Studs and Duds from the Lions loss to Chargers in Hall of Fame game

USA Today

3 days ago

The Detroit Lions had a tough start to the preseason in terms of getting a win, but the preseason is for learning, and that should come from Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Lions fell 34-7 to the Chargers in their long-awaited return to the Hall of Fame game. The early start to the preseason kickstarted the training camp journey early in a key year for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Head coach Dan Campbell didn't risk putting any starters into the action on Thursday, going with backups from the first snap. While it doesn't necessarily give fans an idea of how the team will perform come September, it does help the coaches inch closer to deciding roster spots and positioning on the depth chart.
A few guys made their mark, while another handful didn't do themselves any favors. Here's a look at Thursday night's Studs and Duds:
Dud: Kyle Allen
Backup quarterback Kyle Allen got the start on Thursday for the Lions and he didn't instill any kind of confidence for the situation behind Jared Goff.
Allen threw two ugly interceptions in his one half of play, and didn't have much luck moving down the field despite a handful of big plays from Craig Reynolds and Isaac TeSlaa.
Stud: Craig Reynolds
What more can be said about Craig Reynolds? He shows up and does exactly what you'd expect no matter the circumstances.
Reynolds had as solid of a game as anyone for Detroit on Thursday night. A handful of solid gains and a punch in at the goal line to put up the Lions' first points of the game seemed like light work for the third-string RB.
Dud: Returners
The Lions did not have much to show from the performance early on from their kick returners.
To start the game, Grant Stuard ran the ball right into the back of Anthony Pittman and coughed it up to the Chargers. Their first chance to take over on offense in the second half was more of the same as rookie receiver Jakobie Keeney-James muffed a punt that also ended up Los Angeles ball.
Stud: Isaac TeSlaa
Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa showed his upside in a hurry on a drive late in the first quarter, hauling in back-to-back 20+ yard catches to get the offense moving down the field. TeSlaa also had a decent chance at hauling in a touchdown but Kyle Allen overthrew him and right into the hands of a Chargers defender.
TeSlaa also got some reps on special teams, including some solid work as a gunner that helped pin the Chargers deep on one occasion.
Stud: Dominic Lovett
Seventh-round rookie wide receiver Dominic Lovett had a shaky start with an easy drop, but really turned things around once he settled in.
Lovett has a couple of key plays to keep the offense moving including a pivotal catch on 4th-and-1 that set up the Craig Reynolds touchdown. He finished with five catches and 31 yards, in addition to a 22-yard punt return.