With roster spots on the line, Saturday’s preseason game could be a defining moment for several Lions. Here are three players who could make a major statement at Ford Field.
The Detroit Lions are preparing to take on the Washington Commanders this Saturday at noon at Ford Field. As Detroit’s only home game of the preseason, it will be an important opportunity for several players fighting to make the 53-man roster.
With roster battles heating up and only one preseason game remaining after this matchup, here are my top three players to watch during Saturday’s game.
1. Ahmed Hassanein
Hassanein burst onto the scene last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, recording two sacks, including a strip sack, and looking like a player who belongs on Detroit’s roster.
The former sixth-round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft is preparing to play in just the second game of his NFL career after an injury kept him sidelined for the entire 2025 season.
Hassanein played 29 defensive snaps against Cincinnati and finished with the highest PFF grade of any Lions defender, earning an impressive 89.9 overall grade.
After making such a strong first impression, Hassanein will have another opportunity to prove that his performance against the Bengals was no fluke.
2. Eric O’Neill
Eric O’Neill continues to make it increasingly difficult for the Lions to leave him off the roster.
The undrafted defensive lineman turned in one of Detroit’s better defensive performances against the Bengals, earning the sixth-highest PFF grade on the defense at 72.5.
O’Neill played 38 defensive snaps and finished with two tackles, including one solo stop, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit.
His biggest moment came early in the game when he beat veteran left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and got pressure on Joe Burrow. O’Neill’s hit sent Burrow to the ground and forced an errant pass that sailed over tight end Mike Gesicki and fell incomplete. Remarkably, it came on just O’Neill’s second defensive snap of the game.
He followed that performance with another standout moment during Tuesday’s practice, intercepting a pass and returning it for a pick-six.
O’Neill will now get the opportunity to perform in front of Lions fans at Ford Field as he looks to further solidify his place on the 53-man roster.
3. Josh Dobbs
Nicknamed the “Passtronaut,” Dobbs was brought in by Detroit following the retirement of veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Dobbs is now competing with Luke Altmyer for the QB2 position behind Jared Goff, and Saturday’s game could provide him with his biggest opportunity yet to separate himself from the rookie.
Dobbs also has some familiarity with Detroit offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. The two previously worked together with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, when Dobbs put together a career-best season with 1,569 passing yards and eight touchdowns before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings.
Dobbs played just 22 snaps in Detroit’s first preseason game and had a limited role after only having a couple of practices with the team before facing Cincinnati.
He completed 4 of 8 passes for 32 yards but also showcased his mobility, scrambling for nine yards and picking up a first down.
With Dobbs expected to start Saturday’s game against Washington, he should have a much larger opportunity to showcase what he can bring to the Lions. If he can play efficiently and make plays with both his arm and legs, he could take a major step toward winning the backup quarterback job.
