msudaisy26
Footballguy
How is it weird? Plus it wouldn't benefit him at all to lie about it. The doctor that repairs his ACL would be able to tell if it was a new injury or not.
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2025 Detroit Lions: 4-1 Lions win battle of the big cats. (22 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
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How is it weird? Plus it wouldn't benefit him at all to lie about it. The doctor that repairs his ACL would be able to tell if it was a new injury or not.
Moonlight
Footballguy
Well since he was a free agent would they have resigned him if he had disclosed he was having leg pain? I assume that he would have a physical given by the Lions.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
This is a crazy theory you have. First you think a player is lying about an injury as serious as an acl, then the Lions didn't do their homework or have medicals on their own player they resigned and to top it off that player and agent would have to be extremely stupid to try to sneak this past any team, when any decent doctor that repairs the acl would be able to tell if that injury was a new injury or not and the fact the Lions aren't questioning it, and they didn't put him on the non football injury list. Which means it happened during some type of football activity.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
Pretty sure because of the injury designation list he landed on, it was a sign that the Lions believe the injury happed at team facilities. There is a different list players go on when they show up already hurt. (Non football injury list)
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
No, Campbell went into it a little more today. It was bothering a bit after the year ended, but didn't seem like anything big at the time. About 5-6 weeks after the extension was signed it started giving him more trouble during workouts. Coach emphasized the player didn't do anything wrong, just an unfortunate thing.
If it had happened away from the facility he would have been put on the NFI, from my understanding the PUP is only for injuries during games, practice, OTAs, or individual activity at the facility. While no one has said exactly when/where the ACL tear happened there was no malfeasance on Levi's part.
Moonlight
Footballguy
Did the Lions do a physical before they resigned him? Did it include examining his legs for an ACL? Can a doctor tell whether an ACL is 2 months, three months or 4 months old?
I find Campbell's use of the words crept up on him to be vague and uncertain and not providing a timeline. That language is what caused me concern.
Going back I don't think Levi participated in OTAs so the injury didn't occur there.
You can get an ACL mowing your lawn or getting out of your car.
I threw the idea out to see what others thought. Because I do think it unusual how this rolled out. You think it's crazy to explore this. Noted.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Pressers and scrums: Plan for the o-line, Hooker's improvement, and Decker talks surgery decision and Manu's development
Allen Park — Here are some of the most interesting items to come out of Monday’s media sessions at Detroit Lions training camp practice.
When it comes to rookie Tate Ratledge at center and second-year man Christian Mahogany at left guard, coach Dan Campbell said the team wants to get an extended look at the current setup before assessing the need for possible changes.
“I think these first, call it ten days, are going to tell us a lot,” Campbell said. “By the time we get to the Hall of Fame game, at least in the area of that, then we have to make a decision there.”
Allowing young players to establish a routine is logical, as it enables them to develop a comfort level and helps the team better assess their fit. Ratledge is unquestionably the key, having not played the center position in a game during either his high school or college careers.
Despite the lack of experience, Campbell has been thrilled with the rookie’s progress.
“We’re working him in there, see how fast he can get it,” Campbell said. “I know it’s only day one, (but) look, much better than even spring, getting his feet under him.”
It helps that the Lions have an ace in the hole, knowing they could move experienced veteran Graham Glasgow to center tomorrow, if needed.
“We know Graham can slide right in right now and we don’t miss a beat,” Campbell said. “…The thing about Graham, he’s dependable. He’s a savvy vet, he’s played a lot of football, he understands angles, he’s smart, he knows the game. And then he’ll help those guys.
“I think the hardest thing for Graham right now is not to do too much as far as — we’re trying to make sure that, hey, let Tate do it, like right now, let him go. It’s good. Like I said before, Graham gives you some comfort because we know what he can do, and he can play multiple roles.”
