Detroit Lions vs. New York Jets
Thursday, August 13, 2015 @ 7:30 P.M. (Eastern)

Preseason football is back! On Thursday the New York Jets take on the Detroit Lions in Detroit. The Lions look to build off of their 2014 campaign where they finished 11-5 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The Jets are looking to bounce back from a less than stellar 2014 season that saw them finish 4-12. Rex Ryan was fired after the season and Todd Bowles was hired.

After a controversial week for the New York Jets, there is football to be played. The media erupted on Tuesday after reports surfaced that QB Geno Smith would be out 6-10 weeks with a broken jaw. That broken jaw was the result of an altercation between Smith and backup LB IK Enemkpali. Enemkpali has since been released.

It appears that both teams will play their starters for at least the opening series. The Lions enter the game relatively healthy. RB Joique Bell, DE Jason Jones, and RT LaAdrian Waddle have had some action in practice but are still on the PUP list and will not play. The Jets enter the game with CB Dee Milliner, DE Muhammad Wilkerson, and DB Antonio Cromartie not expected to play.

While the Lions are set at starting quarterback, the Jets still have many questions to be answered. With the injury to Geno Smith, the consensus is that journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick will ultimately become the starter week 1. However, the Jets drafted QB Bryce Petty in the fourth round of this year's draft. Although there isn't very much expected from Petty, he will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills during preseason. The Jets also have undrafted free agent Jake Hearns on the roster.

The Lions are pretty well set with most of their starters. There will be good competition for the number two DT position. Caraun Reid and Tyrunn Walker are expected to battle throughout the preseason for the starting job next to perennial all-pro Haloti Ngata. Ngata is not expected to play much, if at all, during the preseason due to a nagging hamstring. Other than the defensive tackle spot, the Lions have battles for kick and punt returns as well as the second string quarterback. Former Boise State star Kellen Moore is looking to follow up a great 2014 preseason. Moore starts the preseason as the Lions third string quarterback with veteran Dan Orlovsky as the second string.

The Jets will get their first look at rookie defensive end Leonard Williams. If Williams shows an ability to produce he could be the favorite to start in place of the suspended Sheldon Richardson. The Lions get their first look at highly touted running back Ameer Abdullah and first-round pick Laken Tomlinson, who is heavily favored to earn a starting guard spot.