The Detroit Lions' first preseason contest, the Hall of Fame game on Thursday night, didn't quite go as planned. Not that it matters in the end, but they were unceremoniously blown out 34-7 by the Los Angeles Chargers in a matchup that looked doomed from the start.
There was plenty of blame to go around, and the quarterbacks in particular struggled while the defense offered little resistance. While the results don't count in the end, it's still a great opportunity for players to prove themselves in real action.
That also means some players could seal their respective fates, though. Unfortunately for one undrafted rookie, it's become clear he needs to be sent home following a poor showing.
Always give God all the glory, the ups, the downs, doesn’t matter I will follow his path to the end🙏🏾
— Jakobie Keeney-James (@JakobieKJames) August 1, 2025
Lions Rookie WR Jakobie Keeney-James Struggles in Preseason Debut
Undrafted wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James, who shined at Massachusetts, had a day to forget. He failed to catch his only target and lost a fumble on special teams, though he was the featured return man with three kick returns for 73 total yards.
The only chance he had to make the team was as a special teams contributor. That he lost a fumble, the second of the night for Detroit, all but confirms he'll be cut sooner rather than later. He was already a long shot going into the game to break camp and needed to be perfect. Keeney-James was far from it, making head coach Dan Campbell's decision easy.
In 2024 in college, Keeney-James caught 50 passes for 839 yards and six TDs, albeit against lesser competition. It made sense for the Lions to take a flier on him and perhaps he'll carve out a career or even make the practice squad, but he doesn't belong on the 53-man unit.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Kalif Raymond, and Isaac TeSlaa are locks to be on the roster, leaving one or two spots for guys like Ronnie Bell, Dominic Lovett, Tom Kennedy, or Jackson Meeks. Keeney-James doesn't fit into that picture, so he's essentially auditioning for a role with another team or practice squad spot.
Perhaps he's turned heads at practice this summer but for now, it's safe to say Keeney-James' days as a Lion are nearing their end.