5 things to watch in Lions' preseason opener

Five things to watch in the Detroit Lions' exhibition opener against the New York Jets on Thursday (7:30 p.m., Channel 2).

1. Fear Ameer: Ameer Abdullah has been one of the most impressive Lions of training camp, and the second-round pick finally will get a chance to showcase his abilities on the big stage. Theo Riddick probably starts, but Abdullah should get a long look in the first half and make plays when he's on the field.

2. Suh who? In Game 1 A.D. (After 'Damukong), the Lions will start two of the unproven defensive tackles they're counting on to help soften the loss of Ndamukong Suh's free agent departure. Both Caraun Reid and Tyrunn Walker have had their moments in camp, and they'll be front and center in the trenches with Haloti Ngata out with a hamstring injury.

3. Lake effect: The defensive line isn't the only position that underwent an overhaul this off-season. The Lions will break in new starters at center (Travis Swanson) and left guard (Manny Ramirez, for now), and that doesn't even count rookie first-round pick Laken Tomlinson. Like Abdullah, Tomlinson should see significant action as he tries to overtake Ramirez for a starting job.

4. Tully returns: It has been 326 days since Stephen Tulloch has played a meaningful football game, but the middle linebacker looks fully recovered from the torn ACL that ended his 2014 season in Week 3. He has made some of the biggest hits of training camp so far and is itching to play in a game that counts.

5. Deuces: Matthew Stafford played one series and seven snaps in the exhibition opener last year, and he'll see about the same playing time Thursday. Kellen Moore and Dan Orlovsky are in a tight battle for the No. 2 job and, unlike last year, their performances in exhibition games could determine who wins the job.

And a bonus sixth for the Jets ...

6. Punch drunk: The Jets won't have starting quarterback Geno Smith after a (now former) teammate punched him in the face and broke his jaw in a locker room fight Tuesday. With Smith out, Ryan Fitzpatrick will start at quarterback for the Jets, and rookie fourth-round pick Bryce Petty will play as the backup.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

Beat writer Dave Birkett will answer your Lions questions in a live chat at noon Thursday at freep.com/sports. Submit early questions here. Then come back for a live blog of the Lions-Jets exhibition opener Thursday night. And check out our new Lions Xtra app on Apple and Android!