After the preseason injury to starting linebacker Jarrad Davis, focus drastically shifted to second-round rookie Jahlani Tavai. The linebacker out of Hawaii has faced an uphill climb since joining the team after many believed he was overdrafted by the Lions.
But since the beginning of training camp, Tavai has looked the part. Early on, he was getting second-team reps, and quickly graduated to splitting time with Davis with the starters. By the end of camp, he very clearly had a role with the first-team defense with or without a healthy Davis.