The Detroit Lions OnSI staff takes a look at the biggest questions the Lions must answer entering the final week of training camp.

1. What is your reaction to the Lions’ win against the Commanders?

Christian Booher: I think it was a fun win for the Lions. In particular, the defensive performance was phenomenal as they allowed just six points. The performance of the pass-rush was very promising, while the secondary showed some growth with their communication.

Additionally, I was intrigued by the way both quarterbacks responded to adversity. Josh Dobbs really dialed it in after about as rough a start as one can imagine, while Luke Altmyer kept the offense afloat despite taking four sacks.

Vito Chirco: It was a nice win, but I don't place a ton of stock in it because the Lions’ best players (i.e. Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Jahmyr Gibbs, etc.) sat out the contest. At this juncture, I believe the defense is a bit ahead of the offense, although I'm not overly concerned with that being the case.

Emmett Matasovsky: While preseason wins do not really mean much (as evidenced by a 4-0 preseason in 2008), it is heartening to see the Lions send the fans home happy in the only preseason contest of the year at Ford Field. The Lions showed promise and made enough plays defensively to earn their win. That defensive depth and effort, with only nine first downs allowed, are a phenomenal sign.

2. Does the offensive line concern you?

Booher: At this point, the offensive line's performance is a little concerning. They have a pivotal injury in Cade Mays that they'll have to overcome, and Ben Bartch's absence has prevented Christian Mahogany from really being challenged. I expect that this group will struggle a bit early in the year, but with Penei Sewell as the anchor, I still think this is a unit that enters the season in the top-half of the league.

Chirco: It sure does. I'm still not convinced the Lions have found a viable replacement at center for Cade Mays. As much as Seth McLaughlin and Juice Scruggs could end up being solid depth pieces, I just don't envision either of them being very proficient at center. With that said, I believe there will be a void at the position until Mays’ return.

Matasovsky: It concerns me, as the reserve linemen did not have a good game. Defensive blitzes caught the line off guard, and swing tackle Larry Borom had an outing to forget.

However, in the sense of being concerned about the overall football product with a healthy offensive line, I am not concerned. The starting linemen, save Borom, earned their keep Saturday. If Blake Miller has not bypassed Borom, Saturday should have secured Miller a spot in the lineup in Week 1.

3. Which player raised their stock after a good performance this week?

Booher: I was really impressed with Skyler Gill-Howard. I wrote about Gill-Howard earlier in the week, and he delivered another solid performance in Saturday's game. I'm really intrigued with how well he's able to win off the line and rush the passer, and I think that can be a real asset in the Lions' defensive scheme.

Chirco: I'll give two names: EDGE Derrick Moore and defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard. I believe that both rookies clearly improved their stock with their performances Saturday. Each defender got after the quarterback often, and looked the part of reliable pass-rushers. I think that both could play meaningful roles in Kelvin Sheppard's defense in 2026.

Matasovsky: In terms of solely week two, I would say the highest riser this week was tight end Jackson Meeks. Meeks proved a solid weapon in the receiving game, hauling in four passes, while also stripping the ball out on kickoff coverage.

When it comes to the overall preseason, defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard and EDGE Eric O’Neill are the highest risers. Both put together their second consecutive week of terrorizing offenses, and O’Neill is making it harder to ignore his talent. Gill-Howard is decimating defenses, and at this pace, could be challenging for meaningful minutes sooner than later.

4. Who is ahead in the backup quarterback battle?

Booher: I think Dobbs has the upper hand for a couple of reasons. Dobbs is more mobile, and has familiarity with the scheme having worked with Drew Petzing previously. Altmyer is certainly intriguing, but at this point I believe the Lions would be able to get him through to the practice squad if they were to cut him. I still think that Brad Holmes will be looking for options after final cuts, but Dobbs appears to be a serviceable option as the backup despite his rough start to Saturday's game.

Chirco: As much as maybe it should be undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer based on his performance in camp thus far, I believe it's Josh Dobbs. I believe his previous NFL playing experience is too valuable to disregard in this competition, and I believe it gives him a slight upper hand in the battle for the backup QB job.

Matasovsky: Both quarterbacks have had rocky starts in their turn to be the starter. They both have rebounded nicely, however. Personally, I think Altmyer has the higher ceiling. That said, Dobbs is leading the quarterback race. He adds a dynamic element with his legs, and his longevity in the league makes him invaluable if Goff cannot be on the field for a series.

Altmyer is facing typical rookie issues of holding onto the ball too long and the occasional play he wants back. At this moment, in preseason week two, Dobbs is the answer if I need to pick Goff’s replacement for a game.

5. What is the biggest question the Detroit Lions need to answer very quickly?

Booher: I think the biggest question the Lions have to answer quickly is who the starting center will be. That is arguably the most important position on the field, and the Lions don't have a clear answer to this question right now. I think Scruggs will be the guy ultimately until Mays returns, but he hasn't done enough to set that in stone at this point in training camp.

Chirco: I believe it's who is going to start at outside cornerback opposite D.J. Reed. And to a lesser degree, it's who is going to claim the slot corner job out of camp. Right now, I don't believe the Lions have a clear-cut answer for either. Although at this present juncture, I would say Rock Ya-Sin becomes the starter opposite Reed, while Roger McCreary captures the starting gig in the slot.

Matasovsky: The top question in the short term is how to tackle the nickel corner situation. Abney had good plays in each of the two preseason games, but also had two penalties against Washington. Meanwhile, Roger McCreary is not making a massive flash at nickel. Christian Izien is an option for later in the season, but might be tasked with a starting safety role in Week 1 as Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph rehab their injuries.

In the long term, the question is how the backup line will shake out. The Lions have seen attrition catch up with their line in most seasons of the Dan Campbell era, so the question becomes which four-to-five linemen make the cut as backups. Against Washington, it was hard to point out high quality backups, which is a concern.