The Lions’ offense looked rusty in their preseason opener, as both Kyle Allen and Hendon Hooker struggled to find a rhythm in a 34-7 loss to the Chargers on Thursday night.
The 2025 Hall of Fame Game was a chance for one of these back-up quarterbacks to extend the gap between one another, but the Lions may have more questions after this game. Allen started the first half, finishing 9-for-14 for 91 yards, but threw two interceptions in a first half that included three turnovers.
Hooker didn’t fair much better in the second half, with three completions on just six passes for 18 yards while throwing an interception to end the game. It was an overall sloppy game for Detroit, with five total turnovers and eight penalties from the defense, with Craig Reynolds scoring the only touchdown.
The Chargers’ Trey Lance outperformed the Lions’ QBs by himself, finishing 13-for-20 with 120 yards and two touchdowns as he looks to secure the back-up role to starter Justin Herbert. The Lions will travel to Atlanta and face the Falcons for their second preseason game next Friday.
Allen and Hooker struggle, Lance shines as Lions are dominated by Chargers for 34-7 loss in Hall of Fame Game
Lions start their final drive of the game from their own 34-yard line. Saylors runs for four yards, then Hooker gets sacked for a loss of two yards. Hooker connects with Saylors for six yards to make it fourth-and-2 at the two minute warning. The Lions go for it as Hooker goes deep to Lovett but the ball is taken away by Myles Purchase for the interception. The Chargers kneel the ball out and that’ll end the first preseason game of 2025. (End of game)
Lions’ offensive struggles continue, Chargers score another touchdown to extend lead to 34-7 late in final quarter
The run game helps the Chargers gain 18 yards on two plays, then Uiagalelei completes his first pass for 13 yards to Brenden Rice. On third-and-3, Uiagalelei goes deep for Johnson as the receiver draws the pass interference penalty on Dicaprio Bootle. Now at the Detroit 7 for first-and-goal, the Chargers need all four downs as Vidal runs outside for a 2-yard touchdown as they extend their lead again. (3:42)
Small gets the carry on first-and-10 from the Lions 20, but almost fumbles the ball as he goes down. Jacob Saylors gets the two yards needed for a first down, but the drive stalls after Hooker is sacked on third-and-5 for another punt, with this one going out of bounds at the Chargers 28. (9:14)
Chargers take over as DJ Uiagalelei is now at quarterback, but a facemask penalty creates first-and-25, which helps the Lions defense put up another three-and-out stand. The punt goes out of bounds for a touchback. (12:22)
(Start of 4th Quarter) Hooker finds Jackson Meeks on second-and-8, then an incomplete pass creates fourth-and-3. After a timeout, the Lions offense stays on the field as Hooker scrambles but is a yard short of the first down marker. (14:11)
Chargers score two field goals, Lions offense still stalling as Los Angeles takes 27-7 lead after three quarters
Lions begin this drive at their own 21, as Hooker finds Lovett on second down for seven yards and a first down. Small gains 12 yards on two carries for another first down, then gains two yards on the last play of the quarter as Kenny Yeboah is injured on the play. (End of 3rd quarter)
Hooker can’t find rhythm in first drive of preseason, Chargers score again to take 27-7 lead late in third quarter
Lance stays in at quarterback at the Los Angeles 28, as the run game for the Chargers gets 11 yards in three plays for a first down. Hassan Haskins runs for seven yards, then makes a reception for eight yards and another first down. The Lions force a third-and-2, but Vidal runs outside for 16 yards to move the chains again. Jaylen Johnson makes a 12-yard reception for another first down as the Chargers are easily moving the ball, then Lance scrambles for three yards on first down. The Lions force third-and-7, as the referees are also in preseason form as none of Dalveon Campbell’s feet were down on a called touchdown that was reversed to an incomplete pass. Dicker makes the 27-yarder to extend the Chargers’ lead. (2:59)
Allen is out, Hendon Hooker comes in under center for the Lions offense after the touchback. A holding penalty makes it second-and-18, as the offense only gains four yards in two plays as the Lions punt on fourth-and-14 in a quick drive, then an illegal touching penalty gives the Chargers better field position. (9:49)
Lions muffle punt for another turnover, Chargers get a field goal and take 24-7 third quarter lead
(Start of 3rd Quarter) Miller-Hynes returns the second-half opening kickoff to the Chargers 43. An illegal shift penalty on first down and losing seven yards on second down creates third-and-17, where Lance finds Patterson down the middle for 12 yards. The Chargers punt deep on fourth-and-5, but Keeney-James fumbles the punt as the Chargers recover to make it first-and-goal at the Lions 5. But the Lions defense holds Los Angeles at-bay as Dicker easily makes the 23-yard field goal. (11:26)
Lions struggle early on offense, Lance looks comfortable against Detroit defense as Chargers hold 21-7 halftime lead
Chargers don’t try to score on their last drive, as two run plays help drain the clock to end the second quarter as they’ll receive the second half kickoff. (End of 1st half)
Lions go on a two-minute drill starting from their own 25. Lovett slips on the turf for a first down incompletion, then Small gains six yards on a second down reception. Allen scrambles down the middle on third down but slides well short of the first down as that drill ends pretty quickly. Jack Fox puts up a deep punt and pins the Chargers at their own 10. (1:04)
Los Angeles takes advantage of kickoff penalty, Lance throws second TD pass as Lions trail Chargers 21-7 late in second quarter
We get our first illegal-kickoff penalty of the season as Bates’ kickoff lands short of the landing zone, with the Chargers starting at their own 40. Nyheim Miller-Hines catches the screen pass on second-and-8 for a first down, then a couple of plays later runs for two yards to create third-and-4. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is called for an illegal hands-to-the-face penalty for an automatic first down. Lance is still playing well, finding Tucker Fisk down the middle for 19 yards and another first down. Miller-Hynes runs for four yards on the last play before the two-minute warning. After an incomplete pass on second down, Lance finds Lambert-Smith for the 15-yard touchdown, as the extra point is good. (1:51)
