Lions-Bills observations: Matthew Stafford sharp, penalties mount

Matthew Stafford looks just fine. Can’t say the same, however, about the Detroit Lions’ injury report.

Stafford made his preseason debut Friday and looked sharp while completing 12 of 19 passes for 137 yards. He led two scoring drives, departed with a 10-7 lead and most importantly came out of the game healthy, after there’d been speculation about the health of his back given his lack of action so far this summer.

But while Stafford walked away unscathed, the Lions lost two starters to scary-looking injuries against the Buffalo Bills.

Jarrad Davis suffered a right leg injury on the game’s second snap and was carted to the locker room. Davis is one of the three most important players on the Lions’ defense, and his loss for any period of time would be a huge blow to a team that was counting on him to have an expanded role this fall.

Starting center Frank Ragnow suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury in the second quarter, and he, too, was helped off the field by trainers.

The Lions moved Ragnow to center this season after he had a nice rookie year at left guard. Graham Glasgow replaced Ragnow at center, and while there shouldn’t be much drop off at that position, the domino effect on the offensive line could be a good one.

Two of Kenny Wiggins, Joe Dahl and Oday Aboushi are in line to start at guard in Week 1, and none has done much to inspire confidence this summer.

[ Bigger potential loss for Lions: Jarrad Davis or Frank Ragnow? ]

More observations from Friday’s preseason game:

• Stafford played five series and (by my count) 33 offensive snaps. He put up good numbers and mostly avoided big hits, and his passing line could have been better if not for drops by T.J. Hockenson and Danny Amendola. Stafford thew a beauty of a touchdown pass to rookie running back Ty Johnson on a fourth-and-3 wheel route, and both drops came in the red zone.

• Johnson getting some red-zone work with the first-team offense was a bit of a surprise, but something he has earned. He has had a nice preseason and has something the Lions’ other running backs lack: Speed. Johnson didn’t look too sure on his catch, and he needed a nice pick from receiver Marvin Jones to get open, but if the Lions use him right this year, he could be a contributor on offense.

• Kerryon Johnson started at running back but didn’t play much. He had two carries for 4 yards. Don’t fret fantasy GMs. The Lions are saving him for the regular season.

• The Lions played most of the rest of their starters Friday. A’Shawn Robinson, Damon Harrison and Mike Daniels started on the defensive line, and Davis, Jahlani Tavai, Christian Jones and Devon Kennard started at linebacker. Trey Flowers, coming off shoulder surgery, did not play, but he’ll be in the lineup Week 1.

• Davis’ injury likely means a starting role for Tavai, the Lions’ second-round pick out of Hawaii, going forward. Tavai will have a lot on his shoulders calling plays, but this is why the Lions drafted him in Round 2.

• The Lions were called for seven penalties in the first half, including six in the game’s first 16 minutes. Christian Jones got a bit of a cheapie when he was called for roughing the passer on Bills quarterback Josh Allen that negated an interception, but Tracy Walker had a bad personal foul for hitting tailback Frank Gore out of bounds in the leg. Robinson had a worse penalty when he was called for taunting after officials marked off that flag.

Tavon Wilson drew another personal foul for a horse collar just before halftime. Penalties, obviously, have been an issue for this team in the past, and it was disappointing to see several players lose their cool.

• The Lions are going to need a new backup tackle if Tyrell Crosby can’t come back from his concussion. Andrew Donnal, playing left tackle, had a rough time trying to block Shaq Lawson with the second-team offense.

• Mixed night for Jamal Agnew, who muffed a punt that he recovered in the first quarter then took a kickoff back for a nice return just before halftime to set up a long Matt Prater field-goal try. Agnew should be this team’s return man.

• Rookie C.J. Moore made a bid for a roster spot with a big play on special teams, forcing a fumble that Will Harris recovered. Unfortunately, the Lions couldn’t capitalize as Stafford threw incomplete on fourth down, but Moore is a solid special-teams player and might not make it to the practice squad if the Lions place him on waivers.

• The Lions forced two turnovers in the first half and would have forced three if not for the Jones penalty. Justin Coleman punched a fumble loose from Cole Beasley to set up the Lions’ first field goal. The Lions, who finished 31st in takeaways last season, also had two takeaways last week in Houston.

• Last thing: Holy Prater! Prater made a 61-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to cut Buffalo’s lead to 14-13. With all the kicking problems in the NFL, it’s nice to have a reliable leg like Prater on your side.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Read more on the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter.