Jackson Meeks, man, he just went out there and turned a preseason win into a personal statement game for the Detroit Lions against the Commanders. This dude, a former receiver who started transitioning to tight end last season, pulled off two absolutely critical plays in Saturday’s 17-13 victory on August 22, making the front office’s 53-man roster decisions a whole lot tougher for sure.
The Ad-Lib Conversion That Kept The Chains Moving
Talk about heads-up football, you gotta check this out. Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer and Meeks were expecting man coverage from the Commanders. They had this mesh-rail concept drawn up, a play Altmyer said was “really, really good for man coverage.” But Washington dropped into a three-deep zone at the snap, messing with Altmyer’s read. What do you do? Altmyer escaped right, bought some time, and Meeks just found a massive open space. He made the catch on the sideline to convert a fourth down, letting the Lions chew up about three more minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter. It was an impressive ad-lib between two young players, showing some real chemistry in a tricky spot.
Fumble Forced, Game Sealed: Coach Campbell Sees the Upside
But wait, there’s more! Moments after that clutch fourth-down grab, Meeks delivered the ultimate game-sealer. After kicker Jake Bates drilled a 37-yard field goal to put Detroit up by four with only 2:30 left, Meeks flew down on the ensuing kickoff and absolutely knocked the ball free from returner Robert Henry. Lions linebacker Erick Hunter recovered the fumble, and that was it. One first down sealed the win. Head coach Dan Campbell is clearly seeing the vision for Meeks, saying, “You just continue to get better. He continues to grow.” Campbell highlighted Meeks’ strength, athleticism, willingness, and smarts, noting this “tight end thing is still kind of new to him.” Meeks caught four of his six targets against the Commanders, including a diving grab in the second quarter and a 10- and 11-yard catch earlier in that same drive, showing off that receiver background for yards after the catch. This kid is making an impact.
While he’s not a “shoo-in” for Detroit’s 53-man roster, especially after being stashed on the practice squad all last season, Meeks is forcing the issue. And get this: star tight end Sam LaPorta is dealing with a hip injury, and Campbell isn’t even sure if it’ll linger into the regular season. That could seriously open the door wider for Meeks. He needs to keep that impact rolling. The Lions face the Indianapolis Colts on August 29 for their final preseason game. Meeks needs another performance like this one to solidify his case before those roster cutdowns on August 30. This isn’t just about a preseason win; it’s about a young player fighting for his NFL dream.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply