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Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Live updates, game highlights

tabnews August 17, 2024
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The Detroit Lions will travel to the road against the reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday afternoon in the second week of NFL preparation.

The Lions have so far completed three weeks of training camp, two joint practices and a game against the New York Giants. The second of three test games will be used as another test to determine who will make the final 53-man roster by the August 27 deadline. They open the regular season on September 8 on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.

TRENDING: Who is Lions kicker Jake Bates? There is no need to worry about him in the decisive phase

The Chiefs are expected to play most of the first half against the Lions with their starters, but Detroit will rest most, if not all, of its starters as it did against the Giants. Lions coach Dan Campbell said earlier this week that some defensive linemen who did not play in the first preseason game would be active against Kansas City, but offensive linemen and the secondary will rest to heal and give playing time to young players further down the lineup and players battling for positions. That means no rookie cornerbacks Terrion Arnold or Ennis Rakestraw Jr., both of whom were injured in practice this week, will play.

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Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The game will be televised locally in the state of Michigan on Fox, broadcast on the Lions Radio Network, and streamed live on Fubo (free trial).

Follow live updates throughout the game. Be sure to check back at freep.com/sports/lions after halftime to see our celebrated Lions sportswriter. Dave Birkett's exclusive first-half observations from his post in Kansas City.

>> Watch the Lions vs Chiefs game for FREE in the local markets of Detroit and KC

Live updates and highlights for Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Kaden Davis has the first big play of the preseason. The sophomore wide receiver from Northwest Missouri State got free on an over route and Nate Sudfeld hit over the middle. Davis broke through a one-armed tackle and then outran everyone else down the left sideline to score the Lions' first touchdown of the preseason. On the previous play, the Lions picked up a first down with a 17-yard pass to Isaiah Williams, who shook off a defender after the catch and gained another 7-8 yards. However, Jake Bates missed the extra point, which was his first missed kick in a game in a Lions uniform.

Jake Bates has now made 2 of 2 field goals this preseason, both from over 50 yards. The Lions gained 13 yards on a pass over the middle to James Mitchell and then penetrated Chiefs territory with another 11 yards on the ground from Sione Vaki and Isaiah Williams. The offense couldn't do anything from there, offering Bates 55 yards from the right corner. He sank the kick and kept it well inside the right upright.

Against the Lions, things escalated quickly. Jalon Calhoun, an undrafted wide receiver from Duke, lost the ball on a Cam Jones hit on the kickoff and Kansas City regained possession deep in Lions territory. On the third play of the drive, backup quarterback Carson Wentz found Xavier Worthy behind the Lions' secondary and scored a play-action pass for a 22-yard touchdown.

The Lions' second team defense was shaky but did not collapse against the Chiefs' starting offense. The Lions' offense managed two first downs – one on a catch by Tom Kennedy and another on a pitch by Craig Reynolds – but had to punt from the halfway line after Sudfeld found Kaden Davis just outside the uprights on third down.

The Chiefs penetrated Lions territory with three completions to Rashee Rice over the middle. Kansas City got to the Detroit 14-yard line on an end-around by Xavier Worthy, but two stops on runs by Carson Steele, including a nice play by linebacker Mitchell Agude for a loss of 9 yards, forced another short field goal by Harrison Butker.

The Chiefs offense, led by Patrick Mahomes, showed a taste of its firepower on the first drive, but the Lions forced a field goal after getting a stop at their own 15-yard line. Mahomes completed three passes for 59 yards, including a deep 39-yard pass to first-round rookie Xavier Worthy that found a gap in the zone behind Brandon Joseph. Josh Paschal stopped an Isiah Pacheco run to the left and Jalen Reeves-Maybin intercepted a pass over the middle to force the 33-yard field goal.

Pre-game notes

Hendon Hooker, who returned to practice after suffering a concussion against the Giants during the week, and Nate Sudfeld will get most, if not all, snaps at quarterback and lead the Lions' offense. Hooker showed some potential in limited action against the Giants before going out with a concussion, and Sudfeld has struggled. The second- and third-team offenses have sputtered overall.

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At the running back position, Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson, Sione Vaki and Zonovan Knight will rotate in and all backup receivers will be on the field while the coaching staff looks for a tall addition to fill the void left by starter Josh Reynolds.

Campbell hinted that some defensive linemen could play, but it will be mostly reserve players in the first half, going up against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' starting offensive line. There is competition for reserve spots throughout the defense, and there are players like cornerbacks Steven Gilmore and Khalil Dorsey, linebackers Mitchell Agude and Isaac Ukwu, and defensive tackles Mekhi Wingo, Brodric Martin and Mathieu Betts. On special teams, all eyes will again be on Jake Bates, who is working to prove himself as an NFL kicker.

The Lions have 10 days left to finalize the 53-man roster to begin the regular season, and this game against the Chiefs and next weekend's final preseason game at home against the Steelers will be key in determining who will be on the roster.

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