DETROIT (AP) — Joshua Dobbs ran for a 50-yard touchdown and the Detroit Lions held on for a 17-13 preseason win against the Washington Commanders on Saturday.
Dobbs, expected to back up quarterback Jared Goff this season, was 7 for 12 for 74 yards with an interception and a fumble. He had two carries for 53 yards.
Detroit (1-1) played a few starters, but none of its biggest stars. Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Penei Sewell sat out on offense, and Aidan Hutchinson was among the defensive absences.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels started, but he and much of the starting offense left after going three-and-out on the first series. Daniels was sacked once and threw an incompletion on his only pass attempt.
“I’m not worried about playing time — any reps are good,” Daniels said. “We know we’ve gotten the foundation of our offense in place, so now we can start focusing on game planning as we get closer to the first real game.”
Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Daniels was going to play one series, no matter how long it went.
“You want to thread the needle as close as you can,” he said. “There are times in practice when he’s taking all the reps he can, to get him a little more game ready.”
Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis was impressive as the third Commanders quarterback, going 11 for 14 for 162 yards.
“It’s great to put up some numbers, but it doesn’t mean that much,” said the former Minnesota and Rutgers starter. “I know I have a lot of work still to do.”
The Commanders (1-1) kicked off to start the game, but still took a 7-0 lead after 51 seconds.
On the second snap from scrimmage, former Lion Amik Robertson sacked Dobbs at the Detroit 18, knocking the ball loose. Both teams had chances to recover, but the ball was knocked into the end zone and Joshua Josephs fell on it for a 7-0 lead.
“That’s not all on (Dobbs),” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “We didn’t pick up the protection the way we should, so he got hit.”
Dobbs was intercepted on Detroit’s second drive, but he faked a handoff and raced 50 yards for the tying touchdown on the third.
“I’ve always been a guy who tries to stay even-keeled, whether things are going good or bad,” Dobbs said. “I try to react the same to a good play, like the run, exactly like I react to a bad one like the turnover on the second play. I just try to get focused on the next play and how I can improve.”
Detroit’s third quarterback, rookie Luke Altmyer, was 9 of 13 for 86 yards.
“We know Luke can see the field,” Campbell said. “We just need to help him play faster, but that will come.”
Washington took a 10-7 lead on Drew Stevens’ 27-yard field goal with 8:45 left in the third quarter. Kaliakmanis led the offense on an 11-play, 78-yard drive after the second-half kickoff.
The Lions took their first lead on a 1-yard touchdown by Trayveon Williams late in the third quarter, and Jake Bates made it 14-10 with the extra point.
Stevens made a 32-yard field goal to bring the Commanders within 14-13 with 12:02 left, but Bates put the Lions back up by four with 2:26 left with a 37-yard field goal.
Washington rookie Robert Henry Jr. fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and the Lions used a fourth down conversion to run out the clock.
Injuries
Commanders: None announced.
Lions: OL Michael Niese was carted back to the locker room with a leg injury, and left the stadium on crutches while RB Jabari Small was in concussion protocol. WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. sustained a knee injury and will receive more tests, but Campbell said he is “worried” about the diagnosis.
Up next
Commanders: final preseason game on Friday in Baltimore.
Lions: finish preseason on Saturday at Indianapolis.
