Don’t expect to see too many familiar names when the Detroit Lions host the Indianapolis Colts on Friday night in the third and final preseason contest for each team. Both head coaches have indicated that the bulk of their starters, and certainly anyone important to the team’s regular-season success, will not play.
Lions coach Dan Campbell made the decision prior to the second preseason game that preserving the health of the starters was more important than letting them play a series or two. In several press conferences since that initial decision, Campbell has reinforced the message that the starters will not play.
Colts head coach Frank Reich is following suit, according to reports out of Indianapolis,
So… Frank Reich says he spoke to Detroit coach Dan Campbell who says he does not intend to play his starters on Friday, so the Colts are backing off on their plans, too. Many more starters will be out Friday, Reich says.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) August 25, 2021
The focus for both coaches will be on the roster bubble players and fights for the final spots. Teams must cut the rosters to 53 from the current 80-man limit by Tuesday, August 31st at 4 p.m. ET.