Jared Goff isn’t shutting the door on preseason work this month.
With the Detroit Lions breaking in a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing and reshaping the offensive line, there’s been a real conversation about whether Goff should get a series or two in an exhibition game. The veteran quarterback, heading into his 11th NFL season, sounds willing to go along with whatever direction Dan Campbell chooses.
“I think I need whatever Dan thinks I need. I will play if they want us to play,” Goff told SiriusXM NFL radio at training camp this week.
“We have a new coordinator, there's certainly an argument for it. If he doesn't want to put anyone out there, there's certainly an argument for that, too.
Whatever Dan wants to do, we will follow suit and see where it goes.”
If Goff does take the field in preseason action this month, it would be his first appearance in one since Aug. 12, 2022, when he handled the opening drive against the Atlanta Falcons.
That 2022 season was the start of Goff’s partnership with first-year offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, a pairing that eventually turned into a strong three-year run in Detroit. Now, Goff is looking to build that same kind of chemistry with Petzing, who spent the past three seasons calling plays for the Arizona Cardinals.
Petzing’s job will be to steer the Lions toward a more run-first, balanced offense in 2026. That plan is expected to include periodic use of 13 personnel, with three tight ends on the field.
Goff is comfortable with that approach as long as it works naturally within the scheme.
“I think we're finding out right now kind of who we want to be and have a good idea, but you're still kind of working through that,” the longtime signal-caller said. “Drew will do whatever fits.
If we had six running backs, we'd put them all on the field if we thought they were all the best players. I think he's very flexible in what he wants to do.
We have a really good problem with a lot of really good skill players, and want to be able to find a way to get them all the ball.”
Detroit opens preseason play on the road Thursday, Aug. 13, against the Cincinnati Bengals.
In Other News...
Jahmyr Gibbs Extension Just Put One Lions Roster Hope In Trouble
Jahmyr Gibbs new three-year, $67.5 million extension secures a major piece of the Lions offense and also sharpens the attention on the back end of the running back room. With Gibbs locked in, Detroit can keep building around its top weapons, while training camp has continued to sort out the rest of the depth chart behind him. Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small have both turned in encouraging stretches, giving the staff more to evaluate as roster decisions draw closer.
Sione Vaki, meanwhile, has missed time with a broken nose and is now facing a tougher path to stick. Dan Campbell has made it clear that Vaki needs to show more than just versatility if he wants to make the team, especially in protection and in ways that help the offense beyond carrying the ball. In a camp where every rep matters, that leaves Vaki needing to make up ground quickly while the competition around him keeps pushing. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Camp Still Leaves Big Questions About Who's Really Ready
Day 7 of Lions training camp brought another sweltering workout, and the heat showed up in the participation report as much as on the field. Several players were limited or held out altogether because of heat-related issues or injuries, while Jahmyr Gibbs was back on the practice field after missing time.
Gibbs still was not fully back in the mix, though, and Tyler Conklin also remained in a careful ramp-up after coming off the PUP list. Conklin worked only in walkthroughs and individual drills, with team periods still ahead, while other players such as Teddy Bridgewater and Isiah Pacheco sat out altogether, leaving Detroit with plenty of bodies to monitor as camp keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Camp Just Raised The Stakes For One Crowded Position
The Lions open practice session on Saturday offered another glimpse at a defense still taking shape, and the linebacker room is suddenly one of the more closely watched spots on the roster. Head coach Dan Campbell is expected to address Malcolm Rodriguezs ankle injury after Rodriguez left Tuesdays practice early, adding a layer of uncertainty to a group already working through early camp evaluations.
Detroit also brought in Devin White this week to raise the level of competition, and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has pointed to Whites experience as part of the appeal. For a unit that wants to stay flexible as the season unfolds, the added depth gives the Lions more options, but it also makes every practice rep feel a little more consequential. [Read more 🡒]