Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Detroit Lions, Saturday August 24

Saturday was one last opportunity for backups and players on the roster bubble to impress before Tuesday’s roster cuts as the Detroit Lions concluded the preseason welcoming the Pittsburgh Steelers to Ford Field.

Pittsburgh played the majority of their starters to begin the game vs. Lions reserves and built a 14-0 lead, but when the game was turned over exclusively to the reserves, the Lions mounted their comeback for a 24-17 victory to end the preseason 2-1.

Running back Jermar Jefferson had two touchdown runs for the Lions and running back Jake Funk caught a Hendon Hooker touchdown pass as the Lions out-gained the Steelers 361 yards to 215 in the contest.

After a slow start offensively for Hooker and the Lions’ offensive reserves – seven total yards in the first quarter – Hooker led two scoring drives late in the second quarter that tied the game 14-14 at halftime.

Hooker hit Funk for a 2-yard touchdown that capped off a 12-play, 72-yard drive for the first Lions score of the afternoon. Following an Isaac Ukwu strip sack at the Steelers’ 33-yard line that was recovered by defensive lineman Chris Smith, Hooker led a five-play drive that turned the takeaway into a Jefferson 1-yard touchdown run.