The Detroit Lions’ second preseason game should tell us considerably more than the first one did.

Detroit rested 32 players against Cincinnati, including most of the projected starters. Saturday’s matchup with Washington will look different. Dan Campbell plans to play selected starters, Washington is also expected to use more of its top personnel, and several Lions roster battles have reached the point where live snaps matter more than another week of practice.

The final score is still secondary.

The real value is in figuring out whether Detroit has answers at center, backup quarterback, weak-side linebacker and nickel corner, while getting a first look at one of its most important rookies.

Here are the seven things I would watch most closely.

1. Juice Scruggs Has a Chance to Settle the Center Question

Detroit’s offensive line is the biggest issue on the roster right now, and Juice Scruggs has the clearest opportunity to calm things down.

Cade Mays’ wrist injury blew open a center competition the Lions did not expect to have in August. Detroit has rotated several players through the position, including Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Tate Ratledge. Campbell had already outlined the team’s options for replacing Mays, but the Lions now appear ready to give Scruggs the most important audition yet.

The team’s official preview identifies Scruggs as the player expected to start at center Saturday. (detroitlions.com)

This is bigger than whether he avoids a bad snap.

Watch how Detroit handles protection calls, whether Scruggs stays connected with Christian Mahogany and Ratledge against interior movement, and whether the offense looks organized before the snap. The Lions can survive a temporary downgrade in raw talent at center. They cannot afford communication problems in the middle of an offensive line protecting Jared Goff once the regular season begins.

NFL.com also singled out Detroit’s interior offensive line as one of the league’s more interesting preseason evaluations, noting that Mays’ absence has left the Lions searching for the right combination.

If Scruggs looks comfortable, Detroit may have its temporary answer.

If he doesn’t, those recent workouts with veteran guards suddenly look a lot less routine.

2. Josh Dobbs vs. Luke Altmyer Is About More Than the Box Score

Josh Dobbs will start Saturday. Luke Altmyer will play roughly the same amount.

That’s exactly how Detroit should handle this.

Dobbs arrived late after Teddy Bridgewater retired, which left Altmyer with a substantial head start in practice reps and terminology. Now Dobbs finally gets a larger sample in an offense he has had time to absorb.

Detroit’s updated depth chart confirms that the two quarterbacks are still being evaluated together rather than treating Dobbs’ start as a declaration that he has won the No. 2 job.

The mistake would be judging this competition strictly by completion percentage or passing yards.

Dobbs’ advantage should be operational. He has played meaningful NFL football, so he needs to look like the quarterback who can enter a regular-season game without the offense becoming chaotic. Altmyer’s case is different. He needs to keep proving that his developmental upside is worth protecting on the roster.

Our most recent 53-man projection had Detroit keeping both, and Saturday could strengthen that argument if each quarterback gives the Lions something different.

Dobbs should look more prepared.

Altmyer should look like someone Detroit would regret exposing.

That’s the real test.

3. Derrick Moore Finally Gets a Game Evaluation

Derrick Moore may be the most important individual player to watch.

The second-round rookie missed a significant portion of camp with a groin injury, which delayed an evaluation Detroit badly needed. Moore was drafted to add juice to the edge rotation, and the Lions need to know how quickly he can become useful alongside Aidan Hutchinson and the rest of Kelvin Sheppard’s front.

Practice reports have been encouraging since Moore returned. Now we get the next step.

Don’t get hung up on whether he records a sack.

Watch his first step. Watch whether he can bend the corner without hesitation. Watch whether he holds up when Washington runs directly at him. Most importantly, watch whether Detroit trusts him on early downs or treats him primarily as a situational pass rusher.

Campbell and Brad Holmes knew Moore’s development would be important when they drafted him. Saturday gives them their first meaningful game evidence.

4. Devin White vs. Malcolm Rodriguez Is Starting to Matter

This competition has changed considerably since camp opened.

Malcolm Rodriguez entered August with a legitimate path to the starting weak-side linebacker job. His ankle injury created an opening, Detroit added Devin White, and White has received enough first-team work to turn what once looked like a temporary depth move into a real competition.

Saturday should tell us more than practice has.

Pay attention to which player gets the more important early snaps alongside Jack Campbell. Then watch how each handles coverage responsibility and misdirection.

Rodriguez has familiarity with the defense and has earned trust in Detroit.

White brings more size, speed and NFL starting experience.

The Lions don’t necessarily have to pick one and forget the other. Sheppard has talked extensively about building more flexibility into the defense this season. Detroit could find uses for both.

Still, somebody is going to establish himself as the preferred option.

Saturday may start revealing who.

5. Keith Abney’s Nickel Opportunity Is Getting Real

Keith Abney was drafted as a developmental defensive back.

He may be developing faster than expected.

The fifth-round rookie has received first-team nickel work during camp and has increasingly been mentioned alongside Christian Izien in that competition. Detroit’s offseason preview specifically identified Abney as a player with an opportunity to enter the nickel race because of his ability to play both inside and outside.

Saturday should provide a useful test because Washington has not shut down its entire starting offense.

The Commanders announced 15 players who will not participate, but several prominent skill-position players were not on that list.

That’s exactly what Detroit should want for Abney.

Young defensive backs don’t need another afternoon of dominating players who may not make an NFL roster. The Lions need to see whether Abney can communicate, stay disciplined against NFL route combinations and tackle in space.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr.’s ankle injury only increases the value of those reps.

If Abney holds up, this nickel competition could become much harder for Detroit to resolve.

6. Tay Martin and the Bottom of the Receiver Room

Detroit’s top receivers are not the story.

The bottom of the room is.

Tay Martin has been one of the more notable risers of camp, while Dominic Lovett, Tom Kennedy and Cedrick Wilson Jr. remain in the fight for what may be one or two roster spots.

Martin’s rise has included first-team opportunities and positive special-teams work, which is important because the final receiver spots won’t be decided by receiving production alone.

This is where people watching at home should ignore the fantasy-football mindset.

A receiver can catch four passes and still lose ground.

Detroit needs backup receivers who can cover kicks, block, handle return responsibilities and survive on game day without needing offensive touches. Dave Fipp has made it clear that players near the bottom of the roster need to contribute in multiple phases.

Watch who appears on special teams.

That may tell us considerably more than the receiving totals.

7. Sione Vaki Needs to Look Like a Running Back

Sione Vaki’s roster spot should not be the question.

His offensive role is.

Vaki has already established himself as one of Detroit’s most useful special-teams players. What the Lions still need is evidence that he can become more than a specialist listed at running back.

Injuries around the position could give him additional opportunities Saturday.

This is a developmental evaluation, not a roster audition.

Watch Vaki’s vision. Watch how quickly he commits to a running lane. Watch his pass protection. If Detroit uses him in the passing game, watch whether he looks natural rather than manufactured into the offense.

Vaki does not need to become Jahmyr Gibbs.

He needs to become trustworthy enough on offense that Detroit can activate him on game day without essentially carrying a special-teams-only running back.

If he reaches that point, his value to the roster increases substantially.

The Game Could Clarify Detroit’s Biggest August Questions

The Lions don’t need a preseason masterpiece.

They need clarity.

Scruggs can provide it at center. Dobbs and Altmyer can provide it behind Goff. Moore can provide it in the edge rotation. White and Rodriguez can provide it at linebacker. Abney can complicate the nickel competition in a good way.

That’s what makes Saturday useful.

The first preseason game was largely about getting young players on film.

This one should tell us which of them Detroit can actually trust.