Sportsnaut
The NFL is finally back in action later tonight when the Detroit Lions hit the gridiron to take on the Los Angeles Chargers. Football fans can witness the Hall of Fame game at 7 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock.
While the first preseason game is far from must-watch TV, for football enthusiasts, it’s a welcome sign that more competitive matchups are on the way. The average fan may only tune in for the first five or ten minutes, but here’s what they should be watching closely later tonight.
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The Lions had the NFL’s highest-scoring offense last season, but that didn’t prevent them from selecting receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While TeSlaa is a lock to make the roster, the bigger question is how much of a role he can carve out on a Lions depth chart that features Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond. Seeing TeSlaa in action tonight could give us our first glimpse of an answer.
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Knowing they wanted more of a dominant presence along their defensive line, the Lions targeted Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams with the 28th overall pick in the first round. At 6-foot-3, 327 pounds, there’s no question that Williams has NFL size. But as a first-round pick, he’s expected to dominate in exhibition action, so let’s see what he’s capable of.
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Is the Chargers’ receiver depth chart overhaul complete? Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are long gone, the latter isn’t even in the NFL anymore. Replacing them are Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and now rookie second-round pick Tre’ Harris. A shifty receiver, Harris is expected to carve out a fairly significant role in the Chargers’ offense. and we can’t wait to see how fast he looks on an NFL field.
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Despite being the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Trey Lance has only made five starts and a total of 12 appearances in the past four seasons. Yet, he’s getting the chance to start the Hall of Fame game. Lance became a first-round pick thanks in part to his athleticism. Will his mobility be on full display tonight, or will we see the type of mistakes that caused both the 49ers and Cowboys to move on?
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If healthy, the Chargers should have a fairly potent backfield this season. Najee Harris is the model of consistency, topping 1,000 rushing yards all four years of his career. Yet, Hampton offers more big-play potential while still being able to fall forward on most occasions. If Hampton looks like a...
