Luke Altmyer landing with the Detroit Lions practice squad isn't the end of the world

College football has officially begun, which means the NFL is quickly following suit with games beginning September 9, starting on Wednesday for the first time ever. With the season so close, teams needed to trim their roster down to 53 players, with many not making the cut, including one Illinois favorite.

Quarterback Luke Altmyer went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft, but was quickly signed as an UDFA by the Detroit Lions. At one point in training camp, Altmyer looked like he would have a chance to win the backup QB job after Teddy Bridgewater decided to retire from the NFL...again. However, Lions head coach Dan Campbell wanted some experience to back up starter Jared Goff.

With the Lions signing Josh Dobbs before their first preseason game, Altmyer's shot at winning the backup QB position took a serious hit. Campbell chose to waive Altmyer on the last day of cuts, but the Lions did re-sign him to the practice squad, where another former Illinois QB started.

Luke Altmyer could still be following in Tommy DeVito's footsteps now in the NFL

When Luke Altmyer took over the starting duties at Illinois, it came after star Tommy DeVito handled the job for one season. DeVito ended up heading to the NFL, where he started on the practice squad for the New York Giants after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The story of DeVito's short NFL career thus far is a crazy one. After joining the Giants' practice squad, DeVito ended up making his NFL debut for his team in Week 8 after injuries to Daniel Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor. DeVito later signed to New York's active roster before Week 9, where he again had to come in relief for an injured Jones. When the news hit that Jones tore his ACL, the starting job was DeVito's, starting his reign as "Tommy Cutlets"

While DeVito's season wasn't great with the Giants and he ended up the third-stringer in 2024 and was waived by the team before the 2025 season, he hasn't given up. DeVito was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots one day after being waived by the Giants and was named the third-string QB behind starter Drake Maye and backup Josh Dobbs.

Now heading into the 2026 season, DeVito is the QB2 in New England after former Tennessee QB Joe Milton was cut. So, maybe things aren't as bleak for Atlymer as they could be.

Just because Altmyer is starting on the practice squad with the Lions doesn't mean his career is over. The fact that the Lions didn't simply cut him and signed him to the practice squad shows they still want him with the organization, and he could work his way up from here, but as a rookie, he still has a lot to learn.

Atlymer got some good reps in during the preseason, and that is what Campbell says he needs the most. This doesn't mean Atlymer won't see the field at all this season, but a lot would have to happen ahead of him for that to happen. The practice squad isn't the end of the world for the former Illinois star.

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