Detroit, MI
Position Battles to Watch in Lions’ Preseason Finale
The Detroit Lions are nearing the end of the preseason, and as a result the time to make key roster decisions is running out.
Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes have seen plenty since training camp opened in mid-July, as players have made their pitches for a roster spot over the last month with their performance. Though the Lions have much of their starting lineup locked into stone, the depth behind those starters will be key.
Several position groups have ongoing battles for important depth roles. With starters unlikely to play in Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, the game itself will be a showcase for players looking to make the final roster.
Here are three position battles to watch in the Lions’ preseason finale.
Backup quarterback
If all goes according to Dan Campbell’s plan, Hendon Hooker will be the starting quarterback in Saturday’s game. He said he hopes to start the Tennessee product during the week, and actually planned to in Week 2 had he not gotten injured and missed practice time.
As a result, Hooker’s final preseason audition for the backup job could be an extended one. Campbell is likely weighing multiple options as far as how long to play. Nate Sudfeld will likely get reps at some point, but it remains to be determined just how much both passers play.
Campbell offered some clarity on the backup job, stating that Sudfeld has “the upper hand” over Hooker in terms of experience and time with the system. It may not be finished, however, as Hooker has the opportunity to make a strong case for the backup job in Saturday’s game.
Detroit appears to be being patient with Hooker’s development, and while Campbell wouldn’t 100 percent commit to keeping three quarterbacks, he seemed to imply that was the direction it was going during his press conference Tuesday.
Wide receiver 3/4
The wide receiver position has been one that has caught plenty of attention throughout camp, particularly for the lack of clarity on the spots behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Campbell named Kalif Raymond as WR3, but admitted the team would prefer not to play him a heavy workload because of his ability as a returner.
Plenty of players have stood out at points in practice, such as Kaden Davis, Daurice Fountain, Isaiah Williams and Donovan Peoples-Jones. However, Campbell has said that they are still missing the necessary consistency that would allow the staff to feel confident in their options.
Williams could be the biggest benefactor of a big game Saturday. He has been the top playmaker for the offense each of the last two games. Though he may face an uphill climb toward a roster spot, the Illinois product has made a strong case and can continue building it with another good showing.
Tight end 3/4
With Sam LaPorta dealing with an injury and Brock Wright not playing in the preseason, Saturday will be the last of three opportunities for the Lions’ depth to compete for the third tight end role.
This competition has been one that is unique, because the players competing for the third tight end role all have vastly different skill sets. Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell have the pass-catching profile, while Sean McKeon and Parker Hesse are more known for their blocking ability.
In the end, the Lions could elect to keep four players at this position. It could shake out to be one receiving and one blocking tight end that stays alongside LaPorta and Wright, so Saturday’s game will carry a lot of weight at what could be one of the final positions with available roster spots.
Detroit, MI
How to watch the Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons – NBA (1/1/25) | Channel, stream, preview
DETROIT — After a tough loss to end 2024, the Detroit Pistons enter the New Year with some vigor and spark, trying to stay in the postseason hunt on Wednesday night when they host the Orlando Magic.
- Watch the Detroit Pistons on FuboTV (7-day free trial)
The Pistons come into 2025 in arguably the best position they have been in years. They did fall victim to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in their latest matchup this past Saturday, but it put an end to a three-game win streak, which helped Detroit climb into a postseason position. The Pistons ended up going 5-6 in the month of December, but ended the calendar year by winning four of their final six games.
The positive surge has moved Detroit into 10th in the Eastern Conference, the last spot in the Play-In Tournament. The team sits three games back of the Milwaukee Bucks for sixth place.
The Magic are trying to stay far ahead of the four Play-In spots as they are struggling to keep up with the best teams in the East. They managed to win three of the final five games of the calendar year, including a one-point win over the Brooklyn Nets this past Sunday. Orlando ended December with a 6-7 record for the month.
The Magic are fourth in the East, nine games back of the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers.
This is the second of three meetings between the Pistons and Magic this season. Orlando won the first matchup at home in November.
NBA BASKETBALL
Orlando Magic (20-14) vs. Detroit Pistons (14-18)
When: Wednesday, January 1
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, Mich.)
Channel: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), DirecTV Stream
Check out the NBA standings and results on NBA.com
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DETROIT – As the Detroit Lions celebrate another win, Ford Field will take center stage Sunday when the team hosts the Minnesota Vikings.
Monday night’s game at Levi’s Stadium against the San Francisco 49ers highlighted a showdown made in revenge paradise. The Lions defeated the Niners 40-34.
Lions’ fans chant of quarterback Jared Goff’s name rivaled the atmosphere of a home game.
An emotional coach Dan Campbell gave his players praise while admitting he couldn’t even put it into words what he saw on the field.
Campbell rattled off new records including the team’s first 14-win season with the Lions remaining undefeated on the road during the regular season.
“Which tells you at its worst – we can go anywhere and win gentleman,” he said. “That’s the bottom line.”
Wherever the team has gone, through the wins and loses so have the fans. The Lions are not just a team. The team has become embedded in the lives of its fans like Elese Stubbs and her fiancé Keith Butler.
“When the Lions are playing, we watch that together on Sundays,” she said.
Monday game felt epic and bittersweet.
Butler, 69, died of Stage 4 colon cancer Nov. 19, five days after his birthday.
The last win he watched was when the Lions annihilated the Jaguars.
“Oh, he was telling everybody, ‘They’re going to the Super Bowl.’ That’s all we would tell everybody. Anybody said, ‘Oh, they’re the same Lions” – No, they’re not,” Stubbs said.
They’re not. Now, Sundays feel different.
But the Lions remind her of a love she still holds close to her heart.
“It still feels like he’s there hollering at his TV like I’m hollering at mine,” she said.
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