It’s not exactly kneecap-biting time for Dan Campbell, and Jim Harbaugh may save his finest whole milks in the milk cellar, but the NFL is still very much back on Thursday. The 2025 preseason kicks off with the annual Hall of Fame Game. This year’s installment features the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers, two playoff hopefuls that get to share a casual tune-up on national TV.
How to watch the 2025 Hall of Fame Game: Lions vs. Chargers
- Venue: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium — Canton, Ohio
- Time: 8 p.m. ET, Thursday
- TV: NBC
- Streaming: Fubo ($20 off)
- Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.
This broadcast will also be available on Peacock.
The Lions went 15-2 last year while leading the league in total scoring. A gnarly and unfortunate string of injuries derailed their playoff run, though, and Detroit lost both of its lead coordinators this offseason. Aaron Glenn left the defense to lead the New York Jets, while OC Ben Johnson bowed out to fill the Chicago Bears’ coaching vacancy.
New offensive coordinator John Morton has jumped into his new role with zeal, creativity and sleeplessness, according to The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy. New defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has been seen jumping around the practice field, as elite pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson is back from 2024’s season-ending leg injury. The vibes in Allen Park seem high.
The Lions are 1.5-point favorites at BetMGM — yes, you can bet on this game — but neither team will be working with a full roster. Of note, rookies Tate Ratledge and Tyleik Williams are not expected to play in Thursday’s exhibition. Ratledge (Georgia, No. 57 draft pick) is gunning for the starting center role, Pouncy reports, while Williams (Ohio State, No. 28 pick) has been taking first-team DT reps all spring.
Detroit’s offense Thursday will be paced by backup quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen. Hooker, a Tennessee product, went 29-for-44 last preseason with a touchdown pass and an interception. Allen was in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB room in 2024, and his arrival in Detroit marks his fifth pro stopover since 2020.
The biggest news out of Chargers camp has been Rashawn Slater’s massive multi-year contract extension, which the team announced Sunday. Elsewhere on the offensive line, Jamaree Salyer looks remade on the inside, and Zion Johnson is potentially moving from guard to center and will play a couple of drives there against the Lions.
“He’s a different guy when you subtract 35 pounds of bad weight,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said of Salyer, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. “His ability to move laterally (and) change direction quickly is so much better.”
Popper, who’s been covering Los Angeles’ training days in San Diego and El Segundo, praised rookie wideout Dalevon Campbell and second-year defensive back Cam Hart. Other younger players, including rookies Omarion Hampton, Tre’ Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith, will be in action Thursday while most of the starters will sit.
With Justin Herbert on the sideline, Trey Lance will take the first snaps under center. Lance, the third pick in the 2021 draft, threw for 244 yards in his lone start with the Dallas Cowboys last year. Undrafted rookie DJ Uiagalelei will take over for Lance at some point in the second half, and veteran Taylor Heinicke will serve as the emergency QB.
Come Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will enshrine four new members — cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen, receiver Sterling Sharpe and Chargers luminary Antonio Gates.
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(Photo of Dan Campbell: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
