Dobbs Leads Lions Past Colts 25-16 in Preseason

Josh Dobbs strengthened his bid to be Jared Goff’s top backup for the Detroit Lions by completing 15 of 19 passes for 128 yards with two touchdowns and guiding a flawless two-minute drill in the preseason finale against the Colts. He outplayed rookie Luke Altmyer, who finished 7 of 11 for 55 yards and committed a costly interception and a fumble, despite leading a 75-yard scoring drive. Dobbs’ drives included a 35-yard completion set up a 2-yard TD late in the second quarter and multiple extended series that produced two scoring drives, giving Detroit a 19-13 lead at one point. Indianapolis’ rookie Anthony Richardson showed brief efficiency, while backup Riley Leonard struggled, including an interception at Detroit’s 24-yard line. The Lions’ decision on their No. 2 quarterback remains unsettled, with Dobbs presenting veteran steadiness and Altmyer showing mixed results, all while Jared Goff did not play in any of Detroit’s three preseason games. The result kept the Lions’ post-draft expectations alive as they weigh a veteran backup behind Goff and consider depth behind Altmyer.