Pride of Detroit
Handing out offensive grades for the Lions’ first preseason game against the Chargers
The Detroit Lions’ exhibition season opened with a deflating thud in a turnover-filled drubbing. Mistakes were abundant. The offense struggled to generate drives, the defense let the Chargers control the ground game and showcase Trey Lance, and the special teams units gift-wrapped field position before the opening possessions of each half. Still summer class is in session, this was on the syllabus, and grades must be handed out.
One of the more encouraging themes of training camp had been the improved efficiency of the Lions’ backup offenses, led by Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen. It was a stark change from recent years in Allen Park, with hope that momentum would carry into Canton. It didn’t.
Allen and Hooker oversaw nine drives that combined for fewer than 200 total yards, under four yards per play, just five passing first downs, and a 1-for-11 mark on third down (2-for-4 on fourth). Allen threw two interceptions and led two three-and-outs in his five possessions. His first pick, returned 60 yards to the Lions’ goal line, had as much oomph as me on an electric scooter going uphill on a gravel road.
Allen did settle in briefly, getting started with a play action rollout, hitting rookies Isaac TeSlaa (twice) and Dominic Lovett for gains of 10+ yards. But it ended in another interception. TeSlaa was disrupted at the line on an endzone shot, and veteran safety Tony Jefferson pounced on the throw like an appetizer platter of bang bang shrimp at a wedding cocktail hour. Allen guided one touchdown drive, powered mostly by the run game which included a fourth-down scramble. But his two-minute drill late in the half fizzled with a three-and-out under pressure.
Hooker didn’t fare any better. His four drives ended in two punts, a turnover on downs, and an interception—his final throw of the night. That last attempt, a vertical shot to Lovett on a skinny post, was ripped away by the defender. It was one of the few moments where Hooker resembled the composed, decisive quarterback he’s appeared to be in camp. Most of his drives lacked flow and crossed midfield just once.
To be fair, both quarterbacks were operating in a vanilla scheme with inconsistent protection. Drive-killing penalties and a couple drops didn’t help. But neither passer looked comfortable. Each missed open receivers, struggled with timing, and burned a timeout due to play clock mismanagement—small but revealing signs of a backup battle still lacking clarity. If either is going to seize the No. 2 job, they’ll need to speed up their processing, show better command, and string together cleaner possessions.
Seventy-nine rushing yards on 23 carries wouldn’t typically earn a passing grade, but context matters. This group dealt with some tough sledding throughout the night.
Craig Reynolds lifted the GPA with three runs of 10+ yards, including some hard-earned short gains and a physical goal-line touchdown. He was...
