Two of the Lions’ most hotly contested position battles essentially came to an end this week, and neither winner was happy about how he got his job.
Antwione Williams is expected to emerge as the Lions’ starting strong-side linebacker now that Brandon Copeland is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle, and Cornelius Washington is likely to assume Kerry Hyder’s starting spot at defensive end after Hyder suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.
[Dave Birkett’s game-by-game picks for the 2017 Detroit Lions]
Both players took first-team reps at their respective positions on Wednesday, the Lions’ first full practice after Copeland and Hyder left Sunday’s preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts with injuries.