6 Lions who should play much more in the 2025 season finale

Ring in the New Year

In my previous article, I highlighted 11 Lions who should play much less (or just not at all) in the season finale vs the Bears.

Now, let’s focus on some of the players who should take their place. These are all young players in their 1st or 2nd seasons in the NFL who could benefit from some playing time to gain experience and show what they can do.

After all, you never really know what a player is capable of until you give them a chance…

Water sucks!

Gatorade is better.

-The Waterboy

Most of these players are also recovering from injuries, so seeing them get extended action will help gauge their recovery status before next season.

#1 Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE

Played 0 games this season

Hassanein was the Lions 6th-round pick this year but has not been seen on the field since preseason. On August 16, he suffered a right pec strain.

The way the Lions managed his roster spot after this injury was very interesting. Instead of placing him on IR which would have ensured the Lions rights to him, he was waived with an injury settlement which made him a free agent. Presumably, there was a handshake agreement to return to the team. This strategy preserved an IR-return slot.

Three months later on November 10, Hassanein signed back with the team to the practice squad - where he has remained since.

This final game of the season would be a good chance to see where he is at. The EDGE position has been and continues to be one of the greatest needs on the team.

#2 Giovanni Manu, OT

Played 4 games this season

The Lions traded up to draft Manu in the 4th-round in 2024. After his first start in the NFL on October 5, Manu was placed on IR with an unspecified knee issue.

His 21-day practice window opened on December 17 which means the season finale will be on Day 19 of the window. Assuming his knee is ready, the timing seems good to get him his 2nd start of the year.

In his first start, he played LT. For his second start, RT is a possibility with Penei Sewell dealing with a left ankle sprain. With Taylor Decker dealing with a chronic right shoulder and contemplating retirement, finding or developing a quality OT is of paramount importance.

#3 Miles Frazier, OG/OT

Played 4 games this season

This 5th-round rookie missed all of training camp and the first half of the season due to an unspecified knee issue. His first action was on December 4, but his offensive snap counts have dwindled since then (26 to 13 to 4 to 0). He played OG during all those snaps.

With the interior offensive line a major question mark for next season, getting Frazier more experience could be helpful.

There is even a possibility that Frazier could play OT in the future, so trying him out at that position is another option for this final game. During the Rams pregame, I snapped a picture of him taking practice reps at LT.

Regardless of if his future position is OG or OT, the hope is that he can become a solid starter in 2026.

#4 Mekhi Wingo, DT

Played 1 game this season

During a promising 2024 rookie season, this 6th-round pick reportedly tore his knee meniscus cartilage on November 28.

Not only did he miss the rest of that season, but he was out for much of the offseason which included a follow-up knee surgery. He started 2025 on the PUP list and made his first appearance of the season in Week 2 where he got 37 snaps. Surprisingly, that was the last time he has seen the field.

Wingo hasn’t shown up on the injury reports which implies he has been a healthy scratch all year, but there is concern for residual effects from his prolonged knee injury. The follow-up knee surgery may have been a clean-up procedure for further cartilage damage. Losing cartilage in the knee can have chronic effects.

At this point, it is highly questionable whether he is a part of the Lions future plans. For a team that needs better and younger players at the DT position, the fact that this 22-year-old hasn’t been able to get on the field is disappointing.

#5 Sione Vaki, RB

Played 10 games this season

The Lions traded up to get Vaki in the 4th round of the 2024 draft. He played both the safety position and RB while in college. In the NFL, he hasn’t played safety at all and has seen only limited snaps on offense.

Multiple injuries have slowed him down in 2025. A hamstring early in camp was presumably aggravated late in camp. He missed the first 2 games of the year due to the hamstring. Upon returning to play in Week 3, he immediately hurt his groin which kept him out the next 4 games.

Vaki has been available since then, but has suffered new injuries to an ankle, thumb, and shoulder.

My hope entering this season was that Vaki would emerge as the Tails to the Sonic and Knuckles RB team.

This hasn’t happened yet, but if the Lions get prudent with Sonic and Knuckles for the finale, it should be Tails time. Looking forward, given the health uncertainties of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch, maybe it’s worth revisiting Vaki at safety.

#6 Isaac TeSlaa, WR

Played 16 games this season

Fortunately, TeSlaa has been healthy this season and there are no active injury concerns.

Despite limited playing time, TeSlaa already has a highlight reel of TD catches. None of this is surprising to Lions fans who watched him in preseason and training camp.

With my recommendation to sit Amon-Ra and Jamo for the finale, it opens up the opportunity for TeSlaa to be the #1 WR and have his best game of the year.