Pride of Detroit
The curtain has closed on the Detroit Lions’ 2025 preseason, but the drama is far from over.
Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, and the rest of the staff have some difficult decisions ahead of them. Roster cuts will begin to roll in within the coming days, and the tape put forth in these preseason games will be instrumental to deciding who does or does not make the initial 53-man roster. Unfortunately for the coaches, the Lions’ loss to the Houston Texans in the preseason finale left much to be desired. Detroit fell 26-7 in a game where the offense sputtered and the defense failed to make a mark.
Which players helped or hurt their roster chances before the regular season?
The backup quarterback battle was essentially over last week, but Allen firmly crushed any slivers of doubt against the Texans. Allen was a perfect 5-for-5 in his limited appearance, totaling 66 yards and a beautifully thrown touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa. Over the previous three preseason games (a little over five quarters of play), Allen has gone 26-for-30 for 310 yards and five touchdowns—that is as perfect as you can get in preseason.
The turnaround from Allen since looking shellshocked against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame game has been staggering. Looking at the recent history of backup quarterbacks, how many of them have put together genuinely impressive preseasons? When a backup quarterback struggles, it hurts the evaluation of the entire offense. Allen’s success has made it possible to actually evaluate the wide receiver depth during live-game reps, as shown by breakouts from TeSlaa and undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks. Allen has been a winner this preseason, but so too has the entire offense as a result.
After being gutted last season, the Lions are putting together quite the committee of talented linebackers. The starters are set in stone (Jack Campbell, Alex Anzalone, and Derrick Barnes) and Malcolm Rodriguez will continue to rehab from his injury. However, the remaining names on the depth chart have impressed in preseason. Offseason signings Grant Stuard and Zach Cunningham have been stout thus far. Stuard looks fierce and incredibly quick, and not just as a kick returner. Cunningham has been downright dominant in run defense, silencing many rushing attempts throughout preseason.
Trevor Nowaske might not see the field as a defender this season, but he has quietly put together a solid preseason. Nowaske has played early and often, highlighting his versatility. He has played SAM linebacker with the top reserves (Stuard and Cunningham). When the duo has substituted out, it has been Nowaske taking over as the green-dot leader of the defense. The best way to describe his play is “looking for someone to hit.” Nowaske blew up a screen pass to running back Jawhar Jordan after reading the play perfectly. He has been decisive in run defense and looks much improved in coverage. He has demonstrated a nose for the football,...
