Lions First Preseason Game Less Than Week Away

ALLEN PARK (AP) - The Detroit Lions play their first preseason game in less than a week, and they're not exactly sure what to expect.

Center Dominic Raiola says he doesn't have a sense of how playing time will be split up during the exhibition games and whether it will be different this year because of the abridged offseason. The lockout ended nearly two weeks ago, but some players have been practicing longer than others.

Veteran free agents couldn't practice until Thursday, when the new collective bargaining agreement was ratified and the league year officially began.

Coach Jim Schwartz said the Lions were "giving away IVs for free" on Saturday as some players struggled to acclimate to the heat and humidity.

Detroit hosts the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday night.

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