“The chemistry we have is insane,” Barnes said. “It's kind of weird, because we always know what we're thinking on the field. As of now, well, Alex isn’t out right now, but me and Jack, after a play, we’ll just look at each other and be like, 'You see that?' And he'll be like, 'Yeah, I seen that.' It's just weird.
“The same thing goes when Alex is here,” Barnes said. “We, all three, are on the same page. Even the other guys in the room, we've built a strong bond. Most of the guys in the room, I've been with two or three years plus. It's amazing to have a room like that.”
That run of continuity is at risk of coming to an end after this season. Anzalone, the defensive captain and mentor to the two younger linebackers, is entering the final year of his deal. He hasn't hidden the fact that he’d like an extension, and Barnes is hopeful that something gets done.
“Honestly, I feel like he's got to do what's best for him,” Barnes said. “Obviously, that's my guy, that's my dawg. He's a great, great leader for us, so I'd like to see him get everything he wanted. Then again, I stay out of it and keep my head on what's going on right now. I love Alex, man. He deserves the world. He's put the work in. But I kind of want to focus on what I've got now, what's going on, and every day I pray for him and hope that everything works out in his favor.”
Most noticeable is how quickly Hooker is processing and getting rid of the ball, which he acknowledges had been a point of emphasis from the coaching staff.
“Just the differences that I made this offseason by playing fast and playing on time and (on) rhythm, it feels completely different from last year,” Hooker said. “…I'm going through my fake, my feet are still going, not hesitating at the top trying to see where the receiver is. And just playing with rhythm and just playing fast."
The early success is helping build Hooker's confidence, which he’ll look to take into the preseason as he competes with veteran Kyle Allen for the right to back up starter Jared Goff.
“I have a lot more confidence in the huddle,” Hooker said. “My teammates can see it, as well, because they're giving me good feedback when I go in the locker room. …It's great to feel back into the groove."
“I'm really happy with it,” Decker said. “I'm glad I did it. It was something I was just trying to rehab, but came back for OTA practices, and after a couple of days, it was just something that needed to be addressed.
“We took another look at it (after surgery) and the rehab has been going awesome,” he continued. “Came back here pretty early for the offseason, so I've been back here for about three or four weeks already. It's been going really good. Something that I'm happy that I did."
Decker is currently on the physically unable to perform list but is expected back on the field early next month.
In the meantime, Dan Skipper has been taking the first-team reps at left tackle. The veteran is a known commodity, with second-year tackle Giovanni Manu’s development generating more interest this offseason.
Manu has been serving as the blindside blocker with the second unit after spending the offseason training with Decker in Arizona at LeCharles Bentley’s O-Line Performance facility.
"I think he's starting to gain confidence in himself,” Decker said about his young teammate. “He's obviously physically gifted. Like incredibly physically gifted. It's been a step up, obviously, coming from college, not only if you come from college in the United States to the NFL, but from Canada. So I think it's a step up in the competition, having to learn the playbook against really good competition, it just took a little bit. Now he's starting to gain some confidence in that.
“He was actually out at my gym all offseason in Arizona,” Decker said. “I think that will be great for him. I think more than anything he just needs reps. He's going to get a lot of reps, especially (while) I'm out for a little bit right now. That's going to give him more reps to improve and get better. I think he's just going to continue to improve and I'm excited to see him get more opportunities in the preseason. To be able to be in a game scenario and do it, because that's another step after practice."
Arnold is still chasing his first interception, but says he’s not sweating it, believing the first will come soon enough. He only has one goal entering this season.
“I think about one all day, every day, that's winning the Super Bowl,” Arnold said. “I'm going to do whatever this team needs me to do to go try and obtain that.”
After wearing the No. 0 as a rookie, Arnold switched to No. 6 this offseason. He explained his three-pronged reasoning for the change. First, his mother’s birthday is May 6. Second, he wore the number in high school. But above those factors, it was former teammate Khyree Jackson’s number at Alabama.
