The Detroit Lions will take on the Washington Commanders in their second game of the 2026 preseason, their only game at Ford Field until Week 1 of the regular season. With several position battles still unsettled and a lot of younger players added to the roster this offseason, the Lions are hoping to get some answers in this game.
“You need to feel like things are cleaned up; you’re not making the same mistakes twice,” coach Dan Campbell said of his goals for the game. “Particularly these young guys.
‘Okay, what did you learn from the last game?’ That’s really what you’re looking for: their growth when the lights are on. In practice, you can see growth, guys getting better. You were under the lights on Thursday night at Cincinnati, but now where’s it at”?
Previously, Campbell has stated that the plan is to play the Lions starters in this upcoming game, but with five practices in the last six days, including multiple padded and a full-team scrimmage, could those plans change?
“I’m not quite there yet. I don’t see (Jared) Goff playing,” Campbell noted.
With Goff not playing, the Lions will turn to rookie Luke Altmyer and recently signed Josh Dobbs to play quarterback in this game. Altmyer has been taking the majority of reps in practice, started the Lions’ first preseason game, and played all but one series with the reserves during the scrimmage, but Campbell insists that the battle for the reserve quarterback role is still very much a true competition.
“Dobbs is a bright guy. He’s played in this league. But also (we’re) making sure we got him up to speed,” Campbell stated. “Also, Luke’s (Altmyer) a young player, but he’s promising, so we were trying to soak him with reps. But we plan to get a look at Dobbs and let him go.”
Not only do the Lions plan to get a longer look at Dobbs in this game, but Campbell also revealed that he’ll get the start.
“We’ll start Dobbs, but they’ll (Dobbs and Altmyer) play equal amounts. That’s the plan,” Campbell said.
The Lions are also hoping to get some clarity with their starting offensive line. Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch are battling for the starting left guard role, but Bartch has been bitten by the injury bug in camp, limiting his opportunities. He only recently got back on the field and is now in concussion protocol, which may put an end to this competition with only four practices remaining in camp.
“That window is shrinking right now,” Campbell said of Bartch. “The most important thing is for him to get to where he feels right again and to where he can go.”
With starting center Cade Mays out with a wrist injury, the Lions have been looking to solidify their starting center. Juice Scruggs is the favorite for the temporary starting role (Seth McLaughlin is his primary competition), but he also only recently returned from a soft tissue injury, and the Lions have been careful to limit his reps in practices, but plan to start him against the Commanders.
“He just got back, and now he’s exclusively at center, and we’ve gotta kick some of the rust off. We’ve got to get that off and let those guys (the offensive line) work together. I did think yesterday (practice) was better, particularly in situational work where (the offensive line) needs to be on the same page. Juice has played center in real games; he’s suited for it, and it’s really about getting him up to speed with Goff and some of our calls, and being on the same page with the guards. Time on task, and we’ve got time to get there. I see Juice playing in this game with that OL, so this will be good work for them”.
