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.
Quarterbacks: D
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.
Running backs: C+
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 also a factor in the passing game, navigating upstream on a screen into a first down and delivering stout blitz pickups that left a few fresh battle scars on his facemask (and getting the chase-down tackle on the first interception). Reynolds nearly broke off a 40-yard touchdown but was nabbed by safety R.J. Mickens as the last man back.
Jabari Small was steady if unspectacular, capitalizing when blocking allowed and picking up 4–6 yards at times. He held his own in pass protection but didn’t flash much beyond the basics. Jacob Saylors, signed just Tuesday after an injury to Kye Robichaux, saw minimal snaps—with one noteworthy 4-yard carry—and wasn’t expected to make much noise.
The hope now is that Sione Vaki returns this week and suits up against the Falcons. These preseason reps are valuable nourishment for his development (and to spell Reynolds’s workload).
Wide receivers: C-
Isaac TeSlaa’s debut was the clear bright spot—galloping for back-to-back 20+ yard gains and flashing the size-speed combo that earned him the third-round draft-day call. Lovett showed his shiftiness in space, making defenders miss and picking up yards after the catch on short throws. But Lovett’s night was sandwiched by missed opportunities: a drop on one of Allen’s best throws to open the game, and a failure to secure a beautifully placed deep ball from Hooker late. Finishing with just 31 yards on nine targets is far from the efficiency this offense aims for.
Outside of TeSlaa and Lovett, the wide receiver room was nearly invisible. Jackson Meeks logged the group’s only other catch—5 yards. It was a quiet night from UDFA rookies Meeks and Jakobie Keeney-James, both of whom were expected to show more.
Tight end: D
After a strong camp showing, Shane Zylstra entered this game with a solid grip on the TE3 role. But his impact was minimal—one 5-yard catch on a play-action rollout and a holding penalty on the offense’s first snap. Kenny Yeboah saw extended playing time before leaving with an injury late in the third quarter, but he failed to capitalize, struggling both as a receiver and as a blocker. Both Zylstra and Yeboah were overpowered in the run game on multiple snaps.
Zach Horton’s only notable involvement came as a backfield blocker, lining up at fullback on a few plays—but otherwise, the tight end group offered little.
Offensive line: C-
This was a mixed bag. While the offensive line didn’t elevate the unit as a whole, there were flashes of strong individual play. The Chargers front also featured expected starters Otito Ogbonnia and Da’Shawn Hand (for the first two series), along with recent top-125 picks Junior Colson, Jamaree Caldwell, and Kyle Kennard.
The biggest disappointment was center Kingsley Eguakun, who struggled mightily with balance and physicality. He was frequently overpowered in gap and zone concepts, blown up on a pull block, and overwhelmed in pass protection with both quickness and bullrushes. The issues weren’t limited to top-end Chargers talent either—journeyman Naquan Jones and UDFA TeRah Edwards also consistently beat him.
On the flip side, Kayode Awosika looked like the best version of himself. He generated push in the run game, moved well as a puller, and held up in pass protection. If there’s a critique, it’s his targeting at the second level, but overall his play likely explains why he was the first lineman pulled near the end of the second quarter. Netane Muti wasn’t as impactful but had solid reps on double-teams and showed good mobility on the screen pass that sprung Reynolds.
Jamarco Jones and Dan Skipper each had their moments. Skipper remains a mauler in downhill run blocking, but struggles in pass pro, at the second level, and with balance. Jones had a whiff on one play to his side but was solid in protection and helped clear the way for Reynolds’ longest run by cratering the right side with his road grading.
Among the third-stringers, Giovanni Manu held his own and looked like he belonged—a win, all things considered. He looked more poised in pass protection and even created movement on a few runs. Mason Miller, however, looked a step behind throughout, struggling in both phases. Of the interior trio, only Trystan Colon flashed positively with a few competent reps.
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