass Whitehead or Palmer at the strongside linebacker spot at some point, but he isn’t going to be the immediate starter the Lions drafted him to be. Even before his injury, he appeared to be inconsistent during the preseason, although that isn’t stunning for a rookie. He’ll be eligible to play in Week 10 against Miami.

Don Carey: The safety hasn’t practiced for a couple of weeks now and while he is on the roster, he is in a position to be passed by veteran Isa Abdul-Quddus and rookie Jerome Couplin both on the safety depth chart and on special teams. Hamstring injuries have a tendency to linger, so it is tough to know how long Carey will be unavailable.

Kevin Ogletree: The receiver has spent the entire preseason working with the first group, but his hold on the starting slot receiver position seems a bit tenuous. Ryan Broyles has had a very strong preseason and appears to be at least pushing Ogletree at the spot. Same with Jeremy Ross, who can play both spots, and possibly even Fuller, who would be an intriguing option there.

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