ALLEN PARK -- Two quarterbacks or three?

There are two schools of thought when it comes to constructing an NFL roster, as 14 of the league's 32 teams carried just a pair of signal-callers to begin the 2013 season.

The Detroit Lions historically have had three QBs on the roster, but new coach Jim Caldwell's background suggests the team may only employ two on the 53-man roster when the Lions open the season against the New York Giants on Sept. 8.

In 10 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts from 2002-11, Caldwell's clubs carried three quarterbacks to open the year four times. That includes 2011, when the team kept an injured Peyton Manning on the active roster for the majority of the season.

In the six previous campaigns, the Colts started the season with three quarterbacks just once.

Caldwell spent the past two seasons with Baltimore. Both years, the Ravens rolled with just two QBs.

"Every team's different," Caldwell said. "I've been on some teams where we only had two. I've been on teams where we had three. There have been certain situations where we thought about having four, so it just depends. Every team is different, so we'll look at this one as we start to narrow it down and we'll see where we are."

Even with his history, the veteran coach acknowledges the risk of going with just two quarterbacks.

"It's tough to go into these days, this day and age, with the way in which our game is, without a third quarterback," Caldwell said. "I mean, it's difficult, but like I said, I've had a couple places where we've had a couple iron men."

Despite two injury-shortened seasons to start his career, the Lions have found that iron-man quality in Matthew Stafford. He's started 48 consecutive games coming into this season, a franchise record for the position.

Behind Stafford, Detroit has veteran Dan Orlovsky, Kellen Moore and undrafted rookie James Franklin.

The team signed Orlovsky to a one-year deal this offseason, which carries $125,000 in guarantees. He has handled the majority of second-team reps through the early stages of the offseason.

Moore, who has been the team's third-string option the past two seasons, has continued in that role during OTAs and minicamp.

If the Lions do keep just two quarterbacks, whether it be Orlovsky or Moore, Franklin could provide additional depth as a member of the team's practice squad.

-- Download the Detroit Lions MLive app for iPhone and Android

-- Follow Justin Rogers on Twitter

-- Like MLive's Detroit Lions Facebook page