Lions face Falcons preseason game

A preview of the Lions vs Falcons preseason matchup focusing on player debuts and how to watch.

Lions face Falcons preseason game

The Detroit Lions travel to Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta for Week 1 of the preseason. Kickoff is Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The game will not be nationally televised but local viewers can watch FOX 2 Detroit, with a replay on NFL Network at 2 a.m. ET and streaming via the NFL app for NFL Plus subscribers.

Most starters are expected to sit, but Hendon Hooker is slated to start for Detroit. The Lions could also see Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge make their NFL debuts. For Atlanta, the top two quarterbacks are not expected to play, opening the door for Easton Stick and Emory Jones. The night is therefore about depth and roster spots rather than marquee performances.

Preseason games work as a job interview for players on the bubble. With star players sidelined, coaches test depth charts and give young players real game feedback. Wins matter less than which players show growth under live conditions.

For Detroit and Atlanta, the night will set talking points for camp. Hooker leading the offense, Williams and Ratledge pushing into NFL gear, and backups at quarterback all influence how the teams plan the next rounds of roster cuts. The stakes are modest, but the impact on early season depth can echo through the days that follow.

Highlights

Rosters will tighten soon as teams translate this game into concrete depth charts.