Back when the NFL preseason was four games long, there was a fairly widespread tradition of when starters would play. Teams began slowly – usually only keeping their first-string roster on the field for a few series – in the first couple games, only to ramp up for 2-3 quarters worth of action in the third; the last game almost never featured real minutes for those units. Ever since the league shortened the schedule by one game in 2021, though, teams have been trying to figure out what works best for them. Some have opted for a more-traditional routine, while others have all but eliminated starters' minutes in these semi-meaningless matchups. Dan Campbell, perhaps unsurprisingly, has the Lions closer to the former – during Monday morning's press conference, Campbell announced that most of the Lions' starters, outside of QB Jared Goff, would play for almost a full half in their final preseason game this weekend.
"Yeah, we've already talked about it," he said. "I know this – the starters will play. I don't see [Jared] Goff playing, and he's not going to talk me into it. I told him that this morning, so he'll know my conviction. But I do see the starters playing, and we'll see where it goes. They need to be prepared for a half, I told them. I know [Pittsburgh's starters] are playing about a half, I talked to Coach Tomlin. This will be really good for us."
You can watch all of Campbell's press conference right here. The Lions' third and final game of the 2022 preseason is this Saturday, in Pittsburgh, with kickoff scheduled for 4:30 ET.
