Detroit Lions Offense: 7 Players To Watch Vs. Washington Commanders In Preseason Week 2

Detroit Lions Offensive Players To Watch Vs. Washington Commanders In Preseason Week 2, Including Key Roster Battles At Quarterback, Center And Wide Receiver

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Detroit — got its first live evaluation against Cincinnati last week. Saturday against Washington brings a different test: some starters are expected to play, Jared Goff will sit, Josh Dobbs will start, and the remaining roster battles are entering their final stages before Detroit cuts to 53.

Dan Campbell wants growth from the players who were on the field in Cincinnati. The mistakes from Week 1 cannot carry into Week 2, particularly at quarterback, center and wide receiver, where Detroit still has legitimate decisions to make.

These are the seven offensive players I’ll be watching closest—with two bonus picks today.

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1. C JUICE SCRUGGS

Juice Scruggs was supposed to be part of Detroit’s answer when Cade Mays suffered the wrist injury that will cost him significant time. A soft-tissue injury kept Scruggs out against Cincinnati and pushed Seth McLaughlin into the starting lineup.

Scruggs will make his preseason debut Saturday, and Campbell plans to start him at center. Campbell said Detroit needs to “kick some of the rust off” and get the offensive line working together.

Detroit had communication and assignment problems along the offensive line during practice this week, putting more responsibility on Scruggs to stabilize the operation.

McLaughlin already put useful game tape on film against Cincinnati. Scruggs now has to show he can take control of the temporary starting-center job rather than simply inherit it because of his NFL experience.

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• IDENTIFY THE FRONT

• MAKE THE PROTECTION CALLS

• DELIVER CLEAN SNAPS

• KEEP THE INTERIOR POCKET FIRM

• CLEAN SNAPS

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2. WR TAY MARTIN

Tay Martin has become one of Detroit’s biggest roster risers. He played 30 offensive snaps and seven more on special teams against Cincinnati, catching a 14-yard pass during Detroit’s late fourth-quarter touchdown drive.

Since then, Martin has continued receiving first-team offensive opportunities while maintaining an important role on special teams. Dave Fipp’s evaluation was direct:

“Tay Martin’s jumped off the film every day.”

Campbell has also praised Martin’s ability to make plays on offense and special teams. That two-phase value is his strongest path to the roster.

The roster may be capped at five—should they keep a sixth receiver, he must be active on special teams. That player has to cover kicks, block, handle assignments across special teams and still be trustworthy when called into the offense.

Against Washington, Martin needs to continue showing that his offensive value can match what he has already established in the kicking game. If that continues, Martin becomes increasingly difficult to leave off the 53.

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• BLOCKING

• WIN HIS ROUTES

• FINISH CONTESTED CATCHES

• HANDLE EVERY ASSIGNMENT

• SHOW HE CAN HANDLE SPECIAL TEAMS

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3. WR DOMINIC LOVETT

Dominic Lovett led Detroit with eight targets against Cincinnati, catching three passes for 28 yards. His route running created opportunities, but drops and a muffed punt kept the performance from becoming a clear step forward.

The special-teams picture has also changed. Dave Fipp identified Tom Kennedy and Greg Dortch as the primary punt-return options this week, leaving Lovett without an obvious path to the roster through the return game.

That puts more pressure on his receiving work. Lovett needs separation and reliable hands against Washington while proving he can contribute on special teams away from the returner position. The route-running ability is there—the consistency is not.

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• CONSISTENCY

• WIN WITH SEPARATION

• SECURE THE FOOTBALL

• HANDLE SPECIAL-TEAMS ASSIGNMENTS

• CREATE VALUE AWAY FROM THE RETURN JOB

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4. C SETH McLAUGHLIN

Seth McLaughlin played 39 offensive snaps against Cincinnati and gave Detroit useful tape at center. His game was not perfect, but the quickness, awareness and effort showed up. On one of his better reps, McLaughlin finished his initial assignment and immediately worked back to help Christian Mahogany rather than standing idle after the block—showing his awareness and alertness on the play.

Campbell has praised McLaughlin’s intelligence, leverage and ability to compete against larger defensive linemen. Jared Goff said McLaughlin “didn’t miss much of a beat, mentally.”

Scruggs gets the first opportunity Saturday, but McLaughlin remains directly involved after replacing Scruggs during Detroit’s night scrimmage and helping the starting offense operate more cleanly.

Against Cincinnati, McLaughlin showed he could function with the first unit. Washington gives him a chance to prove that performance can be repeated. Detroit needs more than one center it can trust before Week 1. McLaughlin has put himself in position to become one of them.

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• ANCHOR AGAINST POWER

• KEEP THE SNAP CLEAN

• COMMUNICATE

• GET TO THE SECOND LEVEL

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5. TE JACKSON MEEKS

Jackson Meeks played 24 offensive snaps and nine special-teams snaps against Cincinnati, catching one pass for 17 yards. He has continued producing as a receiver in practice, including another touchdown this week.

Campbell has called the former wide receiver a “big skill player.” Moving Meeks inside gives Detroit more athleticism against linebackers and safeties. The areas of concern center on the “Dirty Work,” as Dan Campbell put it.