Jackson, who transferred to Oregon for his final college season, was a fourth-round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings last season. Two months after his selection, he and two high school teammates died in a car accident.
“Just the ability to look down, if I need extra motivation, just know he's somewhere looking down, just remember he's living through me,” Arnold said.
Establishing a control
The Lions have settled into an early groove with the team’s starting offensive line grouping. However, they're far from ready to write that lineup in permanent marker.When it comes to rookie Tate Ratledge at center and second-year man Christian Mahogany at left guard, coach Dan Campbell said the team wants to get an extended look at the current setup before assessing the need for possible changes.
“I think these first, call it ten days, are going to tell us a lot,” Campbell said. “By the time we get to the Hall of Fame game, at least in the area of that, then we have to make a decision there.”
Allowing young players to establish a routine is logical, as it enables them to develop a comfort level and helps the team better assess their fit. Ratledge is unquestionably the key, having not played the center position in a game during either his high school or college careers.
Despite the lack of experience, Campbell has been thrilled with the rookie’s progress.
“We’re working him in there, see how fast he can get it,” Campbell said. “I know it’s only day one, (but) look, much better than even spring, getting his feet under him.”
It helps that the Lions have an ace in the hole, knowing they could move experienced veteran Graham Glasgow to center tomorrow, if needed.
“We know Graham can slide right in right now and we don’t miss a beat,” Campbell said. “…The thing about Graham, he’s dependable. He’s a savvy vet, he’s played a lot of football, he understands angles, he’s smart, he knows the game. And then he’ll help those guys.
“I think the hardest thing for Graham right now is not to do too much as far as — we’re trying to make sure that, hey, let Tate do it, like right now, let him go. It’s good. Like I said before, Graham gives you some comfort because we know what he can do, and he can play multiple roles.”
Sticking together
This offseason, the Lions made Derrick Barnes the team’s highest-paid linebacker, awarding him a three-year, $24 million contract. That deal temporarily maintains the continuity of the starting group, featuring Barnes, Jack Campbell, and Alex Anzalone, who are preparing to play their third season together.“The chemistry we have is insane,” Barnes said. “It's kind of weird, because we always know what we're thinking on the field. As of now, well, Alex isn’t out right now, but me and Jack, after a play, we’ll just look at each other and be like, 'You see that?' And he'll be like, 'Yeah, I seen that.' It's just weird.
“The same thing goes when Alex is here,” Barnes said. “We, all three, are on the same page. Even the other guys in the room, we've built a strong bond. Most of the guys in the room, I've been with two or three years plus. It's amazing to have a room like that.”
That run of continuity is at risk of coming to an end after this season. Anzalone, the defensive captain and mentor to the two younger linebackers, is entering the final year of his deal. He hasn't hidden the fact that he’d like an extension, and Barnes is hopeful that something gets done.
“Honestly, I feel like he's got to do what's best for him,” Barnes said. “Obviously, that's my guy, that's my dawg. He's a great, great leader for us, so I'd like to see him get everything he wanted. Then again, I stay out of it and keep my head on what's going on right now. I love Alex, man. He deserves the world. He's put the work in. But I kind of want to focus on what I've got now, what's going on, and every day I pray for him and hope that everything works out in his favor.”
Picking up the pace
Third-year quarterback Hendon Hooker is off to a strong start in his second training camp after missing his inaugural offseason program while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during his final college season.Most noticeable is how quickly Hooker is processing and getting rid of the ball, which he acknowledges had been a point of emphasis from the coaching staff.
“Just the differences that I made this offseason by playing fast and playing on time and (on) rhythm, it feels completely different from last year,” Hooker said. “…I'm going through my fake, my feet are still going, not hesitating at the top trying to see where the receiver is. And just playing with rhythm and just playing fast."
The early success is helping build Hooker's confidence, which he’ll look to take into the preseason as he competes with veteran Kyle Allen for the right to back up starter Jared Goff.
