Football is back in Ford Field. The Detroit Lions played the second preseason game of the season against the Washington Commanders, with the game kicking off at noon. As in the previous game against the Bengals, several Lions starters did not suit up, while the Commanders’ starting QB Jayden Daniels took the field alongside wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs.
Even though a majority of the Lions’ starters were missing, especially in the offense, Dan Campbell’s side showed character, winning the game by 17-13, making it the first preseason win of the new campaign. The Honolulu Blues had plenty of positives to take away from Ford Field, while there are also concerns Dan Campbell must address moving forward.
Shaky QB Depth Behind Jared Goff
Detroit Lions’ franchise QB is not playing today, missing back-to-back preseason games. Still, Campbell got the opportunity to check the quarterback depth, especially after the unexpected exit of Teddy Bridgewater.
Amid Goff’s absence, the newly signed signal-caller Josh Dobbs had a great start, showing his dual-threat ability with a 50-yard rushing touchdown. Aside from the impressive TD, he struggled under the Commanders’ pressure, as he was sacked once and also threw an interception. He logged a total of 74 passing yards.
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Similarly, the other QB option, Luke Altmyer, looked shaky under pressure after taking multiple sacks. The undrafted rookie had 86 passing yards. Needless to say, it is an area of concern for the Lions if Jared Goff gets injured during the regular season. Brad Holmes may want to explore more QB options before Week 1.
The Lions’ Defense Is Making Noise
The Lions’ offense may be getting all the attention heading into Week 1 due to the star power, but the defense is also quietly making noise in the preseason games. The Lions’ defense delivered a stellar performance at Ford Field, restricting the opponent to only 13 points.
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Lions’ pass rushers and secondary suffocated the Commanders’ offense, allowing just 35 total rushing yards and 9 first downs. Veteran D.J. Reed was a standout with 4 solo tackles; DJ Wonnum recorded a sack, and Chuck Clark and Nick Whiteside also had 2 solo tackles each.
Lions’ Rookie Class Delivers Another Strong Performance
The performance of the Lions rookies from the 2026 draft class turned heads against the Commanders today. The first-round pick Blake Miller had another impressive game, solidifying his position as the starting right tackle before Week 1. His elite run-blocking ability helped the team pile up 169 rushing yards in the game.
After a strong showing against the Bengals, fifth-round rookie CB Keith Abney had another good game. The 21-year-old made his presence felt with 3 solo tackles, proving he is competent to thrive at nickel.
Moore was No. 3 in the Big Ten in pass rush win rate last season at Michigan (19.8%)
After missing the Lions’ training camp due to a groin injury, all eyes were on the debuting second-round pick Derrick Moore, and he delivered on expectations. His 11-yard strip-sack of Sam Hartman showed why he could complement playing alongside the star pass rusher, Aidan Hutchinson. He logged 2 solo tackles and a sack. Rookie defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard, who was a sixth-round pick, continued to carry momentum from training camp and made one solo tackle and one TFL during the game.
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