Second-year sixth-round pick running back Kimani Vidal powers through the Lions defense for his second, two-yard touchdown run of the night. That’ll do it. The Chargers race ahead to a 34-7 lead with 3:42 left to play.
Lance checks out with 120 yards passing and two touchdowns on 13 of 20 passing. The former Clemson, Oregon State and Florida State quarterback gets his first taste of NFL action.
Trey Lance hit rookie wide receiver Dalevon Campbell on a goal line fade route on third down, but he was unable to get his feet inbounds. Cameron Dicker knocks through his second field goal of the night, this one from 27 yards, to stretch Los Angeles’ lead to 20 points, 27-7, with 2:59 left in the third quarter.
After journeyman veteran Kyle Allen struggled in the first half, 2023 third-round pick Hendon Hooker is now in the game at quarterback for Detroit. With a strong second half, he could apply some pressure on Allen in the race to be Jared Goff’s backup in 2025.
Lance’s second half didn’t begin as strongly as his first half. His two completions near the goal line, with a run for no gain by running back Jaret Patterson sandwiched in between, led to kicker Cameron Dicker making a 23-yard field goal. That extended the Chargers’ advantage to a game-high 17 points, 24-7, with 11:29 left in the third quarter.
Lance shredded the Lions in the first half with 97 yards and two touchdowns, and he returns as the team’s QB to begin the third quarter.
Lance is making the most of his start in tonight’s Hall of Fame game. He hit rookie fifth-round pick wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith in stride on a slant route that Smith to take and cruise into the end zone for a 15-yard score. Los Angeles goes back up 14, 21-7, with 1:51 left in the opening half.
Detroit ground out a 15-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a three-yard rumble into the end zone by veteran running back Craig Reynolds for a three-yard score. Los Angeles’ lead is cut in half, down to 14-7 with 5:31 left in the half.
Lions veteran quarterback Kyle Allen airmailed rookie third-round pick wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa on a short third down to kill what could have been Detroit’s scoring drive. The football floated into the awaiting arms of Chargers veteran safety Tony Jefferson for the Lions’ third turnover of the night. Los Angeles leads 14-0 at the tail end of the opening quarter.
Two plays after undrafted corner Nikko Reed set Los Angeles up with a first and goal, running back Kimani Vidal plunged into the end zone for two-yard touchdown. The Chargers now lead 14-0 with 5:13 left in the first quarter
Reed, an undrafted rookie cornerback out of Oregon, undercut veteran Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen’s late throw to the right, and he raced down the sideline for a 60-yard gain all the way down to Lions’ six. Great way to make an early impression for Reed.
Los Angeles kicker Cameron Dicker was cash money last season, making 39 of his 42 field goals — a figure that includes a 9 for 11 field goal percentage on attempts of 50 yards or deeper. However, his 52-yard attempt Thursday night doinked off the left upright and out for a miss. Dicker is still shaking off the rust ahead of the 2025 season
Dan Campbell gave Stuard a second chance after an opening drive fumble, and he rewarded his head coach’s faith with a 36-yard return out to the Lions’ 35.
Los Angeles backup quarterback Trey Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, perfectly executed a play-action bootleg on fourth-and-2 from the Detroit five to hit veteran tight end Will Dissly for a five-yard touchdown. The Chargers capitalize on the Lions’ fumbled kickoff and cash in the good field position for a 7-0 lead.
Detroit head coach Dan Campbell decided to have some fun on the opening kickoff by deciding to let linebacker Grant Stuard return the opening kickoff. He reached the 27 before fumbling the opening kickoff, which may ensure this return is his last. The Chargers take over on the Lions’ 28 for their first drive.
The big news outside of this game, but not entirely irrelevant to it, is Terry McLaurin requesting a trade from the Washington Commanders, as ESPN reported. This is almost certainly a leverage play by McLaurin, who said just weeks ago he still hoped to resolve financial differences with Washington. But the Chargers have reason to call Washington: Justin Herbert could still use a proven complement to Ladd McConkey out wide. We’ve got L.A. as one of the top potential landing spots for the Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Three key players to watch
2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game where to watch: Trey Lance to start for Chargers vs. Lions
