Detroit Lions 2022 preseason schedule: Dates, times, opponents

The Detroit Lions 2022 preseason schedule is now official, and here’s a look at the dates, times and opponents for the three contests.

We know when the Detroit Lions will have their 17 regular season games and bye week during the 2022 regular season. We’ve also known who they will have their three preseason games against, but on Friday the dates and times were announced officially by the team.

Here are the dates, times and television networks for the Lions’ three preseason games.

Preseason Week 1: Friday, Aug. 12 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 6 p.m. ET, TV: NFL Network
Preseason Week 2: Saturday, Aug. 20 at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET, TV: Lions TV Network
Preseason Week 3: Sunday, Aug. 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:30 p.m. ET, TV: CBS

Detroit Lions preseason schedule actually looks somewhat interesting

To open the preseason, the Falcons are something of a mirror match for the Lions. Both teams are in search of a future franchise quarterback after parting with one, though it’s easy to see the timing of the move lined up better for the Lions. Fans or analysts who thought quarterback Desmond Ridder should’ve been on the Lions’ radar in the draft will get a look at him in a Falcons’ uniform.

Before the Lions take on the Colts in Week 2 of the preseason, the two teams will have a couple joint practices. The Lions will get to test themselves in those sessions against a good team, then play what will likely be the dress rehearsal for the start of the season against the same good team.

In the preseason finale, the Lions will get a CBS stage against the Steelers. By that point, Pittsburgh may have determined who their Week 1 starting quarterback will be–Mitch Trubisky or rookie Kenny Pickett (ok, I won’t rule out Mason Rudolph).

But if the Trubisky-Pickett competition carries into that final preseason contest and both see a lot of action, the game becomes that much more interesting. And certainly more interesting than most preseason finales, particularly what we saw when there were four (mostly) meaningless preseason games.

Truly, there seems to be at least one reason to pay attention to all three preseason games for the Lions this year.