Boyle (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Packers.
Boyle will sit this one out with Justin Fields and Trevor Siemian both healthy. His next opportunity to suit up will be Week 15, with the Bears on a bye next week.
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Bears' Tim Boyle: Headed to Chicago
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The Bears signed Boyle to their active roster from Detroit's practice squad Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game versus Green Bay, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
With both Justin Fields (shoulder) and Trevor Siemian (oblique) listed as questionable for Week 13, Chicago saw fit to add Boyle as a short-term insurance policy. There's a shot Boyle could be thrust into a starting role immediately, but as long as one of the aforementioned signal callers is available Sunday, Boyle should fill a reserve role.
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Tim Boyle: Dropped by Detroit
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Boyle was released by the Lions on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Boyle's tenure in Detroit will come to an end after just one season in a backup role with the team. The 27-year-old signal-caller saw the most significant playing time of his career in 2021, completing 61 of his 94 passes for 526 yards and a 3:6 TD:INT ratio over five games with three starts in place of an injured Jared Goff. However, Boyle appears to have lost out to David Blough for the Lions' No. 2 quarterback spot this preseason, and he will now likely look to land a practice-squad deal heading into the regular season.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Underwhelming in preseason finale
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Boyle completed five of 15 passes for 64 yards with one interception while rushing once for minus-1 yard during Sunday's 19-9 loss to Pittsburgh.
Boyle got the start but didn't do much of anything outside of putting together a scoring drive that ended in a field goal. Meanwhile, David Blough put forth a better performance for the second straight week and ended the game with a touchdown to Quintez Cephus. With head coach Dan Campbell wanting to keep just two quarterbacks on the active roster this season, it would be somewhat of a surprise if Boyle survives roster cuts this week.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Set to start Sunday
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The Lions announced Thursday that Boyle will be the starting quarterback for the team's preseason finale against the Steelers, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell added Thursday that fellow backup David Blough will also see plenty of playing time against Pittsburgh. Campbell also maintained that the competition for the team's No. 2 quarterback job remains open heading into the Aug. 30 deadline for final cuts. Boyle had an up-and-down performance last time out this preseason against the Falcons (9-of-16 passing, 1:1 TD:INT), so Sunday's matchup will likely serve as his final opportunity to lock up a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Mixed results in preseason opener
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Boyle completed nine of 16 passes for 111 yards with one touchdown and one interception during Friday's preseason game against Atlanta.
With the Lions looking to keep only two quarterbacks on the active roster this year, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Boyle did not do himself many favors in this one. Not only was he generally outplayed by David Blough, but Boyle threw a bad interception early in the third quarter after airmailing an open receiver downfield in the second. However, Blough's game-losing mental error in the fourth quarter -- in which he fumbled the snap when Detroit could have run out the clock -- may have evened the score. Expect both signal callers to again see considerable snaps when the Lions take on the Colts in the second preseason game Aug. 20.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Headed for second straight start
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Boyle is expected to receive his second straight start Sunday against the Seahawks after head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged that Jared Goff (knee) is doubtful to be available to play, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
While Goff was on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week after testing positive for the virus, Boyle picked up his second start of the season and of his career. Boyle fared far better last week in the Lions' 20-16 loss to Atlanta than he did in his Detroit debut Week 11 in Cleveland, completing 24 of his first 33 attempts for 187 yards and a touchdown before throwing a game-ending interception at the goal line in the final minute. Though Goff was restored from the list Monday and was expected to take back the reins of the Detroit offense this week, he was unable to practice Wednesday through Friday while he remained troubled by the knee injury he suffered late in the first half of the Lions' Week 15 win over Arizona. Boyle was thus able to take all the first-team reps in practice to keep himself prepared for the assignment, but he may have to make do without his starting tight end (Brock Wright) and two starting receivers (Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond). All three pass catchers were placed on the COVID-19 list between Monday and Thursday and aren't guaranteed to be cleared prior to Sunday's game.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: On track for Week 16 start
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Boyle is in line to start Sunday's game against the Falcons after Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Friday that Jared Goff (illness) is "highly unlikely" to be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to the contest, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Goff has continued to test positive for COVID-19 since initially contracting the virus Monday, and the Lions aren't confident that he'll either test negative on two consecutive occasions 24 hours apart or show diminished symptoms, which he'll need to do in order to clear the NFL's return-to-play protocol. Boyle has taken first-team reps in practice all week sans Goff and is primed to make his second start in six weeks, after the latter was previously sidelined with an oblique injury Week 11. Boyle oversaw a listless Detroit offense in his team debut and first career NFL start, completing 15 of 23 attempts for only 77 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Lions' 13-10 loss to Cleveland. The Falcons defense presents a less imposing matchup than the Browns, but fantasy managers' expectations for both Boyle and the Lions' skill-position players should still be tempered.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: May not start if Goff sits
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Lions head coach Dan Campbell wouldn't commit to Boyle being the team's starting quarterback if Jared Goff (reserve/COVID-19 list) isn't available this Sunday in Atlanta, perhaps suggesting David Blough could be an option as well, Chris Burke of The Athletic reports.
Goff was placed on the list Monday and still has a chance to return in time for Sunday's game if he's asymptomatic of the virus. If not, the Lions will turn to Boyle or Blough, likely waiting until later in the week to name a starter. Boyle was brutal in his one start this year, throwing for 77 yards with two interceptions in a 13-10 loss to the Browns in Week 11.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Struggles against Browns
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Boyle completed 15 of 23 passes for 77 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 13-10 loss to the Browns.