“I have a lot more confidence in the huddle,” Hooker said. “My teammates can see it, as well, because they're giving me good feedback when I go in the locker room. …It's great to feel back into the groove."
Eye on the future
Offensive tackle Taylor Decker revealed that he tried to rehab a nagging shoulder injury this offseason before conceding that a cleanup procedure offered the best outcome.“I'm really happy with it,” Decker said. “I'm glad I did it. It was something I was just trying to rehab, but came back for OTA practices, and after a couple of days, it was just something that needed to be addressed.
“We took another look at it (after surgery) and the rehab has been going awesome,” he continued. “Came back here pretty early for the offseason, so I've been back here for about three or four weeks already. It's been going really good. Something that I'm happy that I did."
Decker is currently on the physically unable to perform list but is expected back on the field early next month.
In the meantime, Dan Skipper has been taking the first-team reps at left tackle. The veteran is a known commodity, with second-year tackle Giovanni Manu’s development generating more interest this offseason.
Manu has been serving as the blindside blocker with the second unit after spending the offseason training with Decker in Arizona at LeCharles Bentley’s O-Line Performance facility.
"I think he's starting to gain confidence in himself,” Decker said about his young teammate. “He's obviously physically gifted. Like incredibly physically gifted. It's been a step up, obviously, coming from college, not only if you come from college in the United States to the NFL, but from Canada. So I think it's a step up in the competition, having to learn the playbook against really good competition, it just took a little bit. Now he's starting to gain some confidence in that.
“He was actually out at my gym all offseason in Arizona,” Decker said. “I think that will be great for him. I think more than anything he just needs reps. He's going to get a lot of reps, especially (while) I'm out for a little bit right now. That's going to give him more reps to improve and get better. I think he's just going to continue to improve and I'm excited to see him get more opportunities in the preseason. To be able to be in a game scenario and do it, because that's another step after practice."
Something to play for
Cornerback Terrion Arnold spent a good chunk of his offseason re-watching the film of his rookie season and mulling over the plays he didn’t make. Driven to be better in his second year, he’s said he’s been getting to the facility early, watching more film, getting extra pre- and post-practice treatment, and focusing on his fundamentals in the pursuit of perfection.Arnold is still chasing his first interception, but says he’s not sweating it, believing the first will come soon enough. He only has one goal entering this season.
“I think about one all day, every day, that's winning the Super Bowl,” Arnold said. “I'm going to do whatever this team needs me to do to go try and obtain that.”
After wearing the No. 0 as a rookie, Arnold switched to No. 6 this offseason. He explained his three-pronged reasoning for the change. First, his mother’s birthday is May 6. Second, he wore the number in high school. But above those factors, it was former teammate Khyree Jackson’s number at Alabama.
Jackson, who transferred to Oregon for his final college season, was a fourth-round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings last season. Two months after his selection, he and two high school teammates died in a car accident.
“Just the ability to look down, if I need extra motivation, just know he's somewhere looking down, just remember he's living through me,” Arnold said.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions camp observations: Hooker sharp, Reed absent, Vaki exits
Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from the Detroit Lions’ Monday morning training camp practice.
● The team continued to have strong participation numbers. Linebacker Anthony Pittman returned to action, while linebacker Alex Anzalone (hamstring), cornerback Ennis Rakestraw (chest) and defensive end Al-Quadian Muhammad remained sidelined.
Those were expected absences, each confirmed by coach Dan Campbell before the session. Cornerback DJ Reed was the only unexpected player missing. The starter’s reps with the first team were primarily filled by Rock-Ya Sin.
About halfway through individual drills, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sione Vaki left the running back group to go run routes on air with the receivers.
Sans defenders, Gibbs’ movement skills still impress. He’s so fluid, from his release off the line to his tempo through the top of his route, whether running slant, dig or out patterns. The star dual-threat’s hands also look as good as ever. He took a big step forward as a receiver last season, and I could easily see him taking another jump this year, particularly if the Lions move forward with using more two-back formations.
