After two preseason games on the road in Canton, Ohio and Atlanta, the Detroit Lions return home to the friendly confines of Ford Field for preseason game No. 3 this afternoon.
Here are five things to look out for in today's contest against the Miami Dolphins:
1. Hooker vs. Allen
It seems Kyle Allen has taken a step forward in the backup quarterback competition with Hendon Hooker.
Hooker started the second preseason game in Atlanta and failed to move the offense with any consistency and he lost two fumbles. Head coach Dan Campbell pulled Hooker in favor of Allen right before the half because of the turnovers. Allen moved the offense and ended up throwing two touchdown passes in the contest and earning Campbell's praise for his play.
Allen has completed 16-of-22 passes for 211 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in two preseason games. Hooker is 10-for-16 for 56 yards with no touchdowns, one interception and two lost fumbles.
There are two preseason games, one joint practice, and four other practices left in training camp before the Lions have to decide who their backup will be and if they want to keep two or three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
View photos from Day 14 of Detroit Lions training camp on Thursday August 14, 2025.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Loren Strickland (24) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 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. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (2) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors (48) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ian Kennelly (27) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) and Detroit Lions running backs coach Tashard Choice during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Horton (40) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Pat O'Connor (95) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ian Kennelly (27) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Nick Whiteside (38) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Deon Jackson (36) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 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. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 14, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
2. Wide receiver competition
The top five at wide receiver going into the season are pretty well established with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Tim Patrick and rookie third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa, who could push Patrick for reps as he's been really good in training camp and the preseason.
Will the Lions keep a sixth receiver on the roster and if so who could it be? Veterans like Tom Kennedy and Ronnie Bell are vying for that spot, but so are rookies like Dominic Lovett and Jackson Meeks.
Lovett was really solid to start camp but an injury caused him to miss time and that's opened the door for Kennedy, Bell, Meeks and others. Lovett has recently returned to practice and hopefully will play this afternoon. Bell and Meeks were taking some first-team reps in joint practices with the Dolphins earlier this week.
Meeks has some length at 6-foot-2, 218 pounds and had a nice game in Atlanta last week with a 68-yard reception and a 1-yard touchdown catch. The Lions could choose to keep six receivers on the initial 53-man roster if one of these players finishes camp strong.
3. Run defense
Depth roles along the defensive line and at linebacker are still very much up for grabs. One big way those players are battling for playing roles and roster spots is being stout against the run game.
Detroit's done a nice job in their first two preseason games limiting the Chargers and Falcons to 143 total rushing yards and a 3.1-yard average.
Rookie Tyleik Williams was a space eater in his preseason debut vs. Atlanta, eating up double teams and allowing linebackers like Zach Cunningham to run free and make plays. Defensive lineman Brodric Martin was pretty good against Atlanta. Linebacker Grant Stuard has shown some good things in the run game. Coaches also want to see some of their young edge rushers being able to set an edge in the run game.
4. Special teams
Special teams have been a little bit sloppy in the preseason games and even in joint practices this week. We've seen six penalties and two turnovers on special teams in the first two preseason contests. There were a number of penalties on the top units in joint practices with Miami.
There's a lot of moving parts on special teams this time of year but special teams coordinator Dave Fipp can't be happy with the penalties and giveaways.
Let's see if Detroit can play a much cleaner game on special teams today and maybe even generate a couple big plays.
5. Edge rushers
In two games, edge rusher Nate Lynn has totaled seven pressures on 29 pass-rushing snaps and is currently 10th among defensive linemen with a 29.6 percent pass-rush win rate. Can he keep that up and earn an edge role behind Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport?
Campbell raved about the camp Al-Quadin Muhammad has had and he showed up in the game last week in Atlanta with a sack. Rookie Ahmed Hassanein has also done some nice things in camp.
I figure one roster spot could be held for veteran Josh Paschal as long as he stays on schedule and returns from injury before the season. That might leave only two open spots along the edge. Can Mitchell Agude and Isaac Ukwu make a push for inclusion in the final roster spots along the edge the last two weeks?
