Rising rookie Glasgow earning Lions’ trust on OL

Allen Park – Lions rookie Graham Glasgow rose to the occasion in his first NFL start against the Los Angeles Rams.

Glasgow, a third-round pick out of Michigan, played all 62 offensive snaps in last weekend’s 31-28 win and did a solid job protecting quarterback Matthew Stafford throughout the game.

“He’s making strides week to week,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said Thursday. “Really tough matchup for a young player in there with one of the best groups in the game, and especially one of the best players (defensive tackle Aaron Donald) in the game. I thought he held his own, and he fought and he scratched. He did a lot of good things, so we’re pleased with his development.”

At Michigan, Glasgow started all 13 games at center last season and played mostly right guard in 2014. In 2013, he spent time at both center and left guard. He entered training camp competing with incumbent Travis Swanson for the starting center spot.

In Week 5 against the Eagles, Glasgow received his first extended action and played 34 snaps when left guard Laken Tomlinson suffered a neck injury.

Then when right guard Larry Warford was ruled out against the Rams, it appeared Glasgow was going to take his place. Instead, the team decided to slide Tomlinson over and start Glasgow at left guard.

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“We just kind of looked at all options, and said, ‘That’s our best way to go,’” Cooter said. “It seemed to hold up pretty good.”

Glasgow and the rest of the line only surrendered one sack – the fewest since Week 1 – and four quarterback hits while helping open holes as the team rushed for 83 yards against the Rams.

"I think I did pretty well,” Glasgow said. “I think the whole offensive line played a pretty good game. There's always stuff that I can improve on, that we can improve on.”

With Warford returning to practice this week, Glasgow said he hasn’t been told if he’s going to start again this week. However, Cooter said the possibility of Glasgow earning more playing time as a starter – particularly at left guard – is being considered.

“I think it’s something we’re looking at, all those guys up front,” Cooter said. “We’ve got a bunch of young guys up there playing good, and some guys are playing better one week and another guy plays better the next week.

“I think it’s something we should make sure we do our full research on and figure out where we want to go after this.”

jhawkins@detroitnews.com

Twitter @jamesbhawkins