The Detroit Lions will get their only home preseason game of the summer on Saturday afternoon at Ford Field, where they’ll face the Washington Commanders.
A lot of eyes will be on defensive end Ahmed Hassanein, who has already made plenty of noise this preseason. He came away with two sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals and has put together a strong training camp as well.
Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp recently talked about what he’s seen from the second-year defender as he works into that phase of the game.
"He does a great job. I mean, the one thing about Ahmed is he goes out there and he works his tail off.
He's going to fight and compete, and you love that about him," said Fipp. "He's tough as heck, he's very, very competitive, he takes everything personal.
But one thing that is a challenge for him on special teams, a lot of our plays are wide open space plays. When you're playing defensive line, you're in a tighter confined box.
We've utilized some players like that in the past on kickoff coverage here, so maybe that's an area he can help us out.
"But really when you're talking like punt, punt return, it's going to be difficult," Fipp explained further. "And then can he match up a guy on kickoff return?
Defenders are used to getting away from blocks, not blocking as much. So, some guys are better at that than others and he's definitely worked at it for us.
So those types of players to me are more luxury-type players."
At quarterback, Josh Dobbs is expected to get the start, and Luke Altmyer should see a significant share of snaps as well. The Lions want both of them on the field for about the same amount of time so the staff can get a clear read on who should back up Jared Goff.
Saturday’s game is scheduled for 12 p.m. EST at Ford Field.
It will air on Fox 2 Detroit (WJBK), Fox 17 West Michigan (WXMI), Fox 36 Toledo and Fox 47 Lansing (WSYM), along with local affiliates. Jason Benetti, T.J.
Lang and Patti Cesarini will be on the TV call, while Dan Miller and Lomas Brown will handle the radio broadcast on 97.1 The Ticket and its radio affiliates.
In Other News...
Lions Secondary Question Just Got More Complicated With Joey Porter Jr
Detroits secondary already had enough questions attached to it before Joey Porter Jr. entered the conversation. The Lions are dealing with injuries and uncertainty at cornerback, which has kept that part of the roster under a spotlight as they try to sort out who can be trusted on the outside and how quickly help might be needed.
Porter being considered available as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal only adds another layer to the decision-making. He would fit the kind of high-upside swing a team like Detroit has to at least examine, but the health concerns and contract wrinkle make any pursuit more complicated than a simple talent upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Took Player Connection Further Than Most Coaches Ever Would
Dan Campbell has built his reputation in Detroit on being the kind of coach who does not just preach toughness, but tries to live it alongside his players. His style has long stood out around the NFL because it is so hands-on and so plainly authentic, from working out with players during camp to putting himself in positions that most head coaches would never consider.
Long before he was guiding the Lions, Campbell was already pushing that connection in unusual ways. As the Miami Dolphins tight ends coach, he once wore pads during practice so he could better understand what his players were dealing with physically, a move that helped shape the way he related to them and even rubbed off on other coaches around the league, including Shawn Jefferson and Mike Vrabel. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Have One Crucial Return Job To Sort Out
The Lions have most of their return game sorted, but one important job still needs a clearer answer heading into the 2026 season. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp has identified Tom Kennedy and Greg Dortch as the main candidates to handle punt returns, giving Detroit a two-man competition for a role that can quietly shape field position all year.
Dortch brings the more extensive punt-return background, while Kennedy is expected to be in the mix on kickoffs because of his size and durability. The Lions also have a cluster of options on kickoff duties, including Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki, Dominic Lovett and rookie Isiah Pacheco, and those decisions could come after the preseason game against the Washington Commanders. [Read more 🡒]