The Lions still don’t look finished when it comes to the quarterback spot behind Jared Goff.
Brad Holmes has talked for years about putting real emphasis on the No. 2 job, but Detroit still seems to be searching for the right answer. The latest move came fast, with Josh Dobbs arriving after Teddy Bridgewater retired. Dobbs’ connection to offensive coordinator Drew Petzing made that a natural fit, and it also explained why the Lions moved quickly once Bridgewater stepped away.
Even so, the setup behind Goff still feels thin. Dobbs has flashed at different points in his career, but he’s also been the very picture of a journeyman, and his preseason work didn’t exactly lock down confidence.
Beyond him, the only other name on the depth chart is undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer. That’s why Holmes should still be watching for veteran options.
One name worth keeping on the radar is Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano revived their weekly notes column for the new season, and in Week 1 Fowler pointed to Brissett as part of one of the more interesting quarterback situations to watch over the first month. Fowler wrote:
"Arizona's quarterback situation is underplayed, possibly because of the Cardinals' perceived noncontender status and Carson Beck being a third-round pick. But they absolutely have enough talent to move the ball, and Brissett averaged 280.5 passing yards per start over 12 games last season.
If Brissett plays well but the Cardinals struggle to win, he could be a trade candidate at midseason. That opens a path for Arizona to see what it has in Beck, who acquitted himself well in the preseason, before considering their 2027 draft options."
That production stood on its own last year. Arizona won just one of Brissett’s 12 starts, but he still posted 280.5 passing yards per game and nearly a 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
The Lions will get a direct look at him in Week 5 if he’s still starting then, which is very possible.
Brissett also has the kind of background that makes the fit easy to see. Petzing was Arizona’s offensive coordinator last season, when Brissett played the best football of his career. Before that, Petzing was the Browns’ quarterbacks coach in 2022, when Brissett started 11 games and put up a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio with solid numbers beyond that.
His contract situation only adds to the intrigue. Brissett was under contract, then held out while trying to get something close to a starter-level bump in pay for this season. Now that those barriers are gone, he looks like the sort of player who could become available if Arizona decides to move him.
For Detroit, that makes him a name to watch. Brissett checks the boxes the Lions still seem to want: a quarterback who can play, and one with a built-in history with Petzing. If Holmes is still hunting for the ideal backup, Brissett belongs on the list.
In Other News...
Lions Make An Unexpected Week 1 D Line Move Before Saints
The Lions made an early defensive line adjustment ahead of their season opener, releasing Levi Onwuzurike from the active roster and rookie Tyre West from the practice squad. Onwuzurike had spent much of training camp on the roster bubble after dealing with injuries, but he still broke camp on the initial 53-man roster, making the move a notable shift this close to Week 1.
It is the kind of transaction that suggests Detroit is still fine-tuning the back end of its defensive front while the games now count for real. Dan Campbell also addressed the teams travel plans for an upcoming game in Germany, another reminder that the Lions are already juggling more than just the Saints and the usual opening-week prep. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Part Of A Bills Gameday Twist Detroit Fans Will Notice
Before the Lions kick off at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 13, the pregame scene will carry a distinctly cross-border flavor. The Bills announced they will play both the American and Canadian national anthems, with Aulii Cravalho handling the U.S. anthem and the Barenaked Ladies performing the Canadian one, a small but notable nod to the audience Buffalo has long tried to reach north of the border.
It also fits with the Bills broader push to deepen ties with Canadian fans, including an expanded radio network now reaching three major Canadian markets. For Detroit, it is just another wrinkle in a road trip that already comes with plenty of attention, because the atmosphere around this game is shaping up to be about more than what happens once the opening whistle finally sounds. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Are Taking A Real Gamble With One Starting Spot
The Lions are heading into Week 1 with an open question on the left side of their offensive line, and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing says the team plans to keep leaning into it. Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch are set to share the work at left guard as Detroit tries to sort out who fits best in the spot, with the competition framed less as a setback than as a chance to sharpen the depth chart before the season settles in.
Petzing stressed that the rotation is part of the process and is expected to keep going unless something breaks down. For Detroit, it is a calculated gamble at one of the most important spots up front, because the Lions are still trying to determine whether they already have the answer on the roster or whether the job will eventually belong to one player alone. [Read more 🡒]