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Detroit Lions to watch in preseason finale vs. Colts
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- Detroit Lions to watch in preseason finale vs. Colts
Detroit has one final opportunity to evaluate its roster before cutdown day. The Lions close their preseason against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, giving players on the bubble one last chance to make their case before the initial 53-man roster is finalized.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen has indicated that at least some starters will play up to 12 snaps , providing an opportunity for the Lions ' coaching staff to match some of its starters up against Indy's in the game's first series if it wants to.
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Detroit hasn't played most of its starters very much at all throughout the preseason and that doesn't figure to change on Saturday afternoon.
Here's a look at some Lions to watch in Detroit's preseason finale at Indianapolis:
QB Luke Altmyer
Detroit Lions quarterback Luke Altmyer (2)) drops back to throw a pass in the first quarter of the NFL Preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026.
The Lions' backup quarterback situation is still undecided heading into the Lions' preseason finale. Undrafted rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer has one final opportunity to prove that he's the better option over veteran signal-caller Josh Dobbs .
Altmyer has completed 22 of 35 passes for 216 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Altmyer's first interception came on an Isaac TeSlaa drop and his second was on an overthrow on a last-gasp drive with less than 30 seconds remaining against the Bengals .
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If Altmyer impresses on Saturday, is that enough for him to stick on the 53-man roster?
WR Tay Martin
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tay Martin (17) practices during mini camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Detroit's top three receivers are set in stone with stars Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams and with second-year receiver Isaac TeSlaa expected to take a step forward in his sophomore campaign.
Greg Dortch seems safe as the Lions No. 4 wide receiver thanks to his familiarity with first-year Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing's offense and thanks to his impact on special teams.
That leaves one or two roster spots at wide receiver for Detroit. Like Dortch, Tay Martin is someone that impacts special teams. Martin also does a lot of the dirty work that Dan Campbell appreciates so much.
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With one final great performance, Martin likely seals up a 53-man roster spot.
The 6-foot-3, 186-pound receiver played in the UFL this past spring, catching 42 passes for 483 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games with the Columbus Aviators.
TE Jackson Meeks
Aug 3, 2026; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks (13) looks on during Detroit Lions training camp. Mandatory Credit: Paul Barnick-Imagn Images
Sam LaPorta , Brock Wright and Tyler Conklin are the established top three tight ends for Detroit and will make the 53-man roster. After making the position change from wide receiver to tight end, Jackson Meeks has himself in the mix to perhaps be the Lions' fourth rostered tight end.
Meeks forced a fumble on kickoff coverage last week to effectively secure the Lions' win over the Commanders. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound tight end also moved the chains on a key fourth down and finished as the Lions' leading receiver against Washington with four grabs for 33 yards.
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A couple more plays like that on Saturday could be enough to convince the staff that he is someone that they need to keep around.
EDGE Eric O'Neill
Detroit Lions defensive end Eric O'Neill (66) practices during OTAs at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Few Lions have more at stake than the undrafted rookie out of Rutgers. O'Neill has worked his way into roster consideration after a strong training camp.
While O'Neill has been formidable, the path to making this roster will continue to be difficult as the Lions EDGE room is crowded. He sits behind Aidan Hutchinson , DJ Wonnum and Derrick Moore and battles Anthony Lucas for snaps. Notable production on special teams could give him the value to warrant a roster spot if he does not manage to get to the quarterback on Saturday.
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DL Skyler Gill-Howard
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard (50) warms up before practice during mini camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Utilizing quickness and a relentless motor, Skyler Gill-Howard has gone from sixth-round pick to one of Detroit's most surprising rookies this summer. The 6-foot, 280-pound defensive lineman has generated interior pressure consistently throughout camp and he has been rewarded with first-team reps.
The former Texas Tech Red Raider recorded a quarterback hit and tackle for loss in Saturday's matchup against the Washington Commanders .
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions to watch in preseason finale vs. Colts
