Your 2025 Preseason Schedule is Here, and Campbell Might Actually Play Real Players
The Lions dropped their three-game preseason slate on Thursday, and before you roll your eyes and check out, this year might actually matter. Dan Campbell already said he’s skipping joint practices entirely this offseason, which means these games could carry more weight than the usual vanilla scrimmages we’re used to.
Here’s what we’re looking at: a trip to Cincinnati to face the Bengals, then back to Ford Field for the Washington Commanders, and wrapping up in Indianapolis against the Colts. Classic preseason scheduling with minimal travel, because apparently even the NFL knows nobody wants to fly cross-country to watch third-stringers run basic plays.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Campbell suggested during the league meetings that without joint practices, he might actually play starters more than he has in the past. “Maybe we play some of these guys in the preseason more than we have, that’s where they get some of it,” he said.
Translation: we might actually see Jared Goff hand the ball off to Jahmyr Gibbs for more than two series. Wild concept.
When You Can Watch
All three games will air on the Detroit Lions TV Network, so check your local listings if you want to see our new players get their first taste of NFL action or watch our new defensive pieces gel together.
Specific dates and times are still coming, but Dave Birkett already has intel on two games: Bengals on Thursday, August 13 at 7 p.m., and Commanders on Saturday, August 29 at 3 p.m. The Colts finale is still TBD.
Look, preseason games are usually about as exciting as watching paint dry in Allen Park. But with Campbell potentially giving us actual football instead of glorified practice, maybe these three games will give us our first real look at what this retooled roster can do before the games start counting.
Are you actually excited about preseason football for once, or is this just another way for the Lions to get our hopes up early? Let me know in the comments below.
Finally, a coach who gets it. Campbell saying he’ll actually play the real guys in preseason instead of this vanilla nonsense we’ve had before is exactly what we need to see. If we’re gonna compete, we gotta know what our starters can actually do before week one kicks off.
I like the idea in theory, but Campbell better be careful about getting our key guys hurt in games that don’t matter yet. I’m not saying he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but there’s a fine line between getting meaningful reps and being reckless. Hopefully he threads that needle.
You know, back in the day we used to see our starters out there more and it actually told you something. Feels good to have a coach who understands that preseason can be useful instead of just going through the motions. Campbell gets that you gotta see what you’re working with before the real games start.
Dude, if we actually get to watch Goff and the offense run actual plays instead of some watered down stuff, I’m so down for this. I’ve been wanting to see what this new roster can really do, and Campbell seems like he’s not gonna waste time with the boring preseason template we’re used to.