Detroit Lions roster reset: How things are developing at each position 2 weeks into camp
Allen Park — Two weeks into training camp for the Detroit Lions, there have been key injuries, some standout performances and an abrupt retirement.
As the team prepares for its preseason opener, let’s do a roster reset, looking at expectations from the start of camp and how things have developed at each position.
Backup QB
How it started: There was a clear, established pecking order entering camp. Teddy Bridgewater was brought in for a third stint to back up starter Jared Goff, with undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer rounding out the depth chart as a potential developmental option.
How it’s going: Things were temporarily upended this week when Bridgewater opted for retirement a second time, with this one likely to be permanent. Moving quickly, the Lions came to terms with veteran Josh Dobbs the same day Bridgewater’s decision was formalized.
The signing was predictable. If the primary jobs for a backup are providing an extra set of eyes for the starter and being able to capably steady the ship in an injury situation, there’s a built-in trust with Dobbs, who has worked with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing at two different stops and has appeared in 27 games.
Altmyer is doing what he can to take advantage of the opportunity, but there is an understandable reluctance to thrust him into the No. 2 role behind Goff on a team that anticipates being a Super Bowl contender.
Altmyer figures to get a boatload of reps in the preseason, and maybe all of them in the opener against Cincinnati, so we’ll see if he’s able to strengthen his case. However, it’ll be a steep uphill climb to overtake Dobbs or even command consideration for a spot on the 53-man roster.
“He was put in some really tough positions for a young player that you absolutely have to be put in,” coach Dan Campbell said about Altmyer this week. “You’ve got to be thrust in it and really you need to fail. You need to make mistakes so that you can grow. And we thought he handled it really well. We did. There were some things. He had a delay of game, there were a couple of misreads, but, man, that’s part of growth. What you feel like right now — we’ll know a lot more when we get in the games — is it doesn’t feel too big to him right now. That’s a great sign at that position. So, we’ll see. He’s got a long way to go and he just needs a million reps.”
Where it’s headed: Dobbs almost certainly ends up QB2, while Altmyer figures to initially land on the practice squad as the Lions continue to evaluate his long-term viability as a backup.
Running back
How it started: Superstar Jahmyr Gibbs reported to camp, but opted not to participate until he secured an extension . That led to Isiah Pacheco and Sione Vaki splitting the first-team reps the first several days.