Luke Altmyer took a useful step forward in Week 2 of the preseason, and he knows the job is not finished yet. The undrafted rookie said after the Detroit Lions' win over the Washington Commanders that he wants Dan Campbell and the Lions coaches to keep pushing him so he can keep improving.
Altmyer went 9 of 13 for 86 yards against the Washington Commanders and avoided any giveaways, a cleaner outing after his Week 1 line of 13-for-22, 130 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. In a backup quarterback race behind Jared Goff, that kind of response matters.
Altmyer did not sound satisfied with simply putting together a steadier performance. He framed the evening as another chance to learn, saying he wants to get better, be coached, and keep sharpening the details of his game.
Altmyer wants coaching, not comfort
That message fits the way he described the next stage of his development. Altmyer said every play offers something to learn from, pointing to mechanics, operation, footwork, his drop, and seeing the field as areas where he wants guidance.
He also made clear that this is about process, not image. “Get better. That’s the goal,” was the thrust of his message, and it is the kind of answer coaches usually appreciate from a young quarterback trying to earn trust.
For a player in his position, that matters almost as much as the numbers. Dan Campbell wants a quarterback who can function cleanly, absorb coaching, and grow quickly enough to handle the speed of the NFL.
Campbell still sees room for growth
Campbell’s postgame view was measured. He said he thought there were highs and lows, and he also praised the importance of a run from Josh Dobbs, who remains Altmyer’s direct competition for the Lions backup job.
At the same time, Campbell gave Altmyer credit for one of the most important traits a young quarterback can show: field vision. He said Altmyer sees the field really well, but added that the key question is whether he can play a little faster.
That is the heart of the evaluation. Altmyer can make a better case if he protects the ball and keeps moving the offense, but Detroit will also want to know whether he can process faster when the pressure rises.
In that sense, Week 2 was encouraging without being conclusive. Altmyer steadied himself, Josh Dobbs made a big play of his own, and the Lions still have a genuine decision to make behind Goff.
The encouraging part for Altmyer is that he appears to understand exactly what the staff wants. The next step is to show that the lessons he is asking for can turn into a more complete preseason finish.
