The countdown to the 2019 schedule release is on, as the Lions announced their preseason opponents Tuesday afternoon.
The Lions will start the preseason at home against the New England Patriots (August 8-12), then hit the road Week 2 to play the Houston Texans (August 15-19).
Week 3 features a home game vs. the Buffalo Bills that will be nationally televised on CBS August 23, 8 p.m. ET.
The Lions will wrap up the preseason on the road against the Cleveland Browns (August 29-30).
Full dates and times for the Lions preseason games will be announced at a later date.
MEET THE PROSPECT
Each week on Detroitlions.com, Tim Twentyman will be taking a closer look at three draft prospects that could interest the Lions. Check out this week's below:
View photos of NFL prospect Noah Fant.
Iowa tight end Noah Fant (87) celebrates in front of Northern Iowa defensive back A.J. Allen, rear, after catching a 43-yard pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday, March. 2, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday, March. 2, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs a passing drill during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday, March. 2, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant catches the ball during the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Portrait of Iowa tight end Noah Fant at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 1, 2019, in Indianapolis. (Todd Rosenberg via AP)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant gets measured during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Iowa tight end Noah Fant gestures after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, in Iowa City. Fant says he's leaving school early to enter the NFL draft. Fant announced on his Instagram page on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, that he intends to forego his final season of eligibility to turn pro. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney, File)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa's Noah Fant (87) runs the ball after making a reception as Illinois' Cameron Watkins (31) attempts the tackle in the first half of a NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant participates in a drill during the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, March 2, 2019 in Indianapolis. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant celebrates his touchdown with Iowa running back Toren Young, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Iowa City. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday, March. 2, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant (87) during an NCAA college football game between Iowa and Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs the 40-yard dash during the 2019 Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday, March. 2, 2019. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs up field after catching a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 23-0. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant (87) crashes into the end zone after scoring off a pass reception while being covered by Indiana defensive back Marcelino Ball (42) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. Iowa won 42-16. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant warms-up during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Iowa tight end Noah Fant, left, tries to out run Wisconsin safety Eric Burrell, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, in Iowa City. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Iowa wide receiver Noah Fant in the first half of a NCAA college football game between Illinois and Iowa, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS
- The Lions announced Tuesday that they have signed free agent quarterback Tom Savage.
- Tim Twentyman takes a look at the Lions' top 5 positions of need heading into the 2019 NFL Draft.
- After releasing his latest mock draft, ESPN analyst Todd McShay spoke to reporters via conference call. Check out the highlights from that call.
