The Detroit Lions are just over a week out from their first preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals on August 13th, and the biggest question hitting everyone in Allen Park is whether we will even see the starters on the field. This isn’t just a minor thing; it’s a huge deal for a team that has been laser-focused on getting back to basics this offseason, a trend we’ve absolutely seen play out in the first week of training camp.
The “Back to Basics” Approach Changes Everything For August 13th
For what feels like forever, the Lions have leaned hard on joint practices. Those sessions were the go-to for getting their starters the necessary exposure and intensity, letting them chill out and rest up during the actual preseason games. It was the norm, right? But now, with this fresh “return-to-basics” mentality, those joint practices are off the docket entirely. Poof, gone! That means the old playbook is out the window, and suddenly, the question of playing starters in a preseason game isn’t just a hypothetical anymore. It’s real, and it’s coming fast on August 13th.
Coach Campbell is Weighing His Options, And It’s Anyone’s Guess What Happens
Head Coach Dan Campbell, the man with the plan, was asked about this very topic at the start of training camp, and his response was totally non-committal. He made it clear he needs more time to really gauge where the team is at, saying, “I would like to, but there again, this thing moves as we get through these practices. What do we look like? Who needs work? Do they need to play together? Are there players that aren’t getting enough intensity in practice? And the only way to get them there is they have to play preseason games or we got to go live. So, we’ll work around that stuff. Right now I would like to, but we’ll see how it goes.” A lot has happened in the week since he said that, but we still don’t know if his perspective has shifted at all. Jared Goff and the rest of the crew are out there grinding, but what it means for their game time against the Bengals is still a giant question mark.
So, with all this swirling around, what do *you* think? Should Coach Campbell trot out the starters against the Bengals? How much is too much? SB Nation, with the help of FanDuel Sportsbook, is running a survey on Pride of Detroit, asking fans exactly these questions. Make sure you hit up THE FEED and vote in the poll, then drop your thoughts in the comment section. They’re checking those responses, and we’ll see the results later this week. Let’s make sure our voices are heard, because this decision could set the tone for the whole 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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