Tim Boyle to start Lions preseason finale against the Steelers

With Jared Goff the only Lions starter who won’t play, Tim Boyle will get the QB1 nod for Sunday’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Detroit Lions starters, minus Jared Goff, are slated to play the first half of Sunday’s preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On Thursday, head coach Dan Campbell confirmed to reporters that Tim Boyle will get the start.

Boyle’s competition for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, David Blough, started last week against the Indianapolis Colts with the Lions resting all their starters. So it’s hypothetically Boyle’s turn to start, but he’ll get run with the rest of the starters that Blough did not get last week.

Unless the two split time or rotate in the first half, so they both can get a shot with the other starters. Campbell’s comment about wanting “to see what those guys can do with the ones at their disposal” points to both seeing time in the first half on Sunday.

Backup quarterback competition for the Lions is not over

Boyle and Blough will carry their competion to be Goff’s backup, and possibly for only one roster spot, right through the preseason finale. But on Thursday, via SI.com, Campbell didn’t rule out a late quarterback addition as other teams make their roster cuts.

"There’s always a possibility, that goes with any position,” Campbell said. “We’re still number two on the claim list. So, at the end of this, there’s nothing to say that because somebody has made our roster that they’re staying that way. Those guys know that, they understand that.”"

Having to get a new backup quarterback up to speed with the offense on short notice before the season starts would not be ideal for any team. But that’s not a good enough reason for the Lions to shut the door on adding someone, and ultimately parting ways with one or both of Boyle and Blough if it comes to it.

Of course the Lions’ lack of a more capable backup quarterback, and having one who wouldn’t rank among the worst in the league, could have been addressed in March. But such as it is, they’ll be monitoring what other teams do at final roster cuts and keeping their eyes open. Or ultimately, they’ll just end up going with Boyle or (and?) Blough behind Goff.