Lions still weighing Dobbs and Altmyer for backup job heading into Saturday’s preseason finale

Detroit’s quarterback depth chart will be decided, at least temporarily, when the Lions close out the preseason on Saturday, and the key question entering the final week of exhibition football is still the same one Dan Campbell addressed this week: who will be the No. 2 quarterback behind the starter. Campbell said the backup quarterback job remains an open competition between veteran Josh Dobbs and rookie Luke Altmyer heading into the finale.

Tim Twentyman of the Lions’ communications staff framed the week’s biggest storyline as a battle for roles, not just reps. In that competition, Dobbs has an obvious incentive every time he takes the field. Twentyman reported that Dobbs made a statement in the Lions’ preseason game against Indianapolis, doing so in hopes of strengthening his case to claim the backup job.

The practical reality of a preseason QB competition is that it is decided as much by decision-making and situational management as by big throws. Coaches want to see whether a quarterback can run the offense smoothly when the personnel changes around him, whether he makes consistent progressions, and whether he protects the football against both starters and fringe starters from the opposing defense. With Campbell stating publicly that the job is still up for grabs, it suggests the coaching staff sees enough variables on both sides to keep the stakes alive through the final game.

Altmyer’s place in the picture is different, but not necessarily weaker. A rookie can win a backup job by showing that he can process quickly and communicate clearly, even if his play is sometimes shaped by limited preparation time with the full playbook. Twentyman’s observations put Altmyer squarely in the mix, with the coaching staff not reducing the decision to a mere formality. The Lions’ decision will likely weigh not only raw execution, but how quickly the rookie can stabilize the offense when game-to-game continuity matters most.

Dobbs, meanwhile, represents the more traditional value of a veteran backup. His case, as characterized by Twentyman, hinges on using opportunities to show that he can handle the responsibilities the position requires. When a coach keeps a competition open that late in the preseason, it usually indicates that the incumbent-style experience is meaningful only if it shows up in measurable, repeatable ways, particularly in game-like conditions against NFL-caliber preparation and disguises.

The Saturday finale also matters because it is the last major audition before rosters move from exhibition evaluations to regular-season roles. The Lions will have a clear opportunity to compare how both quarterbacks perform with their most relevant teammates and opponents. In a situation like this, the “statement” element described for Dobbs can mean different things to different staffs, from touchdown efficiency to low turnover rates, but the underlying point is simple: whoever looks most reliable in the moment gives the coaching staff the cleanest choice.

For fans, the most important takeaway is that Detroit is not ready to declare an answer yet. Campbell’s remarks keep the focus on competition, and Twentyman’s report underscores that Dobbs believes his performance against Indianapolis put him in a stronger position. The next step is straightforward: watch the Lions’ quarterbacks in Saturday’s final preseason game, because the Lions’ coaching staff has already told you the backup job will still be contested right up until the end.