A quick follow up on the cuts blog to answer some questions and share a few thoughts now that the Lions have tweaked their roster again:

• Ryan Nece should back up Alex Lewis at strong-side linebacker for now, but he'll push for playing time in the coming weeks and it wouldn't surprise me if he started at some point this year. He played SAM and was a big special-teams contributor in Tampa. Assuming Nece has as much left as the team thinks he does, the Lions are effectively committing to keeping Jordon Dizon in a backup role all year. Paris Lenon is well ahead of Dizon at middle linebacker, and with two capable SAM backers there's little chance Lenon moves to make way for Dizon after the bye week. Barring an injury to Lenon (or Nece or Lewis), I'd point to 2009 for Dizon. Until then, he'll be a special-teams contributor.

• We'll find out more from Rod Marinelli later, but I don't think running back Marcus Thomas fits in the return game. Mike Furrey's the man on kicks and Shaun McDonald on punts. Thomas, who had five kick returns in his college career, isn't a blazing fast guy but did put up decent numbers in the preseason (32 carries, 121 yards). He'd be a change-of-pace back from Kevin Smith.

• If the Lions sign Rudi Johnson — still not sure that's going to happen, and there are some injury questions there — I don't think that will affect Thomas' status. The feeling I get is that Johnson would knock Tatum Bell off the roster. Bell doesn't do any special teams, and you need that third running back to contribute in that area. Now, I guess Smith could be the special-teams guy — he worked on coverage during camp — but he's the starter and, despite only so-so numbers, he's had a good preseason.

• Lastly, Nuf is right. Corey Smith isn't going anywhere because he's a good special-teams player. That's partly why the Lions could keep 11 defensive linemen. Smith, who Marinelli likes, rookie Cliff Avril and second-year end Ikaika Alama-Francis can all play on special teams. If someone is to go, it's more likely a tackle like Shaun Cody. As for Dan Campbell, he's got plenty of recent injury history, but he's still the best blocking-receiving combination the Lions have at that position. He probably could have played last week if the Buffalo game meant something, but there's no sense risking him with the season-opener a few days away.