Pride of Detroit
Checking in on every Detroit Lions player’s stock after their Hall of Fame preseason game against the Chargers.
The Detroit Lions’ first preseason game of the 2025 season is in the books, and it’s time to check in on the players who helped or hurt their stock against the Chargers.
The Lions rested 28 players (including 26 starters) in the NFL’s opening preseason game of the 2025 season, with another seven on injury lists (PUP/NFI).
Let’s take a quick look at an overview of the roster with our game day depth chart, noting that the players without a position color did not play in this game. Additionally, if a player’s name is written in red, they came into the game with an injury, but if they were injured in the game, their name is boxed in red.
After looking solid in practice for at least the last week, the Lions' quarterback play in this game was brutal.
Allen got the start, but he threw two interceptions in the first half and slid well short of the first down marker on third down in the two-minute drill, leading to a punt. He did have a nice fourth-down conversion on a scramble, but that was the only real positive.
Hooker played the final 30 minutes but only managed to lead the Lions to four second-half possessions. The Lions managed just 20 offensive plays, Hooker only threw the ball six times, completed just three, and was also charged with an interception—though rookie wide receiver, Dominic Lovett, was arguably more at fault.
Overall, the backups have the potential to be better, but they didn’t impress at all on Thursday night.
Reynolds continues to cement himself in the RB3 role. His rushing numbers were pedestrian (10 rushes for 38 yards), but he did it behind the Lions' second offensive line and still managed to score a touchdown.
Small looked solid, displaying some decisiveness and power, while Saylors showed the ability to get downhill quickly. It was more of a middling performance overall, though.
TeSlaa made two big catches early on offense— 24 and 22 yards—and his speed was also noticeable as a gunner on special teams. He was also the only reserve to not play in the second half (that I saw), showing his level of importance for the team this season.
Lovett flashed at times, securing a team-leading five receptions, but he managed just 31 yards, dropped his first target of the...