Vaki’s overall skill set as a receiver isn’t far behind his teammate. Unfortunately, Vaki exited practice early during the drill with a left leg injury and did not return.
● Running backs coach Tashard Choice, working a ball security drill, donned a pair of black boxing gloves and was aggressive with both his words and his fists, trying to knock the ball free from his guys. To the backs’ credit, no one lost a fumble.
● Backup quarterback Hendon Hooker still tends to hold on to the ball too long at times. Nonetheless, he’s slowly chipping away at the percentage of reps where he doesn’t get rid of it in a timely manner.
More noteworthy, Hooker’s velocity and accuracy are on a sharp upswing. He’s had a number of crisp intermediate throws during the first couple of days of practice. He seems to be forming good chemistry with rookie receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett.
● TeSlaa had multiple grabs today, and what stands out is how smooth and effortless his acceleration is off the line of scrimmage. He has outstanding linear speed and tracks the ball well downfield.
Where TeSlaa appears to have significant room for growth is when changing direction. His movements at the top of routes, particularly where he needs to decelerate and reaccelerate, can get clunky, giving back the separation he establishes early in a pattern.
● Kicker Jake Bates battled some early inconsistencies. After making four short kicks between 34 and 43 yards, Bates sent efforts from 43 and 38 wide left, finishing 7-for-9 on the day.
● There’s only so much to be gleaned from the offensive and defensive line without pads. Still, edge rusher Marcus Davenport is looking good. He shed a block for a run stop near the line of scrimmage. Then, a few snaps later, during the same full-team segment, Davenport spun past tight end Brock Wright, flushing quarterback Jared Goff from the pocket and forcing a throwaway.
● The first-team defense, without Reed, had an outstanding seven-on-seven stretch against Detroit’s top offensive group. Amik Robertson immediately shut down a checkdown throw to Wright, safety Brian Branch’s tight coverage of Jameson Williams forced the receiver out of bounds on a deep corner pattern, Terrion Arnold broke up a crosser to Wright, and Jack Campbell capped the drill, forcing an incompletion with tight coverage on Sam LaPorta. On most of those snaps, Goff wasn't able to get the ball to his first or second read.
Arnold had an animated practice, overall, loudly chirping at his teammates when he beat them in drills, including his special teams reps.
● Nate Lynn, who popped during last camp/preseason as an undrafted rookie before he suffered a season-ending injury, is trying to pick up where he left off. The edge rusher dipped under the outside shoulder of offensive tackle Giovanni Manu on Monday for a would-be sack.
● The catch of the day belonged to David Montgomery, who stabbed a ball out of the air with one hand on a throw behind him before turning upfield for a nice gain.
● The team continued to have strong participation numbers. Linebacker Anthony Pittman returned to action, while linebacker Alex Anzalone (hamstring), cornerback Ennis Rakestraw (chest) and defensive end Al-Quadian Muhammad remained sidelined.
Those were expected absences, each confirmed by coach Dan Campbell before the session. Cornerback DJ Reed was the only unexpected player missing. The starter’s reps with the first team were primarily filled by Rock-Ya Sin.
About halfway through individual drills, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sione Vaki left the running back group to go run routes on air with the receivers.
Sans defenders, Gibbs’ movement skills still impress. He’s so fluid, from his release off the line to his tempo through the top of his route, whether running slant, dig or out patterns. The star dual-threat’s hands also look as good as ever. He took a big step forward as a receiver last season, and I could easily see him taking another jump this year, particularly if the Lions move forward with using more two-back formations.
Vaki’s overall skill set as a receiver isn’t far behind his teammate. Unfortunately, Vaki exited practice early during the drill with a left leg injury and did not return.
● Running backs coach Tashard Choice, working a ball security drill, donned a pair of black boxing gloves and was aggressive with both his words and his fists, trying to knock the ball free from his guys. To the backs’ credit, no one lost a fumble.
