Overview
- Coach Dan Campbell told reporters Monday that his plan is to play a significant amount of starters in Saturday’s preseason home game against the Washington Commanders but added that not every regular will see the field.
- Campbell shifted from his recent habit of protecting veterans because the Lions did not hold joint practices this camp and need live reps to test timing and line combinations in real game conditions.
- Detroit’s Week 1 showing, which Campbell called “really sloppy,” accelerated the decision after backups and bubble players struggled with drops, turnovers and penalties in the loss to Cincinnati.
- The move is partly aimed at resolving position battles and evaluating offensive-line groupings before NFL roster cuts reduce the squad from 90 to 53 players by Aug. 30.
- Fans can watch the Lions host Washington at Ford Field on FOX 2 with a noon kickoff, and the situation of receiver Jameson Williams is a developing injury note the team is monitoring ahead of cuts.