Key Takeaways From Detroit Lions Preseason Opener Against Bengals

All throughout the summer, the Detroit Lions have taken a more serious approach to their work on a daily basis.

Training camp has been intended to get the roster competing at a high level and installing new concepts on both sides of the football.

The Lions and Bengals have not played each other in the preseason for a decade. On Thursday, the two sides battled at Paycor Stadium in less than ideal weather conditions at times.

Here are several takeaways from the Lions' 16-14 preseason loss.

Isaac TeSlaa is in a slump

The former third-round pick let a couple of passes that should have been caught slip through his fingers.

Unfortunately, a pass that should have secured in the first quarter resulted in a Luke Altmyer interception that halted Detroit's momentum on offense.

The former third-round pick has not had a great start to training camp, and a performance like the one he had against the Bengals will do little to silence critics.

Assessing Luke Altymer

The undrafted free agent rookie did not let the moment get too big for him in his NFL debut, but he showcased his inexperience at times against a Bengals defense that played starters.

Early on, he was decisive and delivered strikes. As the game went on, some of his inexperience and propensity to hold on to the football too long became a little costly.

If he is to land a spot on the roster, he will need to clean up some fundamentals and make sure he works on mastering the exchange from center and proper hand offs.

The turnover was costly, as the Bengals were able to find the end zone on a Joe Flacco pass to tight end Jack Endries for four yards.

Following the turnover, Altmeyer settled down, even delivering a strike to Tarik Black in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, Black was called for offensive pass interference.

He tossed a touchdown pass in the fourth-quarter, but the game ended when he tossed an interception, his second of the game, down by two points.