Tim Boyle would like to be back with the Detroit Lions next season

Tim Boyle will be a free agent after the season, but he would like to be back with the Detroit Lions.

After three seasons with the Green Bay Packers where he saw little action, Tim Boyle signed a one-year deal last offseason with the Detroit Lions to be a backup to Jared Goff. Then a thumb injury late in the preseason led to him starting the season on IR.

Boyle returned to practice as the Lions came out of their Week 9 bye, then he made his first NFL start for an injured Goff in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns. With the benefit of more practice time and his thumb in better condition, Boyle has looked better in starting the last two games as Goff sat out with COVID and a knee injury respectively.

Boyle has thrown multiple interceptions in two of his three starts, leading to a 1:2 touchdown to interception ratio (three touchdowns, six interceptions). But he has drawn praise from the Lions’ coaching staff for how he has run the offense, and he has proven to himself he can play in the NFL.

“One hundred percent, yes,” Boyle said Wednesday. “I can play in this league. I believe that.”

Tim Boyle sees promise in the Detroit Lions

Boyle’s time in Green Bay showed him what a winning orginization looks like. Via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, he believes the Lions are on the right track and he wants to be back as he gets set to become a free agent again in March.

"Not that I helped the Packers get there, but I’ve seen it. I’ve kind of been on that side of the fence where I feel how it’s supposed to look. And it makes me as a competitor definitely want to stick around because I know exactly where this team is going and I think the players who understand where it’s going are licking their chops for an opportunity next year because Coach Campbell will have us dialed in. He’ll have us ready to go and it’ll be a special run.”"

The Lions will be in position to draft a quarterback in April, most likely with their second first-round pick or their pick early in the second round. Goff is in line to be back as the starter next season, but if he remains there all season depends on the depth chart around him almost as much as his performance.

Lions’ No. 3 quarterback David Blough is going to be a restricted free agent, and there’s a good chance he’ll be non-tendered. So if one of the current backup quarterbacks is back next season, Boyle has by far the best chance as general manager Brad Holmes eyes who else will be available (or may become available) as a cheaper veteran backup.