Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff throws during practice in Allen Park on Aug. 1. (AP file photo)

ALLEN PARK (AP) — Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is expected to play briefly in the preseason opener Friday night against Atlanta before Tim Boyle and David Blough get a chance to compete to be the team’s backup and perhaps seal a spot on the roster.

This offseason, the Lions made it a point to bring back Boyle and Blough on one-year deals after both shared reserve backup duties last season. It was Boyle who served as Goff’s primary backup in 2021, but this summer the two have been splitting time with the second-team offense in training camp.

“I feel like they’re both better than they were in the spring,” coach Dan Campbell said this week. “And I would just say it’s still somewhat early in camp and until we get in these preseason games, I think that will tell a lot for us.”

Boyle came to Detroit in 2021 after backing up MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers for two years with the Green Bay Packers. In his first season with the Lions, Boyle got the opportunity to start three games in relief for Goff — the first starts of his young NFL career. While he went 0-3 in those games and tossed just three touchdowns to six interceptions, Boyle said the learning experience during those games was invaluable.

“Those reps for me in games last year were critical,” Boyle said.” You don’t really know what you know until you’re in those game situations. Those three starts I had last year were incredible for my growth as a quarterback.”

Blough, on the other hand, has been with Detroit since 2019, when the Lions traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for the former Purdue quarterback.

He has been the third-string quarterback for the Lions since his arrival but got the opportunity to start in his first year with the Lions when then-starter Matthew Stafford and backup Jeff Driskel suffered injuries. Blough, too, went winless in his five NFL starts.

NOTES: Detroit first-round pick Jameson Williams has changed his jersey number from 18 to 9, matching the number formerly worn by Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford during his 12 years with the Lions.