DETROIT -- The Lions returned all four running backs last season. They didn't need any more running backs. But Tion Green forced their hand.

He was good throughout the preseason last year, then exploded for 150 yards of total offense in the finale against Buffalo. He led the entire league in rushing, diminishing the chances Detroit could sneak him onto the practice squad. So the club kept him as a fifth tailback.

Sure, preseason games can be difficult on the eyes. But there are players every year who solidify their place on or off the roster based on their performance in this game. With that, here are nine players -- one from each position, except specialists -- who are on the roster bubble head into tonight's finale against Cleveland.

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WR Brandon Powell

Primary competition: Jace Billingsley

Breakdown: Here's betting the Lions have already settled on about 52 players for their initial roster, give or take. They've had months to look at these guys, you know? And playing another four quarters against a bunch of dudes who won't have jobs next week shouldn't change those evaluations much. With that said, receiver could be the exception. Powell has been that good in the preseason, leading the Lions with 99 receiving yards, and leading the NFL with 15 catches, plus returning that punt for an 80-yard touchdown. Then again, he plays a position where Detroit returns all four of their top players from a season ago. It's mighty close, and anything Powell does -- or doesn't do -- against Cleveland could factor into his fate.

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RB Ameer Abdullah

Primary competition: Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington

Breakdown: Abdullah entered camp straddling the roster bubble hard. He'll leave it in pretty good shape. He's earned a lot of good reps and done well with them, including averaging 4.1 yards per carry in the preseason and scoring one of the club's three rushing touchdowns. Yes, he's been a disappointment in Detroit. But he's the best insurance Detroit has on the ground, and can run some routes if Theo Riddick goes down too. Again, barring a trade, he's probably in. But if the Lions prefer better pass protection and more special teams value in that last running back spot, don't count out Zenner.

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QB Jake Rudock

Primary competition: Matt Cassel

Breakdown: Cassel has looked like the favorite for QB2 throughout camp, but Rudock has done his best to sway the club's thinking. He led furious comeback attempts each of the last two weeks, and finished one off last week with a 5-yard winner to Marcus Lucas with 30 seconds left in Tampa. His 313 passing yards, 72.1 percent completion rate, two touchdown passes, three touchdowns overall and 94.5 passer rating all lead the team. But part of the reason he leads the team in so many passing categories is all the playing time he's racked up in garbage time, which is never a good sign for a player's chances. Expect to see a lot of him tonight, which likewise wouldn't be a good sign.

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TE Michael Roberts

Primary competition: Hakeem Valles, Levine Toiolo

Breakdown: Based on camp and the preseason, Roberts is the Lions' fourth tight end right now. And they usually keep three. So will the Lions keep all four and trim at another position? Keep Roberts over somebody whose had a better camp? Give up on him just 16 months after taking him in the fourth round? There are no easy answers about what to do with him after a really disappointing summer.

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DE Kerry Hyder

Primary competition: Jeremiah Valoaga

Breakdown: The signing of Robert Ayers on Monday put Hyder squarely on the bubble this week. Of course, Ayers was also cut in Tuesday, so Hyder has been granted a reprieve. But the Lions are clearly open to upgrading their personnel at defensive end, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see them go in another direction at some point, either headed into cuts or after them.

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LB Eli Harold

Primary competition: Freddie Bishop, Trevor Bates, Alex Barrett, Cam Johnson

Breakdown: Acquired in a trade last week, Harold immediately becomes the favorite to back up Devon Kennard's big-linebacker role in the defense. Cam Johnson and Alex Barrett have gotten a lot of reps in that role, while Bates and Bishop have intriguing cases to fit into the reserve linebacker mix somehow too. But by cutting Harold, the Lions can retain that 2020 seventh-round pick they conditionally gave San Francisco in the trade. So it would behoove him to play well against the Browns.

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Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

OL Joe Dahl

Primary competition: Wesley Johnson, Kenny Wiggins, Leo Koloamatangi

Breakdown: A fifth-round pick in Bob Quinn's first draft class, Dahl's development has slowed. He's been inconsistent while backing up T.J. Lang at right guard and Frank Ragnow at left guard. Then again, that backup line hasn't been good in general. A solid showing in the preseason finale could help tip the decision his way.

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CB Sterling Moore

Primary competition: DeShawn Shead

Breakdown: Signed just last week, it's going to be hard for him to crack a cornerback rotation that has looked settled for a while now. Darius Slay will start, and Nevin Lawson will probably start opposite him. Quandre Diggs and Jamal Agnew have split time in the slot, while Teez Tabor has come off the bench. The wild card here is Shead, who hasn't played in a couple weeks because of injury. If the Lions want an extra corner on hand, Moore is in the mix to be the pick.

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S Charles Washington

Primary competition: Rolan Milligan

Breakdown: A special teams staple who played in all 16 games last season, and is among the leaders to replace Don Carey as a gunner. But Milligan is coming on strong after opening the preseason with a lousy performance in the preseason.