ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions return 10 starters on offense, and nine more on defense. They are a veteran team, and most starting positions are established.

But 12 days before the season opener, Detroit still doesn't have a starting right tackle.

LaAdrian Waddle started seven of the final eight games of last season at the position and was considered the favorite to reclaim those duties, but has had trouble shaking veteran Corey Hilliard.

"We haven't named one as of yet," coach Jim Caldwell said. "We've got a while before our first game. The guys are doing a tremendous job, I think, of working and challenging one another and we'll get a chance to see how they end up."

Waddle and Hilliard have rotated first-team snaps throughout camp, and neither has emerged as the starter with the preseason finale on deck Thursday night in Buffalo.

Waddle, who beat out a healthy Hilliard for the job at the end of last season, has performed slightly better in Detroit's three preseason games. He received two positive ratings and did not allow a QB hurry or hit on 67 snaps, according to ProFootballFocus.

Hilliard allowed two QB hurries and no QB hits on 71 snaps.

But Hilliard also started last week's exhibition against Jacksonville, which is considered the team's dress rehearsal and is treated like a game week. That could indicate he's leading the competition.

Still, he apparently didn't do enough to capture the position.

"Let me just tell you something about those two guys, is that there is a comfort level with them," Caldwell said. "They both are performers, they do a nice job, they perform extremely well. It is a very, very close competition.

"I think at this point we would feel very, very good regardless of which one ends up winning that particular job."

That could be the case. But players and coaches often talk about how important it is to have chemistry and stability up front, because players are so interdependent in the trenches. So on that front, it is not idea the post remains unsettled.

On the other hand, the Lions didn't name a starting right guard until around this time last year. And that one turned out pretty OK.