The Detroit Lions have a lot at stake in 2026. Another disappointing season could make Dan Campbell's usually ice-cold seat lukewarm, and with no joint practices, they might be a bit behind in getting the competitive juices flowing.
As he usually does, Coach Campbell held most starters out of the preseason opener. Of the projected starters, only rookie tackle Blake Miller, left guard Christian Mahogany, and second-year wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa took the field in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Notably, the Lions will take a much different approach to their second preseason contest. When asked about his plans for the starters, Coach Campbell confirmed he'll give most of his top guys some run vs. the Washington Commanders.
The Lions will play most of their starters in Week 2 of the preseason
"You know I'm not gonna tell you guys, but not everybody will play," Campbell said, half-jokingly (h/(t Nolan Bianchi). "I would tell you that, but we are gonna play a significant number of starters. That's my plan right now."
While he didn't want to get into details, one can only speculate that the starters won't be out there for more than a couple of drives. Campbell usually prefers to have them sit through the dress rehearsals, but the decision not to hold a joint practice may have sparked this different approach.
Either that, or maybe he doesn't think the team is in game shape yet, and this will be the best way to get them up to speed before it actually counts. Of course, they'll continue to err on the side of caution regarding workload and injury prevention.
There weren't many conclusions to draw about the state of the team in the preseason opener. Of course, some guys stood out and seemed to secure their roster spots, but there's not much to say about the team's execution as a whole. For better or worse, it may have been a mirage.
Health is always at the top of every decision the Lions make at this point in the season, but the guys must shake off the rust and get their legs back under them at some point. There's nothing to replace actual game reps against another team that won't hold back and will give you their best shot on every snap.
The Lions are looking to bounce back after arguably the most disappointing campaign of the Dan Campbell era, which is a lot to say for a coach who went 3-13-1 in his first year in charge. Expectations are much higher this time around, and with no margin for error, they'd better be ready for when it counts.
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