Detroit's preseason is over, and the Lions head into the regular season with a win over Indianapolis. The box score didn't settle who starts, but it clarified the backup picture.
Joshua Dobbs completed 15 of 19 passes for 128 yards with two touchdowns and no picks. He also fumbled, though Detroit recovered. That's a clean night, and it's the kind of performance that keeps a veteran on the roster. Luke Altmyer, the other quarterback who played, went 7-of-11 for 55 yards with an interception and lost one of his two fumbles. Dobbs separated himself.
The running back battle was messy. Trayveon Williams ran nine times for 57 yards and two scores, but he also lost a fumble. Jacob Saylors carried 17 times for 100 yards, averaging 5.9 per carry. Roydell Williams lost a fumble on nine carries. Somebody's getting cut over ball security.
Lucky Jackson led the receivers with five catches for 94 yards. Tay Martin caught four balls for 16 yards and a score. Jackson Meeks added two catches for eight yards and a touchdown. None of these names move fantasy needles, but they matter for the bottom of the depth chart.
Defensively, Ennis Rakestraw Jr. had six tackles and an interception. Aamaris Brown posted five stops and two passes defended. That's the kind of night that helps a young corner stick.
It was the preseason finale, so the game itself was always about roster construction. The Lions got their win, and they got a decent look at the players who won't be on the field in September when the games count.
My take: Dobbs played his way onto the 53 as the No. 2. The running back depth chart is still a problem, because fumbles tend to get a player cut no matter how many yards they produce. If I'm Detroit, I keep Saylors and think hard about Williams' ball security before the waiver wire opens.