The Detroit Lions are contemplating whether to play their starters in their upcoming preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach Dan Campbell initially hoped the team could arrange joint practices with the Chiefs before the game, but Kansas City’s head coach Andy Reid declined the invitation, preferring to utilize preseason games instead.
Dan Campbell Weighs Options for Starters
In light of the lack of joint practices, Dan Campbell is considering playing some key players in the second preseason game. “I’m back and forth a little bit right now, so we’ll see. We’re a little bit open to everything,” Campbell commented via The Detroit News on Sunday. He emphasized that the decision would largely depend on the quality of work and the amount of reps during the next three practices.
“I’m thinking about playing some of these guys,” Campbell said. “That to me is where it all starts, and depending on the type of work we get, the quality of work, the amount of reps, that’ll tell me what we need or don’t need going into Kansas City.”
Hatten Competes for Long Snapper Position
In other team news, undrafted free-agent long snapper Hogan Hatten is making a strong impression during the preseason, adding competition for incumbent Scott Daly. Campbell praised Hatten’s versatility: “One of the reasons we wanted to bring Hogan in was, he was intriguing in his coverage ability. He did play linebacker in college, so he runs pretty good, and he kind of has an awareness to the football.”
Hatten’s performance against the New York Giants demonstrated his potential. Despite fulfilling his role as a punt protector, he was the first player downfield and significantly contributed to stopping Giants returner Gunner Olszewski for minimal gain.
Dan Campbell acknowledged the competition: “Now, it’s about — ‘OK, well can you…’ — and what we know (is) … Daly has been able to snap consistently under pressure, big games, different looks, handling the protection and the snap,” Campbell noted. “So that’s the next step for (Hatten). He has to be able to prove that he can do that with a rush on him. Some of these hard situations are what we have to try to put him in. It is a real competition right now.”
As the Lions prepare for their second preseason game, the decisions made in the upcoming practices will play a crucial role in shaping the team’s approach and player usage.
