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SB Nation    •   18 min read

Lions vs. Chargers recap: Detroit sloppy in all 3 phases of preseason debut

WHAT'S THE STORY?

2025 Hall Of Fame Game - Los Angeles Chargers v Detroit Lions - NFL Preseason 2025
Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

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,

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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:

First quarter

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 game, and followed it up with another 22 yards on the next play.

But on a third-and-2, Allen lofted up a deep shot to TeSlaa, who could not catch up to the pass and it was picked off again.

The Lions defense got another stop thanks largely to a first-down sack from linebacker Grant Stuard. He came rushing in on a blitz, and despite getting chopped down by a running back, he got back up and corralled Lance for the loss.

Lovett turned the punt return upfield for about 20 yards, setting the Lions up at the 40-yard line to start the second quarter.

Second quarter

Detroit’s offense got going again thanks to a trio of first downs picked up by Reynolds on the ground and into Chargers’ territory. On the last one, Reynolds nearly broke it and was tackled awkwardly, forcing him out of the game for a bit.

Allen then picked up a pair of fourth downs. First, with a scramble on fourth-and-3, and then again with a short pass to Lovett. Reynolds closed the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. 14-7 Chargers.

Jake Bates’ first kickoff landed short of the landing zone, giving the Chargers the ball on their own 40-yard line. Detroit appeared to get a quick stop, but Rakestraw was called for an illegal hands to the face penalty on a pass breakup, giving Los Angeles new life. Then, on third-and-6, Lance beat the Lions blitz with a quick slant pass to Lambert-Smith (Dicaprio Bootle in coverage). 21-7, Chargers.

The Lions had an opportunity to run a nice two-minute drill, but the offense went three-and-out. On third-and-4, Allen slid 2 yards short of the sticks, giving the ball back to the Chargers with 1:04 left in the half and two timeouts left.

But after a booming Jack Fox punt, the Chargers opted to run the rest of the clock out and take a two-score lead into halftime.

Third quarter

The Chargers got a big return on the opening kickoff of the second half. However, a great tackle for loss from Anthony Pittman on a screen forced Los Angeles into an immediate third-and-long and the Chargers came up well short.

But Detroit’s struggles on special teams continued. Jakobie Keeney-James muffed the ensuing punt, giving the ball to Los Angeles at Detroit’s 5-yard line.

However, the Lions defense held strong, forcing a chip-shot field goal. 24-7, Chargers.

Hendon Hooker finally took over with 11:26 left in the third quarter. A holding penalty on Mason Miller put the Lions into a third-and-long situation, and Hooker could not find an open receiver.

The Chargers methodically worked their way down into the red zone. Then, on third-and-7, Lance threw a jump ball that was nearly caught, but the receiver came down out of bounds. Another field goal for LA. 27-7 Chargers.

The Lions started to run the ball fairly well, but on the final play of the third quarter, tight end Kenny Yeboah got rolled up on, and appeared to suffer a right leg injury.

Fourth quarter

On the other side of the quarter, Hooker faced a third-and-3, but on a deep shot, Keeney-James was blanketed by the defender and the ball fell incomplete. Detroit opted to go for it at midfield, but Hooker’s scramble came up a yard short and the Lions turned it over yet again.

The Chargers finally moved to their next quarterback, D.J. Uiagalelei, and promptly went three-and-out. Lions rookie Ahmed Hassanein made a couple of nice plays on the drive:

Hooker’s third drive didn’t bear any fruit, taking a sack on third-and-5 thanks to a protection breakdown from right tackle Mason Miller.

The Chargers would add to their lead late thanks in large part to a 27-yard pass interference penalty on Bootle that set LA up at the 7-yard line. Detroit did get a nice goal-line stand—until the Chargers went for it on fourth down and converted. 34-7, Chargers.

Hooker ended his quiet night with a failed fourth-and-2 conversion out of the two-minute warning. He actually threw a nice deep shot, but Chargers defender Myles Purchase wrestled it away from rookie receiver Dominic Lovett.

The Chargers ran out the rest of the clock for a 34-7 final score.

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