The Detroit Lions will be looking to get improved play from all three phases tonight as they take on the Atlanta Falcons in preseason game No. 2 after dropping their preseason opener, 34-7, to the Los Angeles Chargers last week.
Here are five things to look out for in tonight's contest:
1. HOOKER TO START
Third-year quarterback Hendon Hooker gets the start tonight after Kyle Allen started and played the entire first half in the preseason opener.
"I think of Hooker as just keep diving into the work, keep getting the reps and he just needs some small victories," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this week. "He just needs a few wins here just to stack some back-to-back reps, back-to-back days and I think that's going to do him wonders.
"Look, he's working, he grinds at it, he's very coachable, he certainly has the ability. He's going to get his opportunity. I already said he's starting this week and we're going to give him a load here and see what he can do with it."
Hooker led four series last week and finished 3-of-6 passing for 18 yards with an interception running the third-team offense. Campbell is hoping the communication, execution, and ball movement of the second-team offense is much better tonight. Hooker and Allen (2) combined for three interceptions in the opener.
The two quarterbacks are in a close competition to be Jared Goff’s backup so each is looking to try and separate themselves from the other with a good performance tonight.
2. ROOKIE DEBUT?
Campbell said Wednesday he hasn't decided yet if the team's top two draft picks – defensive lineman Tyleik Williams and guard Tate Ratledge – will make their preseason debut tonight after sitting out along with the other starters in the preseason opener.
"I would like to get them going this game but I'm not 100 percent set on that yet," Campbell said.
Williams has been getting first-team reps alongside DJ Reader and should play a big role come the start of the regular season, especially with Alim McNeill (ACL) not expected to be ready by the start of the year. Ratledge has been the starting right guard since the pads have come on in practice and looks poised for that role in the regular season.
Campbell admitted it's a bit of a juggling act between playing those two or not, knowing they are young players and could use the reps while also being careful with them.
3. PASS RUSH
Detroit's pass rush generated just one sack and one quarterback hit against the Chargers and that was on a blitz from linebacker Grant Stuard. There were a couple nice rushes upfront that generated some pressure but nothing concrete on the stat sheet.
The coaching staff is still trying to pin down what the depth chart will look like behind starters Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Williams and Reader. A number of players have shown the ability in practice to be productive and provide good depth. Can they translate that to the game and make a mark tonight?
Keep an eye on players like Al-Quadin Muhammad, Nate Lynn, Ahmed Hassanein, Isaac Ukwu and Keith Cooper Jr. as they try to separate themselves from the bunch.
Why are sacks important? The percentage of the time teams scored a touchdown or field goal on a drive when taking a sack on the drive during the regular season last year was 26.2 percent. Taking the field goal out of the equation, the percentage of the time teams scored a touchdown when taking a sack on the drive was just 8.2 percent.
View photos from Day 10 of Detroit Lions training camp on Monday August 4, 2025.
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) and Detroit Lions cornerback Morice Norris (26) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks (83) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head strength & conditioning coach Josh Schuler during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez (51) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein (61) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions run game coordinator/defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) and Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) and Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein (61) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez (51) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Marcus Davenport (92) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 4, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
4. SPECIAL TEAMS
There are a lot of working parts in the preseason when it comes to special teams with 90 players on the roster. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp and assistant special teams coordinator Jett Modkins have a lot on their plate trying to find out who they can rely on and who can make this roster based on their play on teams.
In the loss to the Chargers last week, Detroit fumbled a kickoff, muffed a punt, had an illegal kickoff penalty and an illegal touching penalty. Fipp and Modkins are looking for much cleaner play from special teams overall tonight.
5. GENERATING TAKEAWAYS
There is a standard set by Kelvin Sheppard to prioritize the football and Sheppard was probably a little disappointed watching the tape of the Chargers game that his defense wasn't able to generate any turnovers.
Campbell said in his opening remarks following the loss last week that the difference in the game was Detroit turning the football over five times and generating zero takeaways on defense or special teams.
Every practice in camp, the defensive coaches and players are prioritizing the football. 'Get the ball. Ball. Ball. Ball.' We hear it every day at practice. Let's see if that translates to the game tonight.
