Pride of Detroit
All the live news, analysis and highlights from the 2025 Hall of Fame Game between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers.
Well, it’s a good thing the regular season doesn’t start for another month, right?
The Detroit Lions opened up their preseason schedule on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, and not much went right. Detroit turned the ball over five times (twice on special teams), the defense allowed four touchdowns, and the offense never got in a rhythm under backup quarterbacks Kyle Allen or Hendon Hooker.
There were some individuals who stuck out (see: Isaac TeSlaa, Ahmed Hassanein), but on the whole, it was an undoubtedly disappointing performance from the Lions.
That said, it’s important to remember that Detroit played exactly zero starters on Thursday night. What we saw on Thursday is not likely what we’re going to see when the season opens up in Lambeau on September 7.
That said, Thursday night was certainly a wasted opportunity for many players to make their case for the 53-man roster.
Here’s a full recap of Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game:
The game got off to a bit of a rocky start for the Lions. Linebacker Grant Stuard took the kickoff return for Detroit, and immediately turned it over by fumbling it after running into his own player.
The Lions were able to hold the Chargers to a fourth-down attempt in the red zone thanks to a great open-field tackle from Rock Ya-Sin. Unfortunately, Los Angeles went for it, and Trey Lance lofted a ball just over Lions safety Loren Strickland’s head for a 5-yard touchdown pass. 7-0, Chargers.
Stuard returned the ensuing kickoff and gave the Lions decent field position at the 35-yard line. But Detroit’s offensive drive went nowhere. A holding penalty on Shane Zylstra set up a first-and-20 situation, and a Dominic Lovett drop on what would’ve been a big gain set up a third-and-long. Detroit essentially gave up on the drive with a draw play to Craig Reynolds for minimal gain.
Detroit’s second defensive possession went a little better. The Chargers converted a third-and-4 with a deep shot to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who picked up 28 yards after slipping by Ennis Rakestraw.
But good coverage from there helped hold the Chargers to a long field goal attempt, and Los Angeles’ 52-yard kick went off the left upright.
Kyle Allen tried to lead the Lions offense to more success on his second drive, and they picked up their initial first down thanks to a swing pass to Reynolds for 10 yards that was well-blocked by Detroit’s receivers. But a third-and-9 pass from Allen held up too long on an out route, and Chargers cornerback Nikko Reed picked him off for a near pick-six.
Two plays later, Los Angeles punched it in for a 14-0 Chargers lead.
The Lions offense finally opened up, thanks largely in part to third-round rookie Isaac TeSlaa. The Lions receiver picked up 24 yards on the first play of the...
