The Detroit Lions are staring down some absolutely brutal roster decisions with cutdown day less than two weeks out, and time is flying by to evaluate who stays and who goes. Their offense is sitting on a couple of serious “good problems,” especially after Teddy Bridgewater retired and left a hole at quarterback that’s been surprisingly well-filled.
Backup Quarterback Battle Heating Up in Motown
The backup QB spot in Detroit is absolutely wild right now. Both Luke Altmyer and Josh Dobbs showed up in the preseason opener, moving the ball super well. It’s a genuinely good conundrum for them! Our staff here believes the Lions will probably roll with the veteran, Josh Dobbs, mostly because he got some snaps with the starters even though he just joined the team days earlier. Altmyer had a strong game, no doubt, but Dobbs impressed too. Honestly, it’s a little surprising only one staffer wanted to keep both backups, but hey, you gotta make room for other positions, right? Jared Goff, of course, is the guy, but the depth behind him is something else.
Campbell Says This WR Room Is Different
Talk about a good problem to have! Beyond their assumed top four wideouts, there haven’t been any obvious standouts. But here’s the kicker: Coach Dan Campbell is convinced this is the deepest receiver group he’s ever been around in Detroit. He wasn’t holding back, either, saying, “That receiver room, this is the best receiver room we’ve had since I’ve been here in camp, top to bottom.” He praised their gifts, toughness, and how each one brings something different to the table, adding, “Every one of those guys has flashed on one day or another, has done something pretty damn good. So man, honestly, this thing’s up for grabs.” When your coach talks like that, you know the competition is fierce, and Amon-Ra St. Brown must be loving the talent around him.
Running Backs Are Jockeying for Position
It’s not just QB and WR where the Lions have tough calls. Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco are locked in for the top spots, but the depth behind them is a full-on cage match. Sione Vaki, after an injury scare, is basically a lock for RB3 now that he’s back on the field. He pulled in 11 votes, showing how much belief the staff has in him. Jacob Saylors, after a strong preseason outing, jumped two spots in votes, but he’s nursing an ankle injury. Jabari Small, who was injured and sat out, is now back, while Saylors is on the sidelines. Campbell himself said this RB4 battle is “neck-and-neck,” with guys “jockeying with each other right now. One guy’s a little bit ahead. The next day, the other guy’s a little bit ahead.” It’s going to be brutal to see who makes the cut.
With roster decisions looming, these Lions coaches have some seriously tough calls ahead on offense. Every rep, every flash in practice counts as they figure out who gets to stay on the roster for the upcoming season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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