ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Another test awaits Dan Campbell’s Detroit Lions, as the team prepares for its second of three preseason games Saturday against the Washington Commanders at noon ET at Ford Field. With it comes another batch of players worth watching.Campbell said he wants to play some of his starters. Jared Goff won’t play, but this will be a chance for some of the vets to shake off the rust in a gamelike atmosphere, especially since the Lions aren’t participating in joint practices this year. More importantly, though, it’ll be a chance to solidify roster spots and show continued growth.Last week’s edition featured the likes of first-round pick Blake Miller, Ahmed Hassanein (two sacks and five pressures), Skyler Gill-Howard (three pressures), Nick Whiteside and Ennis Rakestraw, as well as center Seth McLaughlin. They’re worth continued monitoring, but we’ll use this opportunity to highlight others competing for roster spots.Jared Goff: I'm tougher than I thought I wasRobert MaysQBs Josh Dobbs and Luke AltmyerWhen training camp began, Detroit’s QB room was largely settled. Teddy Bridgewater was the No. 2, and Altmyer’s best shot at sticking around was on the practice squad as a developmental QB.How quickly things change. Bridgewater retired, Dobbs was added, and Altmyer earned the attention of Campbell and this coaching staff.Even with a veteran such as Dobbs in the mix, Altmyer has been the first QB on the field when the Lions turn to their second-team offense — rather consistently. Part of that is because Dobbs is new to the offense and still learning the playbook. But part of it is because the Lions are trying to get Altmyer as many reps as possible. It seems as if they legitimately like what he brings to the table.“Dobbs is a bright guy,” Campbell said. “He’s played in this league. But also, man, just making sure it got him up to speed, being true to that. And also Luke’s a young player, but he’s promising … trying to soak him with reps. So, it was just kind of a little bit of that, but we’ll get a look at Dobbs here and let him go.”Campbell said Dobbs will start versus the Commanders, so perhaps he’s finally getting up to speed with the offense. His practice results have been a mixed bag, but he’s a smart veteran who fits the mold of what the Lions like behind Goff. That said, Altmyer has a chance to make this interesting and earn a spot as a third QB. Not something we typically see here, but it’s not out of the question.Edge Derrick MooreWe didn’t see Moore — Detroit’s second-round pick — in the opener. He was working his way back from a groin injury that forced him to miss a handful of practices.Since returning and getting his feet under him, however, he’s been on an absolute heater.The Lions have deployed Moore in a variety of ways, giving him (pun intended) more and more opportunities with the first-team defense. He’ll rush off the edge, he’ll kick inside to three-technique, he’ll run stunts and twists, he’ll win with speed to power. He’s a physical presence along the defensive front, particularly on third-down packages, and it’s been fun to watch him settle in. This was the best week of practice he’s had as a Lion, with a couple of sacks and a handful of pressures when given chances to rush. He’s ready for his close-up.“It can help me a lot, just getting back into the rhythm,” Moore said of playing in the preseason. “I’ve been out for two weeks, so getting back into the rhythm, being able to go against different competitions and seeing different looks and different things like that, and just showing everybody what I’m capable of doing.”WR Tay MartinCampbell and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp have raved about Martin and his contributions. He seems to have left his mark on special teams. When you’re talking about players fighting for a roster spot, that’s what it typically comes down to.“Tay Martin’s jumped off the film every day,” Fipp said this week.“Special teams is going to have a huge factor,” Campbell said. “… Tay Martin, man, makes plays every day. And he’s intriguing on offense, but he makes special teams plays every day. And that’s important to us.”Chances are, the Lions likely won’t need Martin much on offense. It’s rare to be down to your No. 6 receiver. Instead, those guys make the roster because of what Martin has already proved capable of doing — adding value on special teams. The most important step is complete. That said, if Martin can add a cherry on top as a receiver in these final two preseason games, he’ll make this an easy decision for Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.Detroit Lions Camp: Drew Petzing's scheme, Blake Miller and moreRobert MaysTE Jackson MeeksThe recent injury to Lions tight end Sam LaPorta could have a trickle-down effect on roster construction if he’s unable to play in the season opener. LaPorta, dealing with a hip injury after taking a hit in Monday’s practice, is likely to be shelved for the foreseeable future. The Lions will take things slow with their star tight end, hoping rest will help him get ready for Week 1. But if it’s looking as if LaPorta will need more time, could the Lions roster four tight ends to begin the season? If that’s the case, you have to think they’d be looking for more of a receiving tight end, which could pave the way for Meeks to make a push.Meeks caught a touchdown in Thursday’s practice and caught one pass for 17 yards in the preseason opener. The Lions began the process of converting Meeks, a former wide receiver, to tight end during the 2025 season. This is his first full season as a tight end, and we’ve seen him with his hands in the dirt blocking quite a bit. He’s not a finished product, but the Lions might have something with Meeks if they continue developing him. And they might need him if LaPorta isn’t ready.“We like him and really felt like this is probably — this would give him the best shot to make our roster and help us,” Campbell said of moving Meeks to TE. “He brings a different flavor to the tight end room. He’s a big — call it big skill. He’s a big skill player. Because now some of those things that were out there at receiver, the X receiver, but all of a sudden you move him back inside, and now, man, the athleticism goes way up, right? And the speed and the ability to separate, catch the football, it really has shown moving him to the tight end position. And I really felt like that’s where we needed to see the most. And then the other (stuff) will come, like the run game, the blocking. He’s strong, he’s tough, he’s willing. So, as long as you have that, I don’t care if you’re 220, you’ll be just fine. We can use you in a role.”CB Keith Abney IIYou’ll often see the coaching staff reward young players for catching their eye with added snaps with a first-team unit. It’s the ultimate sign of growth for this coaching staff. One player whose growth has been linear this camp is Abney.A player widely viewed as a Day 2 pick, Abney fell to the fifth round in April’s draft. You can come up with different reasons why. His lack of size and elite speed, his aggressive play style, you name it. But Abney’s instincts and fearless makeup were always going to leave an impact on this staff. It’s what they covet from their defensive backs, and it felt like only a matter of time until he was put to the test.Abney showed his physical presence in the Lions’ preseason opener. In practice since, he has been worked in with the first-team defense at nickel and even locked up Amon-Ra St. Brown on a rep. Though youth might keep him from winning the job at this point, he’s firmly in the mix as this competition unfolds. It’ll likely come down to Abney, Christian Izien, Roger McCreary and perhaps Rakestraw (if healthy) for the starting nickel position. We’ll see if he can separate from the pack.