The preseason opener for the Detroit Lions looked like, well, the preseason opener.That’s probably the best way to summarize a 16-14 loss to the Bengals. There were crushing holding penalties, dropped passes and plays that were there but just weren’t executed. There were also strong individual efforts, signs of growth for young players and an understanding that what’s being taught in practice is translating to games.“It’s the first one, we’ll learn from this, the guys will get better,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said.The Lions will face the Washington Commanders at home on Aug. 22 in their next preseason contest. Until then, let’s take a look at some risers and fallers from the opener.Top Plays from Lions @ BengalsRisersEdge Ahmed HassaneinAs if folks needed another reason to hop on the Hassanein bandwagon, the 2025 sixth-round pick provided a couple more in the preseason opener. One of our players to watch entering Thursday, Hassanein didn’t disappoint. He filled up the box score, recording four tackles, a pair of sacks (including one versus Joe Burrow) and a forced fumble. For a player who’s worked hard to prove to this coaching staff he belongs in the rotation, a night like this goes a long way. Hard to think of a player who helped his stock more than Hassanein.RB Jacob SaylorsYou knew it was going to be a heavy dose of Saylors, considering Detroit’s top three running backs weren’t playing. We know what he brings to the table on special teams, but when given a hefty workload, Saylors proved to be the best back on the field for either team. Saylors led the Lions in rushing and receiving yards, finishing his night with 11 touches for 83 yards. He was an ankle tackle away from a rushing touchdown, but it doesn’t make his night any less impressive. If the Lions carry four running backs into the season, it’ll be hard for another back to supplant Saylors.“He was probably our most potent player on offense,” Campbell said.RT Blake MillerMiller has had the difficult task of blocking Aidan Hutchinson in training camp. It’s gone about as well as you’d expect from a rookie tackle facing an All-Pro. However, the Lions are adamant that those reps against Hutchinson will only make Miller better. They wanted to see growth in the preseason opener. Have to think they liked what they saw.You didn’t really notice Miller on Thursday, which sounds like a knock, but it’s a compliment. There weren’t any alarming losses, and while some of his wins were quiet, they were still wins. When Miller was beat off the edge, he recovered quickly and stayed in the play to redirect his defender. You really saw his athleticism in the screen game, getting upfield in a hurry on a negated screen to Tom Kennedy. That’s where Miller can be a weapon, even as he learns on the job. Not a perfect night, but a solid debut for Miller. He looked the part.