Allen bounces back from early struggles, Reynolds scores on 3-yard touchdown as Lions trail Chargers 14-7 in second quarter
(Start of 2nd Quarter) Allen stays on the field for his fourth drive of the game, as Reynolds gains 10 yards for a first down, then gains four more on the ensuing first-and-10 play. After Shane Zylstra makes his first catch for five yards and the first Lions timeout of the half, Reynolds cuts inside for four yards and a first down. Reynolds keeps running for 13 yards and another first down. A false-start penalty makes it second-and-14 for the Lions, then multiple Chargers stop Jabari Small to make it third-and-11. Lovett makes the catch down the middle and holds on to create fourth-and-3. The Lions stay on the field, no surprise, as Allen scrambles for the first down. Small gets back-to-back carries for five total yards and creates another third down for Detroit, as Lovett is a yard short of the first down after catching a quick screen pass. Lions go for it again, as Lovett makes another clutch catch to make it first-and-goal at the Chargers 3. Reynolds needs two plays, but finds the endzone for the Lions touchdown, as Jake Bates hits the extra point to end the longest drive of the game so far. (5:31)
Chargers score twice off of three Lions turnovers, Allen throws two interceptions as Los Angeles takes 14-0 lead after first quarter
Chargers take over from their own 20-yard line after the turnover, but the Lions defense puts up their first three-and-out of the game as Los Angeles punts. Lovett returns the punt to the Detroit 40 to end the opening quarter. (End of 1st Quarter)
Jakobie Keeney-James returns the kickoff for the Lions this time, getting tackled at their own 24. Allen looks to bounce back from his interception, finding rookie Isaac TeSlaa on back-to-back receptions for a combined 46 yards. Now on the Chargers 31, Reynolds loses two yards on first down, then Allen connects with Lovett for 10 yards to make it third-and-2. Allen’s third down passes badly misses the mark and is easily intercepted by Tony Jefferson in the endzone. (2:17)
Allen throws interception as Lions have two early turnovers, Chargers score again to take 14-0 first quarter lead
Chargers have great field position on first-and-goal, as Kimani Videl needs just two plays to find the endzone for another Chargers touchdown, and the extra point is good. (5:13)
Lions take over from their own 42 after the missed field goal, with an offsides penalty creating first-and-5 for Detroit. Reynolds take the screen pass for 10 yards and a first down. A 1-yard rush from Reynolds and a blown up screen pass makes it third-and-9, as Allen throws a bad ball to Nikko Reed for an interception, as Reed runs down the sideline and returns it to the Lions 6. (5:44)
Chargers start on their own 28 as Lance finds Jaret Patterson for six yards on first down, then throws an incomplete pass on second down. It’s third-and-4 and Lance throws a nice touch pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith for 28 yards. Four yards on the ground in two plays creates third-and-6 for Los Angeles but the Lions pressure forces a throw-away, then Cameron Dicker hits the goalpost on a 52-yard field goal for a miss. (7:30)
Stuard returns it again, and holds the ball this time to the Lions 35. Kyle Allen gets the start for the Lions as a holding penalty on first down creates first-and-20. Rookie receiver Dominic Lovett can’t hold onto the ball on second-and-18, and Craig Reynolds only gains four yards on third down as Jack Fox comes out to punt. (10:02)
Lions fumble on opening kickoff, Chargers find endzone and take early 7-0 lead
(Start of game) Chargers start on the Lions 28 as Trey Lance starts under center, and he completes his first pass on first down, a 9-yard pass to Will Dissly. An offsides penalty gives the Chargers a first down, then rookie Omarion Hampton gains eight yards on a first down run. The Lions come up with stops on second and third down, but Lance rolls out on fourth down and finds Dissly for the touchdown and the extra point is good as the Chargers take the lead. (12:11)
Pregame and Kickoff
The 2025 NFL preseason is here, and it’s opened up with the Hall of Fame game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions. Pre-game festivities start with the Class of 2025 being honored in the middle of the field in front of the two rosters. Congratulations to Jared Allen, Sterling Sharpe, Eric Allen, and Antonio Gates on their enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With the Lions wearing their home blues and the Chargers in their road whites, the Chargers kick off. It’s Grant Stuard on the return but he fumbles as the Chargers recover the ball and keep possession after review.
Preview
The Detroit Lions open their 2025 preseason in a special environment, taking on the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2025 Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
The annual game opens up preseason football every year, as both teams are participating in the game for the first time since the 1990s, and for good reason. Antonio Gates, one of the four players enshrined into the Class of 2025, is a native of Detroit and played 16 seasons for the Chargers after going undrafted in 2003.
With the Lions now playing an extra preseason game, head coach Dan Campbell already has decided to sit their top two 2025 draft picks in Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge for the Hall of Fame game. This decision comes as the Lions are still figuring out the starting center responsibilities between Ratledge and veteran Graham Glasnow in training camp.
Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Kameron Goodwill.
Lions vs. Chargers
▶ What: NFL Hall of Fame Game
▶ When: Thursday, 8 p.m.
▶ Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton, Ohio
▶ TV: NBC/Peacock
