Detroit Lions Embarrassed in 34-7 Preseason Loss to Chargers After Resting Starters, Commit Five Turnovers in Sloppy Opener

The Detroit Lions opened their 2025 preseason campaign with a humbling 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night. While the result doesn’t count in the standings, the performance raised more than a few eyebrows — not because of who played, but who didn’t.

Detroit’s coaching staff chose to rest all offensive and defensive starters, prioritizing health and long-term goals over early momentum. However, the backups failed to capitalize on the opportunity, instead delivering one of the sloppiest outings of the Dan Campbell era. Five turnovers, a string of penalties, and missed assignments all contributed to a lopsided score that had Lions fans groaning by the second quarter.

Quarterbacks Nate Sudfeld and undrafted rookie Malik Henry split time under center, and neither did much to stake a claim for the QB2 role behind Jared Goff. Sudfeld threw a pair of interceptions, including one in the red zone, while Henry fumbled twice — both recovered by the Chargers. Third-stringer Adrian Martinez entered late but also tossed a pick on his first series, completing the turnover trifecta.

“Turnovers lose games, plain and simple,” said Campbell after the game, visibly frustrated but measured in his assessment. “It doesn’t matter if it’s preseason or Week 18 — you give the ball away five times, you’re not going to win. These guys are fighting for jobs, and tonight didn’t help.”

The Lions’ lone touchdown came on a 17-yard scamper by rookie running back Tyrice Stokes in the third quarter, capping off the only sustained drive of the night. Stokes was one of the few bright spots, finishing with 56 yards on nine carries, showing off some burst and vision that caught the attention of the staff.

“He ran hard,” Campbell acknowledged. “Tyrice brought some juice, which is what we needed. That’s the kind of fire we expect from young guys.”

Still, Detroit’s offensive line — a patchwork of rookies, fringe players, and depth pieces — struggled all night to protect the quarterbacks or open holes. The Chargers took advantage, recording four sacks and a handful of pressures that forced rushed throws and busted plays. The Lions managed just 192 yards of total offense and converted only 2-of-11 third downs.

Defensively, the Lions were overwhelmed by the Chargers’ second and third-string units. Rookie QB Max Duggan picked apart Detroit’s soft zone looks early, and backup RB Isaiah Spiller gashed the defense for 86 yards and a score. Los Angeles racked up 398 yards and 23 first downs, with the Lions rarely getting off the field on third down.

Missed tackles were a recurring issue, with linebackers and safeties alike whiffing in open space. The defensive line generated almost no pressure, allowing the Chargers’ quarterbacks ample time to pick their spots.

“It’s disappointing,” said veteran linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, one of the few experienced defenders who dressed for the game. “You want to see the young guys make plays and seize the moment. It didn’t happen tonight, but the film will be a great teacher.”

Detroit’s secondary, which had been one of the offseason’s focus areas, looked particularly vulnerable. Rookie cornerback Eli Ricks, signed late in free agency, was beaten multiple times downfield and missed an assignment that led to a 41-yard touchdown.

“We made a ton of mental errors — bad angles, miscommunication, blown coverages,” said defensive backs coach Brian Duker. “The good news? It’s August. The bad news? We’ve got work to do.”

As expected, no starters saw the field. Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Penei Sewell, Aidan Hutchinson, and most of the core were inactive, which was no surprise considering the game’s early-August timing. But the depth chart behind them — especially on offense — was exposed in a way that could prompt some roster reevaluation before the next preseason game.

Campbell stood by the decision to rest his starters, calling it a “non-negotiable” when it came to player safety. He emphasized the team’s bigger picture outlook and noted that the game’s purpose was evaluation, not domination.

“We’ve been in this long enough to know what matters,” he said. “We’re not going to jeopardize our guys’ health. This was about getting tape, testing our depth, and finding out who wants to be here when it counts.”

The Lions will have two more preseason games to clean things up, starting with a home matchup against the New York Giants next week. Joint practices are scheduled in the days leading up to that game, and coaches expect the intensity to ramp up.

If there was a silver lining, it came from the special teams unit. Return man Antoine Green averaged 28 yards on kick returns and nearly broke one for a touchdown before being tripped up by the kicker. Kicker James Turner connected on his lone extra point and booted two kickoffs into the end zone, while punter Jack Fox dropped two punts inside the 10.

Still, the tone postgame was more about what didn’t happen than what did.

“Didn’t take care of the ball. Didn’t win the line of scrimmage. Didn’t execute in key moments,” summed up offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. “It wasn’t good enough. That’s the truth.”

Lions fans shouldn’t hit the panic button yet — it’s just the preseason, and the starting units haven’t even broken a sweat. But the loss, and more importantly the way it happened, will linger in the film room and on the practice field. The margin between preseason sloppiness and regular season readiness is often razor-thin.

For a team with real expectations in 2025 — coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and armed with one of the NFC’s most talented rosters — this stumble doesn’t erase anything. But it does shine a spotlight on the backup plan.

If injury strikes, who’s next? Thursday night’s answer was unsettling.

As Campbell put it plainly: “It’s not just about making the roster. It’s about showing you can play winning football. Tonight, we didn’t see nearly enough of that.”

With the Giants on deck and cuts looming, time is running short for the bubble players hoping to make their case. One ugly night won’t define the preseason — but if this is the floor, the Lions better start climbing fast.