Boyle made his first career NFL start after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He had attempted only four passes prior to Sunday's game, but he was called upon with Jared Goff (oblique) sidelined. Boyle wasn't asked to do much, as he took to the air only 23 times. He threw two interceptions, one of which came deep in Browns territory. The positive news is that he peppered T.J. Hockenson with eight targets and D'Andre Swift with four, so the stars of the team still saw plenty of opportunity. Boyle is likely to get another start in Week 12 against the Bears, though his performance shouldn't be projected to markedly improve.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Set for first career start
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Boyle is on track to start Sunday's game against the Browns, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Schefter's report confirms something that's become increasingly apparent throughout the week, as top quarterback Jared Goff didn't wind up practicing Wednesday through Friday after hurting his oblique last week against the Steelers and is listed as doubtful for Sunday's contest. Boyle was reinstated from injured reserve just one day ago after being sidelined all season following August thumb surgery, but he took all the first-team reps in practice this week and should be healthy heading into his first career NFL start. Before signing with the Lions this offseason, Boyle joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and attempted just four passes over his first three NFL seasons. Expectations should be low for Boyle this week, and expect the Lions to lean heavily on the D'Andre Swift-led ground attack for as long as the contest is competitive.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Activated ahead of likely start
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The Lions reinstated Boyle (thumb) from injured reserve Friday.
The transaction officially restores Boyle to the active roster, while clearing the way for him to make his first career NFL start Sunday against the Browns with Jared Goff (oblique) listed as doubtful for the contest and not expected to be available. Through four pro seasons, Boyle has just four regular-season pass attempts to his name, and his inexperience, poor pass-catching personnel and matchup with a fearsome Cleveland pass rush all conspire to make him an untrustworthy fantasy option. Even against watered-down competition in the preseason, Boyle completed just 22 of 39 passes (56.4 percent) for 3.5 yards per attempt, one touchdown and no interceptions. He doesn't present any threat as a runner either.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Will be No. 2 QB when activated
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Coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday that Boyle (thumb) will be the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart when he is activated from injured reserve, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Boyle underwent thumb surgery Aug. 30 and has been on injured reserve since the start of the regular season. He was designated to return ahead of Week 10, but he remained inactive, as David Blough operated as the backup to Jared Goff. However, Campbell's comments made it clear that the backup gig is Boyle's when he is officially added to the active roster, which could prove meaningful as Goff is currently battling an oblique injury.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Cleared to practice
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Boyle (thumb) will be designated to return from injured reserve by the Lions on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Boyle has been on injured reserve since the start of the regular season after he underwent thumb surgery Aug. 30. He'll have to be activated within 21 days to be eligible to return this season, but he could serve as Detroit's primary backup at quarterback once he's cleared to return to game action.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Shifts to injured reserve
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The Lions placed Boyle (thumb) on injured reserve Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Boyle is expected to miss up to eight weeks due to thumb surgery he underwent in late August, so it's no surprise to see him beginning the regular season on IR. Though the depth quarterback will be eligible to return as early as Week 4, it appears as though he's destined for a somewhat longer absence.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Out 6-8 weeks after surgery
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Boyle (thumb) is expected to miss six to eight weeks following thumb surgery, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
This appears to be a good outcome, as it was feared Boyle might have to miss the entire season. David Blough will be the primary backup to Jared Goff to open the season, but Boyle should be given a shot to compete for the role when he returns.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Needs thumb surgery
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Boyle needs thumb surgery, and the Lions won't have a timetable for his return until after the procedure, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The Lions seem to be preparing for an extended absence but hope to have him back this season. Boyle had been competing with David Blough, who now defaults to the No. 2 quarterback spot for Week 1.
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Lions' Tim Boyle: Forgettable preseason performance
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Boyle completed seven of 15 passes for 44 yards during Saturday's preseason loss to the Steelers.
After racking up stats during the 2019 preseason with the Packers, Boyle has completed just 50 percent of his passes with no passing touchdowns and a lowly mark of 2.7 yards per pass attempt this preseason. While the in-game struggles have prompted some to think David Blough could be making a push for the backup job behind Jared Goff, Boyle did have to go up against most of Pittsburgh's starting defense Saturday, and his struggles are understandable against a unit that finished third in total yards per game allowed (305.8) in 2020. The odds of Boyle keeping the No. 2 role ultimately seem to be in his favor, especially after he was signed to a $2.5 million deal in free agency.
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Packers' Tim Boyle: Closes out blowout
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Boyle played the final two drives of Sunday's 42-24 victory over the Raiders and finished with three carries for negative-three yards.
Boyle saw action Sunday for the first time this season, but he was limited to three handoffs and three kneel-downs with the Packers well ahead on the scoreboard when he entered the game. Boyle is locked in as the backup behind starter Aaron Rodgers as the only other quarterback on the roster.
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Packers' Tim Boyle: Extensive reps in second exhibition
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Boyle completed 12 of 21 passes for 107 yards in Thursday's preseason loss to the Ravens. He threw a touchdown pass but also lost a fumble.
Starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers was expected to make his preseason debut Thursday, but he ultimately did not play because of a back injury, which afforded DeShone Kizer a start for the second week in a row. Kizer played just two series, and then Boyle got a chance to play into the fourth quarter. Boyle did lead the Packers on their only touchdown drive of the game, but it came in the second half against the players at the bottom of the Ravens' roster, so it's tough to take too much away from that. Boyle remains behind Kizer on the depth chart heading into preseason game No. 3, but he's still seemingly alive in the competition to open the season with the backup job behind Rodgers.
