5 players to watch in the Detroit Lions preseason finale

2. QB Tim Boyle

David Blough could fit here, or somewhere on this list, too. But I’m singling out Boyle because he’s starting under center for the Lions on Sunday. It’s unclear how Blough might also mix in with the rest of the No. 1 offense against the Steelers, if he does at all, so Boyle seems to have a clear opportunity to lock down the job as Goff’s backup.

Blough failed to, as Campbell put it, “take the reigns” of the backup quarterback battle in the second preseason game against the Colts after a solid showing against the Falcons. Boyle wasn’t a lot better against Indianapolis, so it’s easy to say the third preseason game is simply his turn to start.

The Steelers’ No. 1 defense will provide a good test for the Lions’ starting offense with Boyle under center.  A clean performance from the Lions’ No. 2 quarterback (for lack of a better term, and however tentatively) will be important. Or if Boyle shows what has become common erraticness as a passer, and Pittsburgh pounces on those chances, he may do enough to hand the backup job to Blough.

In a certain light, Boyle could be playing for his NFL future on Sunday. If the Lions let him go after a bad performance, the other 31 teams will not be clamoring to pick him up.