Lions 25, Colts 16: Dobbs Makes the Backup Case, Goff Never Throws

August 29, 2026 - Indianapolis - Jared Goff spent Saturday in a Lions cap. He did not throw a pass in any of Detroit's three preseason games.

Josh Dobbs did. Two touchdown throws. A two-minute drill that ended with Tay Martin from 2 yards and eight seconds left in the half. The Detroit Lions beat the Indianapolis Colts 25-16. Detroit finished 2-1. Indianapolis finished 0-2-1.

Dan Campbell still would not name a backup. "I thought he really showed out and I just love his composure and conviction," Campbell said of Dobbs.

Richardson's start, Dobbs' half, four Lions turnovers

Anthony Richardson started with Indianapolis' starting offensive line: 7 of 10, 80 yards, one sack, two field-goal drives, a 6-0 lead. Shane Steichen liked the throws.

Luke Altmyer played Detroit's first and third quarters: 7 of 11, 55 yards, a 75-yard touchdown drive, an interception, a lost fumble, two sacks. Sauce Gardner picked him off. Campbell blamed a bust outside on the first pick and said he was not discouraged.

Traveyon Williams tied it from a yard late in the first. Dobbs played the second and fourth: 15 of 19, 128 yards, no sacks, no turnovers. He hit Jackson Meeks from 6. 13-6. DJ Giddens scored from 6 to tie it at 13. Then Lucky Jackson caught 35 yards with 12 seconds left, and Martin scored from 2. 19-13.

Williams added another 1-yard run in the fourth. Jake Bates missed the extra point. 25-16. Williams also lost a fumble. Detroit had four turnovers. Jacob Saylors ran 17 times for 100 yards. Williams had 9 carries for 57 yards and two scores. Jackson finished with five catches for 94 yards.

Riley Leonard struggled in the second quarter (3 of 7, 48 yards) even while leading Indianapolis' first touchdown drive since Week 1 of the preseason. He was intercepted deep in Detroit territory. Easton Stick got his first preseason work in the second half: 8 of 15, 78 yards, one sack.

Kickers, cuts, and Sept. 13

Blake Grupe went 3 for 3 (46, 36, and an extra point) in the first half. Spencer Shrader made a 60-yarder in the third for Indianapolis' last points. Steichen noted Shrader is coming off a torn ACL.

Bates missed two extra points and had an errant kickoff that let the Colts start a touchdown drive at the 40. Campbell said he was not worried.

The Lions host New Orleans on Sept. 13. The Colts host Baltimore the same day.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Saturday's verified lines:

Dobbs' two passing scores are 12 fantasy points before yards. Williams' two rushing touchdowns are 12 plus rush yards. Saylors' 100 rushing yards score at the rush rate. Shrader's 60-yard make sits high on the kicker table. Bates' missed extra points do not. Preseason games are not stored as AthX Engine weekly lines yet.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay when Goff and Jahmyr Gibbs are in a real September plan, not Dobbs vs. Altmyer.

Track Goff, Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, and the Lions and Colts on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap, Lions.com, ESPN, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*