Lions Vs Bengals: 7 Offensive Players To Watch

DETROIT LIONS 7 ON 7: SEVEN OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH VS. CINCINNATI AUGUST 13TH, 2026

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Detroit Lions — Thursday’s preseason opener gives fans an opportunity to watch some ugly football—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The game against Cincinnati moves the evaluation out of controlled training-camp periods and into live football, where communication breaks down, protections change and young players have to solve problems without a coach standing behind the play.

Isaac TeSlaa would have been on my list if Jared Goff were expected to play significant snaps. His second-year development could become especially important in the red zone, where his size, physicality and catch radius give Detroit another matchup option.

But tonight belongs primarily to the players fighting for roles behind the established starters. The final score will mean very little compared with what Detroit sees on film afterward.

These are the seven offensive players I’ll be watching closest.

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1. QB LUKE ALTMYER

Luke Altmyer will start after Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement and Josh Dobbs’ late arrival changed Detroit’s quarterback room. The undrafted rookie completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,007 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions at Illinois in 2025, and his composure has stood out during camp despite normal rookie mistakes with timing and processing.

Dan Campbell has been encouraged by how Altmyer has handled the position.

“It doesn’t feel too big to him right now. And that’s a great sign at that position.”

Thursday provides the first real measurement. Detroit needs to see Altmyer command the huddle, handle protections, work through progressions and keep the offense on schedule when the picture changes after the snap.

2. RT BLAKE MILLER

Blake Miller has spent camp receiving exactly the education Detroit expected when it selected him 17th overall, including repeated work against Aidan Hutchinson and DJ Wonnum. Miller started all 54 games at Clemson, logging a school-record 3,778 offensive snaps, but Cincinnati will provide his first NFL game-speed test.

Campbell likes the rookie’s emotional control.

“He does not get too high. He does not get too low. So, his demeanor’s just right.”

The important evaluation isn’t whether Miller loses a rep. Rookie tackles will. Detroit needs to see his pass-set discipline, hand timing and anchor—and whether he can diagnose what beat him before the same counter gets him again.

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3. TE JACKSON MEEKS

Jackson Meeks has become one of Detroit’s more interesting roster experiments after moving from wide receiver into a hybrid tight end/H-back/big-slot role. His receiving ability has translated during camp, particularly with the second-team offense, but catching the football is only part of this evaluation.

Campbell explained exactly what Detroit is exploring.

“We want to find out if there’s something in there where he can be this hybrid H-back, tight end, big slot.”

Cincinnati will test whether the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Meeks can handle the physical responsibilities attached to the position. If he can block from multiple alignments and contribute on special teams, his receiving background gives Detroit a legitimate reason to keep developing the role.

4. C SETH MCLAUGHLIN

Seth McLaughlin’s opportunity increased when starting center Cade Mays injured his wrist and Juice Scruggs was sidelined. McLaughlin has since received first-team work against Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams, settling into those reps after some difficult early battles.

The 2024 Rimington Trophy winner tore his Achilles late in his final season at Ohio State, went undrafted and spent 2025 on Cincinnati’s practice squad.

His evaluation against his former team goes well beyond blocking. Detroit needs to see whether McLaughlin can identify fronts, communicate protections, deliver consistent snaps and hold his ground against NFL interior power. The center has to organize the protection while surviving physically inside it.

5. OL MILES FRAZIER

Miles Frazier’s strongest argument for a roster role is versatility. The second-year lineman appeared in five games without allowing a sack in 2025 and has worked both inside and outside, including first-team left-guard reps during camp.

Campbell has highlighted exactly why that flexibility carries value.

“He can play the guard, he can play tackle ... he can sustain blocks, he’s got power, he’s pretty tenacious.”

The preseason will determine how functional that versatility really is. Frazier needs to show he can handle speed and inside counters at tackle while maintaining the anchor and displacement required at guard. A reserve capable of playing multiple positions at a trustworthy level becomes significantly more valuable on game day.

6. G BEN BARTCH

Ben Bartch finally has an opportunity to reenter the left-guard competition after spending much of the offseason and early camp recovering from the Lisfranc injury that ended his 2025 season.

His return has been encouraging. Bartch was described as a “complete roadblock” during recent one-on-one work and finished last season with zero sacks allowed and zero penalties in six games.

Campbell never ruled him out of the competition.

“There’s a reason he’s here, we think he brings outstanding competition. He’s got a shot.”

The next evaluation is durability and consistency. Bartch needs to anchor against power, reset his hands and maintain his technique through an extended series of live snaps.

7. WR DOMINIC LOVETT

Dominic Lovett has started making his move in a crowded competition for Detroit’s final receiver spots. After appearing in 12 games without a reception as a rookie, Lovett has produced more consistently during the later stages of camp, including a deep connection with Teddy Bridgewater and a contested catch over the middle.

His roster case, however, cannot be built exclusively as a receiver.

With Cedrick Wilson Jr. and others competing for the same jobs, Lovett needs to show separation, reliable hands and route discipline while becoming useful on special teams. For players fighting for the fifth or sixth receiver position, special-teams value often becomes the deciding factor when the receiving evaluations are close.

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ROCK’S THE 7 ON 7 READ

Dan Campbell is entering his first preseason game of 2026 with a new offensive coordinator and a roster built with a deep collection of talent and experience. But there is a reason it is called the preseason—the offense is rarely polished, and Detroit does not need it to be.

What the Lions need to find is functional depth—players who can enter the lineup without forcing the offense to change what it wants to do. Most importantly, the evaluation will center on one thing: trust.

That is especially important on the offensive line and at quarterback, where one injury can affect protections, communication and the operation of the entire unit. The same principle applies at receiver and tight end: versatility only has value if a player can execute enough assignments to stay on the field.

For Dan Campbell and Drew Petzing, that is where trust gets earned.

Not by producing one highlight against Cincinnati’s backups, but by lining up correctly, recognizing the assignment, handling the physical responsibility and doing it again on the next snap.

Detroit already knows who its offensive stars are. Thursday night is about finding out who can be trusted behind them.

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