By IlliniGuys Staff

August 13, 2026

CINCINNATI, Ohio - It took almost the entire game, but former Illinois star quarterback Luke Altmyer was able to show the kind of play that landed him in an NFL training camp.

Altmyer threw for his first NFL touchdown when he connected with Tarik Black on a 24-yard score late in the game as Detroit fell at Cincinnati 16-14 in a preseason game at Paycor Stadium Thursday night. The scoring toss capped off a 12-play, 80-yard drive for Altmyer and the Lions. He scored a two-point conversion on a quarterback keeper to pull the Lions within two points.

Detroit made a stop and got the ball back, but Altmyer's throw from the Detroit 9-yard line sailed above his intended receiver and ended up being his second interception of the game.

He finished with 13 completions on 22 attempts for 130 yards and was sacked once.

Altmyer signed with the Lions this spring as an undrafted free agent following a record-setting career at Illinois. The Starkville, Mississippi native was a three-year starter with the Illini, guiding them to a school-record 19 wins over the past two seasons and back-to-back bowl victories.

Detroit's quarterback room is unsettled after starter Jared Goff. Projected backup Teddy Bridgewater, who came out of a brief retirement last fall to join Tampa Bay, decided earlier this week to retire for good. Veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who signed this week, played some second quarter snaps for Detroit, but it was Altmyer who saw most of the action with Goff staying in street clothes.

The Lions will host Washington in their second preseason game a week from Saturday at Ford Field.