By Blessing 
Football Is So Back — And So Are the Bloopers
The 2025 NFL season kicked off in unforgettable (and slightly chaotic) fashion for the Detroit Lions. Within minutes of the Hall of Fame Game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Lions delivered a moment that fans won’t forget anytime soon.
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On the opening kickoff, linebacker Grant Stuard — yes, a linebacker — was deep to receive for Detroit. But things didn’t go as planned. Stuard caught the ball and promptly fumbled it into the back of a teammate. The Chargers scooped it up and turned it into a touchdown, with quarterback Trey Lance capitalizing on the early gift.
It was one of those moments that makes you blink twice and go, “Did that just happen?”
To his credit, Stuard didn’t let the blunder define his night. On the very next kickoff, he fielded it cleanly and found some daylight, picking up solid yardage. A small redemption arc in real time.
Now, before anyone hits the panic button — this was a preseason game, after all. Most of Detroit’s top guys were on the sidelines, including their star rookies. Still, it was curious to see a linebacker back there returning kicks. According to Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network, Stuard has been repping special teams in camp. Apparently, he ran the 400 meters in high school, which gives some legitimacy to his speed and athleticism.
That said, fumbling your first touch of the season? Not ideal. Stuard isn’t even listed as a return man on the depth chart — he sits right behind defensive leader Jack Campbell at linebacker. And with the Lions currently thin at the position, putting him on return duty might be too risky moving forward.
The Lions do have an intriguing option in rookie wide receiver Dominic Lovett, who lined up with Stuard on the return. He’s shown flashes of speed and toughness, and while Detroit probably won’t throw him into a full-time return role just yet, he could become a weapon in that phase of the game.
Bottom line: It was a preseason opener full of growing pains — and maybe a viral moment or two — but football is back. And with that, so are the unexpected twists only this game can deliver.