Before the Detroit Lions kick off their dress rehearsal game against the New England Patriots on Friday, let’s take another crack at the Lions’ 53-man roster. We’re at the halfway point of the preseason, and there are just a few more chances for players to make their case for a job this fall.

But a lot can change in so little time; let’s take a look at where things currently stand. Here is my latest 53-man roster prediction:

Quarterbacks (2)

QB Matthew Stafford

QB Jake Rudock

QB Brad Kaaya

No change here, as it looks more and more likely that Kaaya is headed for the practice squad. That’s not a dismissal of how Kaaya is playing, but when you’re only getting snaps in the fourth quarter, it’s not a good sign the Detroit Lions are valuing you as a third-string option worthy of a roster spot. He’ll get even less playing time on Friday.

Running backs (4)

RB Ameer Abdullah

RB Theo Riddick

RB Zach Zenner

RB Dwayne Washington

RB Matt Asiata

RB Mike James

RB Tion Green

Again, no change here. Matt Asiata is quickly playing his way off the roster, considering he’s averaging 1.6 yards per carry on 10 rushes so far.

Wide receivers (5)

WR Marvin Jones Jr.

WR Golden Tate

WR Kenny Golladay

WR TJ Jones

WR Keshawn Martin

WR Jace Billingsley

WR Jared Abbrederis

WR Dez Stewart

WR Dontez Ford

WR Michael Rector

WR Noel Thomas

In: Keshawn Martin

Out: Jared Abbrederis

I’m sticking with five receivers here, because the competition is just too good, but the Lions have been searching for a kick and punt returner all through camp, and last Saturday, they finally saw someone break through. Keshawn Martin had a kick return of 43 yards and a punt return of 22 yards.

While those are just two plays and Martin hasn’t shown much as a receiver, the Lions kept Andre Roberts, who had similar production both as a receiver and as a special teamer. I’m also still holding out hope the Lions can trade a guy like Jared Abbrederris for a defensive lineman on someone else’s roster bubble.

Tight ends (4)

TE Eric Ebron

TE Darren Fells

TE Michael Roberts

TE Cole Wick

TE Khari Lee

TE Tim Wright

TE Scott Orndoff

TE Robert Tonyan

In: Cole Wick

Out: Tim Wright

I got a little too caught up in the Tim Wright hype when the Lions added him. Wright immediately got hurt and didn’t play in the preseason game against the Jets. Cole Wick didn’t play in that game, either, but he has youth on Wright, so let’s just throw him in there for fun.

This is a low-key position battle if the Lions even decided to keep four tight ends, which I think they should. Both Wright and Wick appear to be healthy now, so Friday will be an important game for both.

Offensive line (9)

OT Greg Robinson

OT Rick Wagner

OT Cyrus Kouandjio

OT Cornelius Lucas

OG T.J. Lang

OG Graham Glasgow

OG Laken Tomlinson

OG Joe Dahl

C Travis Swanson

OT Taylor Decker (PUP)

OT Storm Norton

OT Corey Robinson

OT Nick Becton

OG Brandon Thomas

OG Connor Bozick

C Leo Koloamatangi

In: Cornelius Lucas

Out: Storm Norton

With Cornelius Lucas back in practice, I’m ready to cut ties with Storm Norton, who got way too much hype, way too early. Norton has been downright bad as the team’s primary backup offensive tackle, and that should have been expected from the get-go with an undrafted rookie.

The big problem here is that Lucas costs the Lions a lot of money and cutting him would free up nearly $1.8 million in cap space. But the Lions are so desperately thin at offensive tackle depth, that they need the player over the cap space and at least Lucas has some experience.

Defensive line (10)

DE Ezekiel Ansah

DE Cornelius Washington

DE Anthony Zettel

DE Alex Barrett

DE Jeremiah Valoaga

DT A'Shawn Robinson

DT Haloti Ngata

DT Akeem Spence

DT Jordan Hill

DT Jeremiah Ledbetter

DE Kerry Hyder (IR)

DE Brandon Copeland (IR)

DE Armonty Bryant (Suspended list)

DE Pat O'Connor

DE Giorgio Newberry

DT Khyri Thornton

DT Ego Ferguson

DT Caushaud Lyons

Out: Pat O’Connor

This has nothing to do with the play of Pat O’Connor, who I actually think played fairly well for a seventh-round rookie on Saturday. I just decided that the Lions need the extra roster spot in the secondary. O’Connor was my first choice out, but I think Alex Barrett could have easily taken his place.

Linebackers (5)

LB Tahir Whitehead

LB Jarrad Davis

LB Paul Worrilow

LB Antwione Williams

LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin

LB Thurston Armbrister

LB Steve Longa

LB Nick Bellore

Again, no changes here, but it’s becoming harder and harder to cut ties with Steve Longa, who has been excellent on special teams as of late. With so much talent in the secondary and such a big need for defensive line depth, I just couldn’t carve out space on this roster for a sixth linebacker.

Defensive backs (11)

CB Darius Slay

CB Nevin Lawson

CB Teez Tabor

CB DJ Hayden

CB Quandre Diggs

CB Jamal Agnew

CB Johnson Bademosi

S Glover Quin

S Tavon Wilson

S Miles Killebrew

S Don Carey

CB Tramain Jacobs

CB Adairius Barnes

CB Josh Thornton

S Alex Carter

S Rolan Milligan

S Charles Washington

In: Quandre Diggs, Don Carey

Out: Alex Carter

Quandre Diggs showed me something that I didn’t know he had last week: special teams skills. That’s exactly what Diggs needs to do to make that extra push for a roster spot. That being said, he could still very well win the nickel corner job, too.

I had assumed all offseason that it was Diggs or DJ Hayden, but in the end, I decided there was room for both of them. Brett Whitefield over at Pro Football Focus pointed out something on Thursday that is important to note in the nickel corner race:

#Lions CB DJ Hayden has only played 12 snaps at slot CB this PS. However his play on the outside has made him a roster lock in my opinion. — Brett Whitefield (@PFF_Brett) August 24, 2017

The Lions don’t have a lot of proven depth on the outside beyond their starters. Teez Tabor is coming along slowly, while Bademosi and Agnew are just special teamers at this point. If Hayden can play sufficiently on the outside and be the primary backup, while Diggs retains his spot as the nickelback, I think that’s a pretty decent setup for Detroit.

Keen-eyed Pride of Detroiters may notice that I have Johnson Bademosi in, despite the fact that I had him out in this week’s Bubble Watch. Well, I changed my mind in two days. Sue me.

Special Teams (3)

K Matt Prater

P Sam Martin

P Kasey Redfern

LS Don Muhlbach

Please someone find Kasey Redfern a job.