Detroit needs to know whether he can handle the physical responsibilities of tight end. The receiving traits have translated. If the blocking continues developing, Meeks becomes much easier to carry on the roster—especially if LaPorta’s injury affects the start of the regular season.

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• BLOCK FROM THE H-BACK ROLE

• HANDLE EDGE DEFENDERS

• EXECUTE SPLIT-FLOW ASSIGNMENTS

• STAY ATTACHED IN THE RUN GAME

• CONTRIBUTE ON SPECIAL TEAMS

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6. QB JOSH DOBBS

Detroit signed Josh Dobbs four days before the Cincinnati game and gave him 22 offensive snaps. Dobbs completed 4-of-8 passes for 32 yards, took one sack and added nine rushing yards. He avoided turnovers, but the limited preparation and offensive production made it difficult to draw much more from the performance.

He has had a full week to work inside Drew Petzing’s offense and will start vs the Commanders. Dobbs still has a long way to go, but his veteran status and relationship with Petzing should show through on Saturday. Luke Altmyer is expected to play the entire second half.

Dobbs has NFL experience and understands the position. This game is about whether that experience translates into command of this offense. Cincinnati tested how much Dobbs could handle with four days of preparation. Washington tests whether he can operate like Detroit’s QB2.

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• CHECKS & AUDIBLES

• SET THE PROTECTION

• PROTECT THE FOOTBALL

• DELIVER THE BALL ON TIME

• USE HIS LEGS WHEN NEEDED

• GET THE PLAY CALL OUT CLEANLY

• RECOGNIZE THE DEFENSIVE LOOK

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7. QB LUKE ALTMYER

Luke Altmyer completed 13-of-22 passes for 130 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his NFL debut. The first interception went off Isaac TeSlaa’s hands. The second came during Detroit’s final attempt to steal the game. Altmyer also directed a 12-play, 80-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Tarik Black.

The rookie looked composed enough to support what Campbell had been saying throughout camp, “the stage has not looked too big for him.” Altmyer’s play has created a legitimate reason to reconsider the bottom of that room.

Dobbs starts Saturday, but Altmyer is expected to receive roughly half the quarterback work. His evaluation now moves from proving he belongs to proving he can clean up the mistakes.

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• FINISH DRIVES

• RECOGNIZE PRESSURE FASTER

• MOVE OFF THE FIRST READ

• KEEP THE OFFENSE ON SCHEDULE

• PROTECT THE FOOTBALL

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ON THE BUBBLE — BONUS WATCH

WR TOM KENNEDY

Tom Kennedy played 25 offensive snaps against Cincinnati and finished with one reception for five yards. Since then, Kennedy has caught a touchdown from Jared Goff during Detroit’s night scrimmage and moved directly into the punt-return competition with Greg Dortch.

Kennedy needs to secure punts, make good return decisions and create field position while maintaining the positional flexibility that has kept him around Detroit for years. His reliability is already known—the question is whether that reliability still provides enough value to win one of the final receiver spots.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Kennedy may make this roster. Dave Fipp mentioned Kennedy as one of the two primary returners, “You have the returner position with (Tom) Kennedy and (Greg) Dortch really at punt returner… but really probably Kennedy and Dortch right now in my opinion.”

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• CLEAN PUNT FIELDING

• SHORT-AREA SEPARATION

• SLOT / OUTSIDE FLEXIBILITY

• SPECIAL-TEAMS RELIABILITY

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WR TARIK BLACK

Tarik Black played only 16 offensive snaps against Cincinnati, but he made them count. His first reception went for 35 yards from Luke Altmyer, but it was erased by a questionable offensive pass interference call for a push-off. Later, Black turned a drag route into a 24-yard touchdown with 1:35 remaining and also played seven special-teams snaps.

The explosive ability is not new. Black joined Detroit after catching 27 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns in the UFL, including seven receptions of at least 20 yards. Detroit released him August 3, then brought him back two days later.

Black has shown he can create a big play—the challenge is roster value. Tay Martin, Tom Kennedy and others have stronger special-teams cases, while Detroit has limited room at receiver.

Against Washington, Black needs to turn limited opportunities into another complete performance.

Areas Of Improvement To Watch This Week

• BLOCK

• SEPARATE

• PRODUCE ON SPECIAL TEAMS

• EARN MORE TARGETS

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ROCK’S THE 7 ON 7 READ

Detroit’s offensive roster decisions are increasingly tied to one question: how many jobs can a reserve player handle without weakening the unit?

That applies at center, where Scruggs and McLaughlin are competing to become reliable insurance behind Cade Mays. It applies at quarterback, where Dobbs’ experience is being measured against Altmyer’s developmental upside. And it applies most clearly at wide receiver, where catching passes alone may not be enough to win the final roster spot.

Detroit already has its offensive stars. The final jobs will go to players the coaching staff can trust when injuries force the depth chart onto the field.

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• Training Camp Day 2 Observations

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• Detroit Lions Roster Shakeup Day 1

• Brutal Test For Lions Safety Room

• Brad Holmes Mastering Of The NFL Draft

• NFC North Index Rankings

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• Brad Holmes plays it smart

• The Detroit Lions have something

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