Detroit Lions set preseason TV broadcast crew, bringing back Benetti and T.J. Lang

The Detroit Lions announced the group that will handle its preseason television broadcast coverage, keeping two established regulars in place and expanding the on-site team for sideline reporting. Jason Benetti will return as play-by-play announcer, with T.J. Lang returning as the analyst for the Lions’ preseason TV production.

Under the Lions’ plan, Patti Cesarini will join the broadcast as the sideline reporter. The sideline role is designed to provide viewers updates from field level during live game coverage, including observations during breaks in play and between drives.

The crew will also include a planned backup option for the lead play-by-play seat. The Lions said Jack Kizer will fill in as play-by-play announcer for Benetti during Detroit’s Preseason Game 1.

Benetti’s return keeps continuity in how the Lions’ preseason games are narrated for viewers. Play-by-play announcers typically set the pace and tone of broadcasts, and returning the same voice is often a deliberate choice by teams that want consistency across a multi-game preseason slate.

T.J. Lang’s role as the analyst also returns, giving the broadcast team an experienced perspective on both the scheme and execution side of the game. Analyst positions can shape how viewers interpret alignments, formations, and in-game adjustments, especially in preseason games where coaches evaluate different looks and rotations.

For a team-building preseason, the broadcast format matters because it frames the way roster evaluation unfolds for a broader audience. Lions preseason games are frequently where depth and situational football get the most television time, and analyst/sideline reporting helps translate those moments beyond the box score.

With the Lions’ announced crew set, the next item for fans is how the broadcast team’s approach will look across the season’s first TV window, particularly in the Benetti-to-Kizer transition for Preseason Game 1. The crew’s structure also sets expectations for how sideline updates will be delivered once Cesarini joins the on-site lineup.