The Lions fell to the Chargers 34-7 in their Aug. 1 preseason opener as 5 turnovers doomed Detroit. See how Aidan Hutchinson looked in his return from injury.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Well, that wasn't the start anyone envisioned. The 2025 Detroit Lions kicked off their preseason in Canton with a thud, falling 34-7 to the Los Angeles Chargers in a game defined by self-inflicted wounds. Five turnovers, special teams gaffes, and an offense that never found its footing painted a grim picture, reminding everyone that while the hype is real, the work is far from over.
You get caught in needing to see some of these guys getting put out there and want them loose and also want to win and play well. We didn’t do it.
From the opening whistle, it was a disaster. Grant Stuard fumbled the opening kickoff, setting a tone the Lions couldn't shake. Starting quarterback Kyle Allen, filling in for Jared Goff, threw two first-quarter interceptions, one of which was returned 59 yards for a Chargers touchdown. The miscues didn't stop there, as a muffed punt by Jakobie Keeney-James and another lost fumble brought the total to a staggering five turnovers. It's impossible to win a football game, preseason or not, when you give the ball away that frequently.
If there was one genuinely positive takeaway from the night, it was the sight of Aidan Hutchinson back on the field. After missing significant time last season with a leg injury, the star edge rusher looked healthy and was a welcome presence, even signing autographs for eager fans before the game. While his stat line was quiet, his focus is clearly on what matters most. In a halftime interview, Hutch left no doubt about his readiness for the games that count.
This was our first look at the offense under new coordinator John Morton, and the results were underwhelming. The unit struggled to find any rhythm, hampered by Allen's early interceptions. The lone bright spot was a gritty 15-play, 60-yard drive in the second quarter, capped by a 3-yard touchdown run from Craig Reynolds. It was a brief glimpse of competence in a night otherwise marked by stalled drives and turnovers. The transition from Ben Johnson's system will be a key storyline to watch as the preseason progresses.
Amidst the on-field struggles, there was a moment of celebration for a Lions legend. The Pro Football Hall of Fame honored former linebacker Chris Spielman with a $25,054 donation to the Stefanie Spielman Fund for breast cancer research, a wonderful tribute. On the field, the starting defense featured a mix of veterans and hopefuls, including Al-Quadin Muhammad, Zach Cunningham, and Rock Ya-Sin, as the coaching staff gets a look at who can fill key roles.
One preseason game doesn't define a season, but this was a jarring wake-up call. The Lions have a quick turnaround to clean up the penalties, secure the football, and find some offensive cohesion. All eyes will now be on their August 8 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons to see if they can bounce back from this ugly start and begin building momentum toward Week 1.
