By Sunday 
The kids are getting the keys — at least for the preseason.
With the Hall of Fame Game just around the corner, the Detroit Lions are gearing up to face the Chargers in what promises to be more than just a warm-up. Coach Dan Campbell has made it clear: the rookies are getting their reps, and fans better tune in.
Rookies Under the Lights
Speaking to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Campbell didn’t sugarcoat it. When asked whether Detroit’s rookies will suit up Thursday night, he said bluntly,
“I think all of those guys need to play in a game, or games… I see them playing in this game.”
Translation? Expect to see first-rounder Tyleik Williams and second-rounder Tate Ratledge get a good slice of action — and likely not just for a series or two.
These preseason games — especially the early ones — are about evaluation. Who’s got it, who doesn’t, and who’s ready to go to war in September.
Tate’s Trial by Fire
One guy who’s had a welcome-to-the-NFL moment already is Tate Ratledge. He’s not just learning one position, he’s learning two. The former Georgia bulldozer is naturally a guard, but the Lions have been lining him up at center too. And according to Campbell:
“He’s drinking out of a fire hose right now.”
Imagine being the new guy and getting asked to lead the offensive line on Day 1. Ratledge is doing it all — snapping, blocking, adjusting — and while the learning curve is steep, it’s also showing just how valuable his versatility might be, especially with Frank Ragnow retired.
Tyleik’s Quiet Dominance
While Ratledge is fighting on two fronts, Tyleik Williams is quietly building momentum on the D-line. The Lions drafted him to add punch next to DJ Reader and Alim McNeill, and from all signs at camp, he’s doing just that. Thursday night could give fans their first real look at what the new-look defensive front can do.
Let’s just say, opposing quarterbacks might want to stretch extra before warmups.
More Games, More Chances
Thanks to their spot in the Hall of Fame Game, the Lions have four preseason games this year — one more than usual. That’s a gift for Campbell, who sees every snap as a chance to fine-tune the depth chart and push rookies into real-time decision-making.
Forget holding out until Week 1. Campbell wants answers now.
Final Whistle
No Goff. No St. Brown. No Hutchinson. That’s preseason for you. But Thursday night’s game isn’t meaningless — it’s a proving ground. And for Williams, Ratledge, and the rest of the rookie class, it’s a chance to show they’re more than just potential.
Dan Campbell isn’t babysitting this season. He’s throwing his rookies into the deep end — and he wants to see them swim.