We lastly had soccer again final night time, and it was positively certainly one of… the video games of all time. The 2025 preseason lastly kicked off with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers taking part in within the Corridor of Fame recreation. That’s proper, we acquired the famed QB duel of Trey Lance vs. Kyle Allen. We used to wish for occasions like this.
Nevertheless, we did have some good moments from draft picks or guys who’re on the backside of their respective rosters. These guys had been the actual standouts on Thursday, and elevated their probability not solely of constructing the roster, however getting common season taking part in time. After all, we should take these with a grain of salt as a result of it’s the primary preseason recreation of the 12 months, however some fascinating tidbits popped up. Listed below are X guys that stood out within the 2025 Corridor of Fame Sport.
Keandre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Lambert-Smith is a very fascinating participant whenever you have a look at him in relation to the remainder of the Chargers’ receiving core. Popping out of Auburn, his pace and quickness actually stood out and made him a fifth-round draft decide within the 2025 NFL Draft. On Thursday, these attributes had been on show as he helped transfer the Chargers’ offense a few occasions with some massive performs. The primary one was on a fade route towards Detroit Lions’ 2024 2nd-round decide Ennis Rakestraw, the place he showcased his sub-4.4 pace connecting with Lance downfield. His landing catch was even higher, getting an NBA Avenue-level ankle breaker earlier than breaking inside on a slant and scoring a TD.
Once more, we should take it with a grain of salt, however Lambert-Smith has been getting rave critiques from the Chargers’ teaching employees. Los Angeles wants somebody who can create some explosives downfield to open up lanes for WR Ladd McConkey within the intermediate areas of the sphere. Lambert-Smith having the ability to be a giant play machine within the preseason will assist him get reps with the starters within the common season.
Caleb Murphy, EDGE, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers’ EDGE depth continues to be beneath building, with Joey Bosa in Buffalo and Tuli Tuipulotou getting into the beginning function. Murphy has an opportunity to get some reps within the Chargers’ EDGE room, and within the first recreation of the preseason he performed rather well. He began off by forcing a fumble on the kickoff return (during which Lions’ LB Grant Stuard was returning kicks? Nothing is sensible within the preseason!). He additionally had a reasonably sick move rush rep late within the recreation that I actually favored.
Murphy is from a small college in Ferris State, however the move rush chops give him a chance for reps as a chosen move rusher. The Chargers’ depth on the EDGE doesn’t have a man like Murphy who wins with flexibility across the nook somewhat than explosiveness by way of a linemen’s chest may get him reps on protection, however making performs on particular groups is the place he can actually hit the bottom operating.
Nikko Reed, CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Reed is one other participant getting rave critiques out of Chargers camp is CB Nikko Reed, and he backed it up with a very good efficiency on Thursday. Reed had one PBU and one interception that he took all the best way into the alternative pink zone, on high of zero catches on 3 targets. Reed’s means to reflect and response time on the ball was on show with the interception, nabbing a move thrown behind the receiver and making the play.
It’s going to be powerful to search out taking part in time in a crowded Chargers’ cornerback room, however Reed might be taking part in his means onto the apply squad in LA. The Chargers discovered CB Tarheeb Nonetheless final season late within the draft and he turned out to be a very good participant in that protection, perhaps Reed could make lightning strike twice.
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Detroit Lions
Not a lot went properly for the Lions on Thursday, however WR Isaac TeSlaa made some good performs each as a receiver and on particular groups. He had a few good catches, the second of which noticed him get open over the center of the sphere for a giant acquire. He additionally had a pleasant rep as a punt gunner, forcing a good catch.
TeSlaa was the Lions’ third spherical decide that raised loads of eyebrows, however whenever you’re massive, tall and quick you could find your means into some kind of reliability on an NFL roster. TeSlaa’s means on over routes and throughout the center of the sphere shall be large for him getting reps with the starters down the road, however exhibiting his means on particular groups may get him taking part in time early.
Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Detroit Lions
Ya-Sin is an NFL vet seeking to keep on a roster long run, and within the Corridor of Fame recreation, he made a few actually good tackles as a nook. Now I do know that you just’re in all probability considering that if corners are making good tackles which means somebody up entrance tousled, however with how usually offenses power corners to be concerned within the run match corners should be keen to sort out. For corners close to the underside of the roster that should play particular groups, not solely being keen to sort out however being good at tackling must be in play if you wish to make the crew. Ya-Sin made a pair very nice tackles close to the purpose line initially of the sport, first on rookie RB Omarion Hampton then RB Kimani Vidal.
Ya-Sin is in a tricky room for cornerbacks in Detroit, however with that tackling means and taking part in properly within the preseason he may play his means onto the roster.
Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE, Detroit Lions
Per PFF, the best graded participant from the Lions final night time was Hassanein, who made a few good stops towards the run. His motor stood out at Boise State when defending the run, and he made a number of good stops on the bottom of run performs, squeezing his hole and compressing all of the air out of it earlier than making the sort out. This one additionally stood out on Thursday:
I don’t assume this implies Hassanein is getting run with the 1s anytime quickly, as he’s seen extra like a developmental participant on the Lions’ roster. Nevertheless, having the ability to defend the run at a excessive stage will get you on the sphere, particularly within the NFL proper now. Hassanein can grasp his hat on that whereas he continues to develop as a move rusher.