Scouting report: Will these Detroit Lions players make 53-man roster?

The Detroit Lions signed a handful of veterans in the final weeks of their off-season program who will compete for roster spots during training camp.

Neither Greg Robinson nor Cyrus Kouandjio practiced with the team after being acquired on the final day of minicamp, but the Lions did get a chance to lay eyes on three other additions in recent weeks.

Here’s a brief scouting report of those players and a look at their chances of making the 53-man roster.

RB Matt Asiata: The Lions signed Asiata in late May to provide insurance for a backfield that last year was crippled by injury. Ameer Abdullah missed all but two games following Lisfranc surgery and Theo Riddick still hasn’t returned from double-wrist surgery. A solid all-around player with the Vikings – he can play special teams, catch the ball out of the backfield and pass protect – Asiata’s chances of making the team will depend on the health of the backs in front of him (Abdullah, Riddick, Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington) and whether the Lions keep five running backs, a possibility after the release of fullback Michael Burton.

“He’s been performing well,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said in early June. “The fortunate thing is he had an opportunity to kind of go through a bit of our system when he came in for the tryout weekend (at rookie minicamp), so it wasn’t just completely foreign to him. And not only that, he adapts pretty well. What you do find about guys that have been around awhile in professional football, there’s not a whole lot of difference between what protection you use or what running plays you use here and there. Aiming points may change a little bit, but for them it’s just kind of like translating, ‘Oh, this is just like this particular play that we used to run when I was at such-and-such of place, Minnesota or whatever it might be.’ So I think his transition’s been smooth. He’s looked good. He’s working well for us.”

DT Ego Ferguson: The Lions signed Ferguson and Bruce Gaston in early June, about two weeks before Khyri Thornton was suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse. Ferguson is a former second-round pick of the Chicago Bears who’s struggled with injuries the last two seasons. Like Asiata, there's a crowded depth chart in front of him with Haloti Ngata and A’Shawn Robinson the projected starters, Akeem Spence the top backup and Jordan Hill and draft pick Jeremiah Ledbetter among those competing for rotational roles.

“You see a guy who has talent and has ability, he’s been around, can adjust pretty well. I think he’ll do well for us,” Caldwell said at minicamp. “But what we see him doing, he fits into our system and it’s just a matter of kind of getting him acclimated to what we do. But I think he’s going to be fine.”

OT Tony Hills: Hills is one of three experienced offensive tackles the Lions brought in after Taylor Decker underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum. The 32-year-old is a career backup with experience playing left tackle, right tackle and guard, but his chances of making the roster looked better before the addition of Robinson and Kouandjio. With Rick Wagner locked into the starting right tackle spot, Hills will have to beat out Robinson, Kouandjio or Cornelius Lucas for a job. His chances will be greatly enhanced if Corey Robinson, who spent the spring rehabbing from foot surgery, starts the season on the physically unable to perform list.

“Obviously his body of work that he’s done in the league, he’s a guy that’s played,” Caldwell said during minicamp. “Big body, smart, he’ll adjust and we think he’ll do well for us.”

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
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