In Detroit’s 24-23 preseason victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last week, Lions defensive lineman Brodric Martin played 30 defensive snaps – two more than he played as a third-round rookie in the 2023 NFL season.

Martin also exceeded his 2023 snap count in Detroit’s preseason opener with 33 in a 14-3 loss to the New York Giants on Aug. 8.

The Lions conclude their preseason schedule against the Pittsburgh Steelers at noon CDT Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit. NFL Network will televise the game.

But when the regular season arrives on Sept. 8, Martin will have Alim McNeill and Kyle Peko ahead of him on the Detroit depth chart for playing time at nose tackle.

“When it’s good, it’s good, and then when it’s not, it can be glaring,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. “And so it’s just that consistency of it. The good news is that, man, he can get in there, use his length, strike blocks. He’s strong, he’s physical. And then it’s just a matter of doing it over and over and over. He’s got to be able to just do a yeoman’s job play in, play out.

“Look, it’s a thankless job. It’s selfless. You’re in for the long haul when you play that position, the nose tackle. But he has grown, he’s gotten better, and that’s ultimately what you’re looking for.”

Detroit traded the 122nd, 139th and 168th selections in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals to make the 96th pick. The Lions chose Martin from Western Kentuckyat that spot, acknowledging they would have to wait for the return on their investment.

A defensive end and tight end at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa who also played basketball and threw the shot for the Jaguars’ track team, Martin started his college football career in 2017 with a redshirt season at North Alabama. But over the next three seasons at UNA, Martin started every game before transferring to Western Kentucky for two games.

“They expect a lot from me,” Martin said. “I’m trying to be the best I can be, the best God’ll let me be, and I’m really working as hard as I can. And just however it goes, you know, but I’m working.”

Martin was in the starting lineup against Kansas City on Aug. 17, and the Lions limited the Chiefs’ first-team offense to two field goals with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback.

“It was a great opportunity,” Martin said in the locker room after the game. “It was fun. We got to compete with the ones, with what many believe is the best in the world right now, so it was good. It was fun. …

“It was a big confidence booster for us. It felt good to hold them, know we can play with them boys and get the win.”

With roster measurements of 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds, Martin is the Lions’ largest defensive player.

“Really what I’m looking for when I’m out there is stopping the run,” Martin said. “This is what I want to do. I don’t want to go get knocked back a couple of yards. I want to hold my gap and play the next gap if I can. I want to stop the run. That’s what I’m really thinking when I’m out there.”

After Saturday’s preseason finale, the Lions kick off their 2024 regular-season schedule against the Los Angeles Rams at 7:20 p.m. CDT Sept. 8 at Ford Field in Detroit. NBC will televise the game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.