ALLEN PARK -- If you plan on watching Thursday's Lions-Browns preseason game hoping to learn about the starters and units that will make up this year's team, you might be disappointed.
By all indications, almost no starters for either team will actually play.
But one big name who is expected to play should test whatever Lions defenders are out on the field. Baker Mayfield, the former Oklahoma quarterback and No. 1 pick in this year's draft, is expected to start the game for Cleveland and could play up to a half at Ford Field, coach Hue Jackson told reporters Monday.
It's unlikely Detroit plays anyone of similar significance, as the fourth preseason game is usually about the backups and fringe roster players. Handling all Mayfield can do on a football field will only add to the evaluative opportunity.
"He's obviously a very talented player. He's got a strong arm, he's very athletic, he's mobile. Very confident, does a great job with ball security," coach Matt Patricia said. "His confidence in the pocket, it's pretty unbelievable for a guy that is working an offensive line that is completely new to him. It's not like he's had these guys for four years and he's a senior in college and he understands them really well.
"It will be a great challenge for us."
Mayfield has the name and buzz now, even though he's currently the backup to Tyrod Taylor in Cleveland. But one Lions player remembers him back when almost nobody knew or expected anything of him.
Bradley Marquez was one of Mayfield's top receivers in his first season as a college quarterback -- all the way back at Texas Tech. Mayfield wasn't even on scholarship then, just a three-star recruit who received offers from Washington State, Rice and Florida Atlantic.
Marquez saw his rise from the start. When Mayfield was a high schooler in Austin Texas, he played for the same school as one of Marquez's close friends, Michael Brewer, also a quarterback at Texas Tech. Marquez and Brewer would then stream Mayfield's high school games. Mayfield then followed Brewer to Texas Tech and walked on, only to beat him out for the job and become Marquez's quarterback for the first game that year.
Mayfield only had an average season. He then transferred to Oklahoma, sat out a year and proceeded to set the college football world on fire.
Marquez said that Mayfield has improved tremendously on the finer points of the game, but that success has only highlighted the internal traits that were already on display at Texas Tech.
"He's had those leadership intangibles. When he was in huddles, guys liked to listen and he was somebody you liked to rally around.
"I don't want to say I predicted (the rise) or that anyone could have predicted it, but it definitely doesn't surprise me with how hard he works."
Marquez expects to play in Thursday's game as well. He's one of many players on the bubble before the roster trims from 90 down to 53 players on Saturday. He's vying among a deep crowd for the fifth receiver spot, if Detroit decided to carry that many at the position.
He can appreciate what Mayfield has done to shatter expectations and reputations. That's really what the fourth preseason game is all about for the guys who will play in it.
"No matter what part of your career, no matter where you start, whether it's high school or college, just put your best foot forward, and that's all you can ask for," Marquez said.
"I think that's something I guess he showed."