Josh Dobbs takes control of backup QB battle as Lions beat Colts

Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News on Aug 29, 2026

Published in Football

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INDIANAPOLIS — The door was open for rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer to prove his value in the Detroit Lions' preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts.

But it was instead veteran Josh Dobbs who made an emphatic case to be Jared Goff's backup in Detroit's 25-16 win at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday.

Dobbs was 15 for 19 for 128 yards and two touchdowns. He led an impressive two-minute drill to close the first half, which featured a terrific 35-yard throw down the sideline to set up a 2-yard passing touchdown with 12 seconds left in the second quarter. He was smart, decisive and accurate, which is all you can ask from your backup.

Altmyer, meanwhile, turned the ball over twice and completed just seven of 11 passes for 55 yards. He threw an interception on the opening drive of the first quarter and was strip-sacked on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Altmyer's final audition for the backup job began with an interception on the opening drive. He rolled to his right off of play-action and attempted to hit tight end Thomas Gordon over the middle; however, wide receiver Lucky Jackson didn't appear to be on the same page and began blocking cornerback Sauce Gardner, and Gardner was able to disengage when he saw the throw coming and step in front of it for the interception.

Altmyer bounced back on his second possession. After Jacob Saylors got the drive started with a 22-yard run, Altmyer went 3 for 4 for 40 yards, including two big conversions on third-and-7 and third-and-9. Trayveon Williams tied the game, 6-6, with a 1-yard rushing touchdown; kicker Jake Bates missed the extra point, wide right. Saylors finished with 17 carries for 100 yards.

The Colts took a 3-0 lead with 12:02 left in the first quarter. Detroit was fortunate that quarterback Anthony Richardson missed receiver Laquon Treadwell on third down after Treadwell beat Ennis Rakestraw Jr. off the line of scrimmage, forcing a 46-yard field-goal attempt. After Altmyer's interception, the Colts had another stunted drive that ended in a 36-yard field goal with 6:37 left in the first.

On the Colts' final possession of the opening quarter, rookie defensive lineman Skyler Gill-Howard came up with a sack of Anthony Richardson on third-and-5.

Dobbs entered at quarterback to begin the second quarter and led a 16-play touchdown drive, which featured a 21-yard completion to Lucky Jackson and two big runs: one from Williams for 16 yards and another from Saylors for 16 yards. Dobbs capped the drive with a nice third-down touchdown pass to tight end Jackson Meeks, putting the ball where only his receiver could get it to take a 13-6 lead with 6:49 to go in the first half.

The Colts answered with a touchdown drive of their own. Rakestraw was beaten for gains of 25 and 14 yards to set up a 6-yard rushing touchdown by DJ Giddens that tied the game, 13-13, with 2:53 left in the second quarter.

Williams, Detroit's touchdown scorer, fumbled on the ensuing kickoff after running into linebacker Joe Bachie; the Colts recovered and took over at Detroit's 26-yard line. Williams did, however, add a second rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter and collected 57 rushing yards on nine attempts.

Rakestraw redeemed his play with an interception at 2:32 in the second quarter. Lions edge rushers Ahmed Hassanein and Eric O'Neill forced Colts quarterback Riley Leonard into a rushed throw — Hassanein was completely unblocked — and Rakestraw dove in front of the pass to haul in a badly needed turnover.

Dobbs turned in his most impressive drive of the preseason to regain the lead before halftime, going 5 for 5 for 61 yards, including a 35-yard completion to a one-handed Jackson down the sideline and a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tay Martin. The Lions' two-point attempt failed as Dobbs threw over the head of Jackson, making it 19-13 going into the locker room.

Altmyer reentered the game to begin the second half and was strip-sacked on his first possession. He tried to tuck the ball as the pass rush closed in, but George Gumbs Jr. was able to punch it out and recover the ball at Detroit's 30-yard line. Newly added running back Roydell Williams added another turnover to the box score with 1:14 left in the third quarter, fumbling on third-and-2 to give Indianapolis the ball back.

The Colts pulled within 3 with 4:47 left in the third quarter as kicker Spencer Sharder made a 60-yard field goal to make it 19-16.

Detroit extended its lead to 25-16 with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Williams and another missed point-after by Bates.

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