Luke Altmyer’s Lions audition is over, but his Detroit story shouldn’t be
The undrafted rookie received an unusually long look this summer, but Detroit appears ready to search outside the building for a veteran it trusts behind Jared Goff.
The Detroit Lions are cutting undrafted rookie quarterback Luke Altmyer. The move doesn’t come as much of a surprise after Saturday’s performance against the Indianapolis Colts, but it does confirm what felt inevitable for weeks. Detroit will almost certainly look to bring Altmyer back on the practice squad, but the QB2 spot never felt like the right fit for him.
You have to understand the context here. Altmyer got thrust into the competition for the backup job when Teddy Bridgewater retired, and to his credit, he got a real opportunity. A lot of undrafted rookie quarterbacks don’t get the kind of chances Altmyer got. He took almost every snap of a preseason game and continued to receive a ton of reps from there. Judging by how practice has gone in recent weeks, with Altmyer consistently working with the second team and Joshua Dobbs with the third team, the Lions gave him every shot to prove himself.
What went wrong for Altmyer?
The issue here is timing, mechanics, footwork, and decision-making. When Altmyer turned the ball over and threw interceptions, they were generally passes that just shouldn’t have been thrown. That’s the kind of thing that kills your chances as a young quarterback trying to earn a roster spot. The physical tools and the ceiling are there, but the execution isn’t consistent enough yet.
I do believe Altmyer’s ceiling is that of a premium backup quarterback down the line. It’s going to take time, though. The practice squad is a great spot for him to continue developing without the pressure of being the primary backup to Jared Goff on a team with legitimate championship aspirations.
What’s next for the Lions at QB2?
Here’s the thing. The Lions are much more interested in finding a veteran quarterback who can step in and genuinely help if Goff goes down for any stretch of time. I’m not sure Detroit had that guy on its roster all summer long, and the front office knows it.
Expect the Lions to hit free agency, scour the waiver wire, and maybe even explore some trade options. One way or another, they’re going to find their QB2. It’s just not going to be Luke Altmyer. Not yet, anyway. Let’s see what the front office comes up with over the next few days.
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