If the Lions decide to give their starters work against the Commanders on Saturday, a few names stand out as especially worth the reps.
Dan Campbell has already hinted that Detroit could go that route, and the absence of joint practices this year changes the equation. Normally, that’s where the Lions get their starter-on-starter work against another team. Without that setting, a preseason game becomes the cleanest chance to see how the first unit handles live action.
Campbell also made it clear this won’t be an all-hands approach. Not everyone will suit up. But several players in the starting lineup could still get meaningful snaps, and there’s real value in that for a team trying to sharpen its timing before the regular season begins.
Jared Goff is the obvious place to start. The Lions can’t afford to put their quarterback at unnecessary risk, but there’s still a case for a brief appearance.
Detroit has a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing, and Goff would benefit from getting a feel for his play-calling in a live, unscripted setting. That kind of work can matter, especially with the Lions coming off last year’s decision not to play starters in the preseason and a Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers that followed a sluggish start.
There’s also the matter of chemistry. A series or two in front of the home crowd, possibly behind a starting offensive line, would give Goff and Petzing a chance to build some trust in game conditions rather than just on the practice field.
Rookie tackle Miller also makes the list. He debuted last week against the Bengals and drew mostly positive reviews.
It wasn’t flawless, but it was a solid first look after the Lions took him in the first round. More snaps against the Commanders would help him in a few ways.
He’s still battling veteran Larry Borom for the job, so there’s no such thing as too much evidence right now. And the more game reps he gets, the better prepared he’ll be when the regular season arrives.
The same logic applies to Ratledge, who has seen some work at center in recent days, though that appears tied to Juice Scruggs being out. Ratledge looks lined up to start at right guard, and getting him next to Miller in a game would be useful. The two didn’t work together last week, and even a preseason environment at home can help them tighten up communication before the games start counting for real.
Sam LaPorta is another clear candidate. Coming off a season-ending injury, he hasn’t been in live action for a long time.
He doesn’t need a heavy workload to make the exercise worthwhile. Just getting back into the rhythm of playing would help, and the Lions know what his presence means after seeing the offense struggle without him late last season.
Then there’s Williams, a young player who could use every rep available. Detroit may need him to take on a major role in 2026 after a modest rookie season, so Saturday would give him another chance to grow in a game setting. A strong outing could build confidence, and even a simple run through against a new opponent would expose him to looks he’ll need to recognize once the regular season begins.
At cornerback, Ya-Sin looks like a steady veteran who may be locking down the second spot. A preseason appearance would give the Lions a dependable presence for a set amount of time and could serve as the final step in confirming him as a Week 1 starter.
Ennis Rakestraw has been uneven throughout camp, which has helped Ya-Sin’s case. Still, a strong showing from Rakestraw could keep that competition alive if he puts together a late push.
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Lions Still Have Big Lineup Questions Heading Into Saturday
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The back end of the defense has only become trickier with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph on the physically unable to perform list, leaving Detroit to manage some early-season uncertainty at a premium position group. For a team that likes to build its identity on depth and versatility, these are the kinds of decisions that can shape how the first month looks, even if the final answers are still a little ways off. [Read more 🡒]