The Detroit Lions did not have a clean opening statement in the preseason, putting up five turnovers in a lopsided 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Linebacker Grant Stuard was mysteriously returning kickoffs and fumbled the ball, allowing a quick Chargers lead before the first series. Things didn't improve from there, with Kyle Allen tossing a pair of interceptions, Hendon Hooker contributing one and Jakobie Keeney-James muffing a punt. Every negative play contributed to the avalanche of points that buried Detroit.
While an argument could be made that a lack of starters contributed to lackadaisical play, Stuard didn't want to hear any excuses. He pulled no punches in calling out himself and his teammates after the game for a lack of attention to detail amid the onslaught of mistakes.
"I think it's absolutely a concern. And I think it's something that is unacceptable. I think the standard is the standard. It's something that I think we're going to learn from and be able to watch the tape and make sure that we improve."
As for how that happens, Stuard knows there are no shortcuts. The Lions have to get back to work, sharpen their focus and make sure everybody is on the same page moving forward.
"The biggest thing that we can do from now is continue to get better, put our head down and work. That's what we can control. As a team, the pressure is going to be on. We (have to) be accountable with each other and make sure everybody is on the same accord to just continue to to try to get better with every moment of every day. I think that's the best thing we can do now."
Fortunately, training camp and the preseason are far from over, giving Stuard and his teammates plenty of time to atone for their sloppy opening statement.
Dan Campbell loves the early impact of Grant Stuard on Lions
Coming to Detroit, Stuard was an underrated member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021 and the Indianapolis Colts from 2022-2024. While there, he played mostly special teams, but did see enough of a role to rack up 73 tackles, one forced fumble and one touchdown in his career.
This season, Stuard can be counted on to fill critical gaps for the Lions. He had a solid start to the preseason picking up three tackles and one sack, and along with cornerback Rock Ya Sin, has caught the attention of Campbell in practices and during the game.
"We like those two. Those are two guys that have shown up and really improved over eight practices or so. For them to come out here and make some plays, that's good and quite honestly, it's kind of what we expect. So, it's encouraging. They both bust their rear. They give you everything they got. They play hard, they practice hard, they learn, they don't make the same mistake twice. Those are the type of guys you're looking for."
Not only could Stuard end up playing a valuable role on defense and on special teams (without ever returning the ball again), he is likely to prove valuable as a team leader. This mature response to early adversity shows the Lions have more than just captains setting the tone in their locker room.
