Detroit Lions' biggest winners and losers from preseason Week 1 loss

Mike Moraitis

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Detroit Lions' biggest winners and losers from preseason Week 1 loss image

After what seemed like an eternity after a devastating end to las season, the Detroit Lions were finally back on the football field on Thursday night, albeit for a preseason game.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as well as they would have hoped, with Detroit dropping the exhibition contest against the New York Giants, 14-3.

Preseason games aren't about wins and losses, though. It's really about evaluating players who are trying to earn a roster spot and/or role on the team. In preseason Week 1, the Lions saw several players help their stock, but others no doubt hurt theirs.

With the first preseason game in the books, it's time to take a look at the biggest winners and losers on both sides of the ball. Here's a look at who we came up with.

Lions winners, losers from preseason Week 1

Winner: QB Hendon Hooker

Hooker showed us a little bit of everything on Thursday night, flashing with both his arm and legs and showing good poise in the pocket and decisiveness with his throws.

While you never want to see a quarterback put his body out there like that, he also showed his toughness on this impressive run in which he ran over a Giants defender to complete a first-down run.

Hooker saw two series, but his best was his second, when he orchestrated a 14-play, 88-yard drive that ultimately stalled at the Giants' three-yard line after a turnover on downs.

He finished the game 5-of-9 passing for 36 yards and added four carries for 34 yards. Hooker didn't turn the ball over and looked better than his competitor for Detroit's backup spot, Nate Sudfeld, who simply doesn't offer as much.

Unfortunately, Hooker didn't get to play as much as we would've liked after he exited early with a concussion. That aside, it was a good night for Hooker.

Loser: QB Nate Sudfeld

While Hooker managed to shine, it was the opposite for Sudfeld, who had the first two quarters before replacing the injured Hooker in the fourth quarter.

Granted, his offensive line didn't do him any favors, but the veteran signal-caller struggled with accuracy and the Lions didn't move the sticks with him at the helm until the second quarter. He finished the first half with just 24 passing yards.

Sudfeld, who settled in a bit during his second stint in the game, also threw an interception, but he got bailed out by a great play by offensive lineman Kayode Awosika, who stayed with the ball and forced a fumble that the Lions recovered.

Sudfeld finished 13-of-24 for 96 yards and the pick, and he carried the ball three times for 14 yards. After looking like the better quarterback over Hooker all offseason long, the gap between the two tightened on Thursday night.

Winner: RB Sione Vaki

Vaki only saw action in the second quarter, but he made the most of it. The rookie carried the ball four times for 29 yards, good enough for 7.3 yards per carry.

His longest runs went for nine and 15 yards, with the latter being particularly impressive. Vaki showed impressive wiggle and vision on the carry.

Vaki no doubt helped his stock in his debut.

Loser: WR Maurice Alexander

Alexander reeled in just one catch for six yards, but the bigger issue was his showing on punt returns. After muffing his first chance (the Lions recovered), Alexander badly misjudged his second and instead of calling for a fair catch, he left himself open to get leveled.

The ball popped out after he took the big hit, but luckily he was ruled down. The Lions might want to give someone else a look in that spot next game.

Winner: WR Isaiah Williams

The undrafted free agent had two catches on the aforementioned long drive that featured Hooker, and he added two more throughout the game. He finished as Detroit's leading receiver with four catches for 35 yards.

Adding to all that, Williams had a pair of 28-yard kick returns.

Loser: The backup offensive linemen

While not every reserve offensive lineman was bad, the overall showing from the unit was not good. Sudfeld was sacked four times and Hooker had to escape pressure on more than one occasion.

Rookie Giovanni Manu and second-year offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal stood out as two of the more lackluster performers upfront.

Winner: DL Brodric Martin

Martin nearly had a sack that was ultimately cleaned up by Nate Lynn, and he had two passes defensed, the most on the team. His four tackles were tied for second-most.

Winner: DE Nate Lynn

As we just mentioned, the undrafted free agent notched a sack when he finished off what Martin started, but he also had another QB Hit and was one of three players with a tackle for loss. He finished with two tackles in total.

Winner: DE Isaac Ukwu

Ukwu had multiple pressures, one of which he turned into a sack. Granted, it was a coverage sack, but the UDFA showed good effort and motor to work his way around and complete it.

Winner: K Jake Bates

Bates would've had more than just one attempt on the evening if the Lions didn't go for it on fourth down as much as they did. Nevertheless, he nailed his lone attempt from 53 yards, and it had plenty of room to spare.

Bates came into this game after struggling in training camp and needed to make his kick in the worst way. He did just that.

Winner: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Last but certainly not least, a shoutout is in order for Rakestraw, who started on the boundary with Carlton Davis not playing and came out with his hair on fire.

The Missouri product made a third-down stop and a tackle in punt coverage early on, and his coverage on Isaiah Hodgins helped lead to a Brandon Joseph interception on a pass by Drew Lock.

It was a good start for the rookie, who continues to show a ton of promise.

Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis Photo

After cutting his teeth with Bleacher Report, Mike Moraitis has covered the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans for FanSided, and the Titans and New York Giants for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. On top of his duties with Sporting News, Mike is the managing editor and lead writer for Titans Wire.