ALLEN PARK -- Lions GM Bob Quinn has until 4 p.m. Saturday to trim his roster to 53 players, but here's betting his initial roster is already almost entirely set heading into Thursday's preseason finale against Cleveland. Here's our latest projection of who's in.

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Running back (5)

In: LeGarrette Blount, Kerryon Johnson, Theo Riddick, Ameer Abdullah, Nick Bellore (FB)

Out: Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington

Injured: Nick Bawden

Change: None

Breakdown: When the Lions signed Blount in free agency and selected Johnson in the second round of the draft, it looked like Abdullah was in a precarious spot. Now as we head into cut-down week, his spot seems safer than ever. He's looked explosive in the preseason, and averaged a healthy 4.1 yards on his 13 carries. Simply put, he's the best insurance Detroit has for Blount and Johnson in the running game, plus Riddick in the passing game. As long as he isn't traded, it's hard to imagine Detroit heading into the regular season without him.

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Quarterback (2)

In: Matthew Stafford, Matt Cassel

Out: Jake Rudock

Change: None

Breakdown: No change here, despite some late-game theatrics from Rudock the last two weeks. His 313 passing yards, 72.1 percent completion rate, two touchdown passes, three touchdowns overall and 94.5 passer rating all lead Detroit. But with a guy like Stafford, who is currently riding the eighth-longest QB start streak in NFL history, Detroit isn't looking for the best on-field QB in that No. 2 battle. It is looking for the guy who is going to prep Stafford the best. And all signs continue to point to Cassel being the best fit. He has 13 years of experience in the NFL, and 81 starts, and he's played for eight offensive coordinators and faced countless defensive coordinators. And there's no magic number of touchdown passes that Rudock can throw against the end of a 90-man bench that's going to change that.

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Receiver (5)

In: Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, Kenny Golladay, TJ Jones, Brandon Powell

Out: Jace Billingsley, Teo Redding, Dontez Ford, Andy Jones, Chris Lacy, Bradley Marquez,Brian Brown

Change: Powell in

Breakdown: There's no more intriguing roster case heading into cut week than Brandon Powell. On the one hand, Detroit is stacked at receiver. It returns all four of its top wideouts from last year, one of whom is Golden Tate, who fills virtually the same role as Powell in the offense. Then again, Powell's production is undeniable. His 99 receiving yards are double any other Lions receiver. His 15 catches not only lead the team, but match an NFL high. And that 80-yard punt return for a touchdown against Tampa shows he has NFL athleticism.

It's almost the same situation as Tion Green, who led the NFL in rushing last preseason, but was trying to make the team at a position where everybody returned. Bob Quinn kept him anyway, and I think ultimately he does the same with Powell. But it's oh-so close.

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Tight end (3)

In: Luke Willson, Levine Toilolo, Hakeem Valles

Out: Michael Roberts, Sean McGrath, Marcus Lewis

Change: None

Breakdown: With this roster expanding to five receivers, there's no longer room for a fourth tight end. And while I hate cutting a fourth-round pick from last year, I'd hate cutting Willson, Toiolo or even Valles more. No tight end has produced more in the preseason than Valles. In fact, he has more catches for more yards than Willson, Toiolo and Roberts combined. And don't just take my word for it. "He's done a nice job," Matthew Stafford said. "I think he's coming in, he's playing pretty good assignment football and when he's had his opportunities, he's made plays. And that's all you can ask for, right? Put him in there, we throw you the ball, you get open, you catch it. And he's done a nice job of that."

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Offensive line (9)

In: Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow, T.J. Lang, Rick Wagner, Corey Robinson, Tyrell Crosby, Joe Dahl, Kenny Wiggins

Out: Brian Mihalik, Wesley Johnson, Dan Skipper, Jamar McGloster, Leo Koloamatangi, John Montelus, Beau Nunn

Change: None

Breakdown: The offensive line rotation is pretty much set, save for the last job at tackle and guard. I gave Robinson the nod over Mihalik because the Lions have shown a lot of patience with him over the years. Plus, he's coming off a pretty good game against Tampa. At guard, Wiggins and Dahl seem like the preferred options over Johnson and Kolomatangi. That could change, I suppose, but Dahl is trending up and Wiggins continues to rep in place of Lang in the starting lineup during the preseason.

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Defensive line (9)

In: Ziggy Ansah, A'Shawn Robinson, Sylvester Williams, Anthony Zettel, Kerry Hyder, Da'Shawn Hand, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Ricky Jean Francois, Cam Johnson

Out: Alex Barrett, Jeremiah Valoaga, Josh Fatu, Toby Johnson, Christian Ringo

Change: Johnson in, Cornelius Washington out

Breakdown: Washington's departure last week frees up a roster spot, and it's anyone's guess who it'll go to. Though knowing the kind of players Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia like to populate the end of their roster, here's betting it goes to somebody with position versatility. And Cam Johnson can line up at several positions in the front two levels of the defense.

That said, I'm also intrigued by what's shaking out in the starting lineup. A'Shawn Robinson has been supplanted by Ricky Jean Francois and Da'Shawn Hand the last two weeks. And given the way they've played, it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see Detroit open the season that way.

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Linebacker (7)

In: Jarrad Davis, Devon Kennard, Christian Jones, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Jonathan Freeny, Miles Killebrew, Eli Harold

Out: Freddie Bishop, Darnell Sankey, Trevor Bates, Chad Meredith

Change: Harold in, Bishop out

Injured: Steve Longa

Breakdown: The Lions are basically getting a free look at Harold after trading for him on Thursday. Either they like what they see this week, and fortify their depth behind Devon Kennard. Or they can cut him, and hang onto the 2020 seventh-round pick they conditionally gave San Francisco in the deal. Not a bad move at all by Bob Quinn -- and here's betting he has a role in mind for Harold.

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Defensive back (10)

In: Darius Slay, Nevin Lawson, Glover Quin, Tavon Wilson, Quandre Diggs, DeShawn Shead, Teez Tabor, Jamal Agnew, Tracy Walker, Charles Washington

Out: Mike Ford, Chris Jones, Rolan Milligan, Josh Okonye, Dexter McDougle, Sterling Moore

Change: None

Breakdown: It's hard to figure out what's happening with Shead. He opened camp as the CB2 opposite Darius Slay, but hasn't played in either of the last two preseason games. But he's practicing. Like I said, it's strange, and I don't know what to make of it. I'm leaving him on the roster for now and will ask Patricia about him this week.

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Specialists (3)

In: Matt Prater, Sam Martin, Don Muhlbach

Out: Ryan Santoso

Change: None

Breakdown: Prater missed that 62-yard field goal that led to the 109-yard touchdown return against Tampa. Something tells me his job is safe anyway.