The Detroit Lions have their backup quarterback. Now, the question is how long he can hold the job.
The Lions cut Tim Boyle on Monday, one day after coach Dan Campbell said he gained “clarity” in the backup quarterback race from the Lions’ preseason-ending 19-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The NFL Network was first to report the roster move.
Boyle completed five of 15 passes for 64 yards with one interception against the Steelers and struggled to move the Lions’ first-team offense in three series early in the game.
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David Blough had a better statistical day, completing 17 of 32 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown. But he, too, failed to generate any points with the first-team offense, and Campbell offered no assurance either quarterback would stick on the 53-man roster for the regular season.
Asked Monday about the dialogue he and general manager Brad Holmes were having about Blough and Boyle, Campbell said, “It’s what anybody would think for the position.”
“Is it somebody we know can come in and, if something happens, you know that they can steer the ship and they can sustain and win some games?” Campbell said, knocking on the lectern in front of him so as not to jinx starting quarterback Jared Goff’s health. “If you lose your starter for two or three games, can they win those games for you, is what you got to decide. So that’s what we’re wrestling with.”
Neither Boyle nor Blough has proven he can win regular season games in the NFL, though neither has had much opportunity.
Boyle went 0-3 as a fill-in starter for Goff last season with three touchdowns and six interceptions. He did not start a game in his first three NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
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Blough went 0-5 as a rookie replacement for Matthew Stafford in 2019, but has attempted just 10 regular-season passes in the two years since.
This preseason, Blough was 51-for-82 passing (62.2%) for 377 yards. He threw two touchdowns, had one interception and lost one fumble. Asked about Campbell’s “clarity” comments Sunday, Blough choked back emotion while meeting with reporters in front of his locker.
“Look, I’ll just — I want to go out and score points, I want to lead those guys, I want to stand back there and win with our team and they have decisions they got to make,” he said. “It’s hard, I just, I appreciate them having me here and having a chance to play ball. Jared and I were kind of talking about it, I’ve got no regrets, man. I’ve got no regrets.”
The Lions, who have until 4 p.m. Tuesday to cut down to a 53-player roster, could enter their Sept. 11 opener against the Philadelphia Eagles with Blough as their No. 2 quarterback or address the position via waiver wire or trade.
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Several quarterbacks were among the notable reported cuts Monday, including Chris Streveler of the New York Jets, Jack Coan of the Indianapolis Colts, Ben DiNucci of the Dallas Cowboys and Carson Strong of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Campbell said the Lions will weigh in-house and outside options when setting their initial 53-man roster. “I think the best way to answer it is, whoever is out there, you’ve got to know it’s a clear upgrade from what’s already in this building would be the best way to say it,” he said. “Because if it’s not, then why would you do it?”
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.