Pride of Detroit
This article will talk about which players played well and which did not in the Detroit Lions’ second preseason game. However, the meaning of post-game critique evaporates when there are bigger things at stake than a game of football. On Friday night, when Morice Norris suffered a terrifying and serious injury that warranted an ambulance, the Lions and opponent Atlanta Falcons opted to halt play and cancel the remainder of the game—football did not matter in wake of such a situation. Thankfully, it appears Norris is doing well.
The Lions had some positives and negatives on the field, but Norris’ recovery is what will matter most in the coming days.
After preseason debut in which no quarterback stood out in a positive matter, it was a very different story for the Lions’ next game. Kyle Allen was phenomenal leading the reserves. After Hendon Hooker exited the game late in the second quarter, Allen was subbed in to spark the offense. A bomb to Jackson Meeks followed by a crisp touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa did just that, giving the Lions their first points of the game.
The Lions wound up finishing the shortened game with 17 points, all of which came with Allen at the helm. His shortened day finished with a stat line of 120 yards and two touchdowns, as well as a pair of decent scrambles. Whereas Hooker looked like a developmental quarterback in need of polish—more on him later—it was Allen that looked like a capable quarterback. The veteran needs positive tape to catapult his way up the depth chart, and this game was just what he needed.
Muhammad silenced anyone that doubted his spot on the 53-man roster. After a very quiet Hall of Fame game from the defensive line, Muhammad showed up early and often for the Lions against the Falcons. On the first drive of the game, he nearly notched himself a sack, coming just a split second too late on his pressure. Second time was the charm, as on the next play, he brought down the quarterback for a sack. During the next defensive drive, Muhammad drew a holding penalty that killed the Falcons’ drive.
After emerging as a reliable substitute last season, Muhammad could play a vital rotational role early in the season. Showcasing some preseason pop is a positive sign for the state of the pass rushing depth chart.
The Lions’ rookie receiver continues to look like the best player on the field. Though his receiving total was lower than his first outing (two catches for 18 yards), he record his first touchdown of the preseason. It was a beautiful throw from Kyle Allen, but an even more beautiful display of hands and body control from TeSlaa.
TeSlaa did have two penalties, an illegal block on special teams and pass interference on a pick play on offense, but I would not view those as overwhelming negatives. For...
