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The Detroit Lions' first preseason game of the year ended with a loss, but there were a lot of great takeaways from the contest regardless. There's a far more contentious than previously thought backup quarterback competition brewing, while their offensive line looks a bit more figured out than we'd have thought considering so much turnover at tackle, center, and guard. With that, we can begin to predict how the teams' 53-man roster might look headed into this season. They'll need to get cuts done by August 31, which is when the league requires teams submit their final rosters. By then, they'll have played in two more preseason games, and gathered a ton more intel about their current group. Predicting Lions' 53-man roster following first preseason game OFFENSE Quarterback (2): Jared Goff Josh Dobbs We'll predict that the Lions keep UDFA Luke Altmyer on their practice squad, if possible, and he'll act as an emergency quarterback throughout the season. There's also a good chance that he gets snagged by a far more quarterback needy team than the Lions. It's a risk for them, but necessary, as last season they did not carry two quarterbacks into the season. Dobbs got limited snaps in preseason because he's still working his way through the motions of a new playbook and roster, but he got first-team offense snaps in those limited opportunities. Altmyer had a good preseason debut, but you're always going to err on the side of caution when picking between a veteran signal caller and a rookie. Wide receiver (4): Amon-Ra St. Brown Jameson Williams Isaac TeSlaa Greg Dortch The obvious picks here are St. Brown and Williams, but TeSlaa isn't really having the best camp so far. That doesn't mean he's a clear cut candidate by any means, though - he's too valuable as an athletic red-zone threat to give up on just yet. Dortch also inches his way onto the roster as a dual threat on offense and with the Lions' special teams unit. Running back (4): Jahmyr Gibbs Isiah Pacheco Sione Vaki Jacob Saylors Vaki might have some competition for the backup role to both Gibbs and Pacheco, but head coach Dan Campbell has yet to hint at him losing his momentum in training camp to Saylors. He's also back in camp this week after suffering a broken nose, which should help him to remain in the conversation at backup RB. Tight end (3): Sam LaPorta Brock Wright Tyler Conklin LaPorta returning is a huge boost to the Lions' receiving corp, and a huge boost for a Gibbs-led offense. The smaller back struggles mightily with blocking, so adding LaPorta back to the mix takes a bit of a load off of him in that respect. Additionally, Wright and Conklin are solid backups to LaPorta, although Wright was so-so in backup action last season. Tackle (4): Penei Sewell Blake Miller Larry Borom Miles Frazier The Lions began testing out Frazier at tackle in their first preseason game of the year, which seems to hint that they want him developing as a backup to Miller, Borom, or Sewell as opposed to as a backup to Christian Mahogany. The results weren't great - he had multiple holding penalties called against him that all helped to nix the Lions' momentum on offense - but the team clearly has a development plan for him at both tackle and guard. Guard (4): Tate Ratledge Christian Mahogany Ben Bartch Juice Scruggs Ratledge is the teams' likeliest lock at right guard, although he might be considered for their open starting center job with Cade Mays out for a while. That's why they should carry four guards into the year. If Ratledge is asked to be a bit of a swing guard-center option, they'll still have reliable depth headed into game day with this lineup. READ MORE: Amon-Ra St. Brown's quietly dominant training camp accentuated by Top 100 ranking Center (2): Seth McLaughlin Michael Niese McLaughlin will likely start in place of Mays to start the year, but again, the Lions have the option to play Ratledge or Scruggs here, too. DEFENSE Defensive end (4): Aidan Hutchinson DJ Wonnum Derrick Moore Tyler Lacy I know what you're thinking: where is Ahmed Hassanein? At this point in camp and the preseason, I feel good about predicting that it will come down to him or Lacy for that final edge rusher spot. If he continues to shine in both areas, then Lacy will be who I swap out for Hassanein. If Lacy keeps pace with Hassanein's production, then it makes that math a little more difficult. Defensive tackle (5): Alim McNeill Tyleik Williams Levi Onwuzurike Mekhi Wingo Skyler Gill-Howard Injury could shake up their depth here, but the Lions' defensive tackle look feels fairly set with McNeill and Williams leading the way. We've heard nothing but great things about McNeill's production so far in camp, and the same goes for Williams. Onwuzurike and Wingo just have to stay healthy enough through August to remain the Lions' starters, although they're getting some competition brewing from Skyler Gill-Howard's direction. Linebacker (5): Jack Campbell Derrick Barnes Malcolm Rodriguez Devin White Damone Clark With Jimmy Rolder out for a while with a hamstring injury, Devin White has a wide-open opportunity to gain a backup job with the Lions after signing a one-year deal with them this month. He could even push Malcolm Rodriguez for the starting job at the SAM, although we'll need a few more great reports from camp and some great showings in preseason to backup that prediction. Safety (4): Chuck Clark Christian Izien Avonte Maddox Thomas Harper Clark and Izien are starting Week 1 at safety for the Lions. That's a guarantee, barring injury, with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch likely to be on the IR to begin the year. They should be returning sometime in October, though, which leaves Harper on the roster bubble despite making the roster here. Cornerback/Nickelback (5): D.J. Reed Rock Ya-Sin Nick Whiteside Keith Abney II Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Reed is a lock to start at cornerback for the Lions, but of course, their roster gaps begins after him. Ya-Sin and Whiteside are still duking it out for the CB2 role in the Lions' defense, but neither feel like risks to be cut. Abney has also started taking snaps with the Lions' first team defense at NB, which could indicate that Detroit is not thrilled with the idea of starting Roger McCreary at this spot. SPECIAL TEAMS Place kicker: Jake Bates Punter: Jack Fox Punt returners: Greg Dortch, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors Kick returners: Greg Dortch, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors Long snapper: Hogan Hatten Saylors and Kennedy's best chances at making the Lions' roster come with special teams. If both can prove valuable with that unit, then Detroit would make room for them as returners immediately.