The Lions may have liked what they saw on Saturday, but the final week of camp still leaves a handful of real decisions on the table. The defense delivered the kind of outing that gets attention fast, the offensive line raised more questions than it answered, and the quarterback and cornerback battles still need clarity before camp wraps.
One of the loudest takeaways from the preseason win was how sharp the defense looked. Detroit held Washington to just six points, and the front got after the quarterback while the secondary showed better communication.
The group also made life miserable for the offense in another way, allowing only nine first downs. Even with preseason results carrying limited weight, the Lions did enough on that side of the ball to leave a positive impression at Ford Field.
There were individual stock boosts, too. Skyler Gill-Howard stood out again, with his ability to win off the line and affect the passer drawing praise.
Derrick Moore also helped himself, as both rookies consistently got after the quarterback and looked like players who could have a role in Kelvin Sheppard’s defense in 2026. Eric O’Neill was also mentioned as one of the biggest risers over the preseason after a second straight strong week of pressuring offenses.
Jackson Meeks also made noise in a different way. In the second preseason game, he caught four passes and added a strip on kickoff coverage, giving himself a strong week-two case as a rising player.
The quarterback picture, though, still appears to favor Josh Dobbs. Dobbs is viewed as the more mobile option, and his prior work in Drew Petzing’s scheme gives him an edge.
His rough start Saturday did not change that for the staff, especially with Luke Altmyer still dealing with rookie issues like holding the ball too long and having a few plays he would like back. Altmyer has shown intrigue and a higher ceiling, but Dobbs is still being treated as the leading candidate to back up Jared Goff.
His previous NFL experience matters, and it gives him the kind of value that keeps him ahead in the race for now.
The most important unresolved spot remains center. Cade Mays’ injury has created a problem the Lions still have not fully solved, and the competition behind him has not settled the matter.
Seth Scruggs is viewed as the likeliest fill-in until Mays returns, but he has not locked anything down yet. Seth Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Juice Scruggs were all part of the conversation, but the sense remains that the Lions do not have a clean answer there right now.
That uncertainty extends to the line depth as a whole. The reserve blockers did not have a good outing against Washington, and the blitz package gave them trouble.
Larry Borom had a rough game, and one observer noted that if Blake Miller had not already moved ahead of Borom, Saturday should have done the job. At the same time, the starting group, with Borom as the exception, handled its business well enough to ease some concern about the unit when healthy.
Even so, the long-term worry is how the backup group shakes out, especially with Detroit’s history of line attrition under Dan Campbell.
Cornerback is another spot without a finished answer. The bigger short-term question is the nickel role, where Abney flashed in both preseason games but also committed two penalties against Washington.
Roger McCreary has not made a huge push there either. Christian Izien is a possible option later in the year, though he may be needed at safety in Week 1 while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph recover from injuries.
Outside corner is also unsettled. Opposite D.J.
Reed, Rock Ya-Sin is currently being projected as the starter, while McCreary is seen as the likely slot choice. That said, the Lions still do not have a clear-cut solution for either job.
For all the encouraging signs Saturday brought, the final week of camp still has some sorting out to do. The defense looks ahead of the offense right now, the line depth needs answers, and the backup quarterback and cornerback jobs are still up for grabs.
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