● Backup quarterback Hendon Hooker still tends to hold on to the ball too long at times. Nonetheless, he’s slowly chipping away at the percentage of reps where he doesn’t get rid of it in a timely manner.
More noteworthy, Hooker’s velocity and accuracy are on a sharp upswing. He’s had a number of crisp intermediate throws during the first couple of days of practice. He seems to be forming good chemistry with rookie receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett.
● TeSlaa had multiple grabs today, and what stands out is how smooth and effortless his acceleration is off the line of scrimmage. He has outstanding linear speed and tracks the ball well downfield.
Where TeSlaa appears to have significant room for growth is when changing direction. His movements at the top of routes, particularly where he needs to decelerate and reaccelerate, can get clunky, giving back the separation he establishes early in a pattern.
● Kicker Jake Bates battled some early inconsistencies. After making four short kicks between 34 and 43 yards, Bates sent efforts from 43 and 38 wide left, finishing 7-for-9 on the day.
● There’s only so much to be gleaned from the offensive and defensive line without pads. Still, edge rusher Marcus Davenport is looking good. He shed a block for a run stop near the line of scrimmage. Then, a few snaps later, during the same full-team segment, Davenport spun past tight end Brock Wright, flushing quarterback Jared Goff from the pocket and forcing a throwaway.
● The first-team defense, without Reed, had an outstanding seven-on-seven stretch against Detroit’s top offensive group. Amik Robertson immediately shut down a checkdown throw to Wright, safety Brian Branch’s tight coverage of Jameson Williams forced the receiver out of bounds on a deep corner pattern, Terrion Arnold broke up a crosser to Wright, and Jack Campbell capped the drill, forcing an incompletion with tight coverage on Sam LaPorta. On most of those snaps, Goff wasn't able to get the ball to his first or second read.
Arnold had an animated practice, overall, loudly chirping at his teammates when he beat them in drills, including his special teams reps.
● Nate Lynn, who popped during last camp/preseason as an undrafted rookie before he suffered a season-ending injury, is trying to pick up where he left off. The edge rusher dipped under the outside shoulder of offensive tackle Giovanni Manu on Monday for a would-be sack.
● The catch of the day belonged to David Montgomery, who stabbed a ball out of the air with one hand on a throw behind him before turning upfield for a nice gain.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
think I'll start posting the articles inside spoiler tags just to keep the thread looking cleaner
hard to keep track of conversations when you have to wade through ginormous walls of text
hard to keep track of conversations when you have to wade through ginormous walls of text
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
The only two veterans who did not attend OTAs this year were Anzalone and Ragnow.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
A handful of players tear acls or achilles every year before the preseason. It just happens. A doctor can't tell exactly what day an injury happened, but it very easy to tell if a serious injury like this is a week old or 3 months old. Lastly he did participate in OTAs
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Dudes answering Qs after practice:
Moonlight
Footballguy
I checked the May OTAs and Levi was listed on the non participant /limited participant list. I was unable to find a list of participants for the June OTAs. If he did participate in OTAs fully then yeah the injury occurred post contract.
But I'm still unclear when did the injury occur, when did the surgery occur and which leg?
Looking back I see there was talk that Levi may have been playing last year with a knee brace on his right leg. So I don't know he may have had a partial tear or something already. I'd like more clarification.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
There was a certain poster who used to populate the Politics Forum who really could have benefitted from that piece of advice.
In other news, what is the long-term plan with Hooker? Even if he locks down the QB2 role and doesn't get usurped again by an off-the-street Coach Teddy, is he just going to be a career backup? Can't imagine the Lions will sign him to a second contract if things continue as they've been the past couple years. Also can't imagine he wouldn't jump at the chance to go to a team where he'd have a clearer path to compete for the starter's job
msudaisy26
Footballguy
Wanting clarification and outright asking if he hid/lied about an injury to get a contract are two very different things.
The fact the Lions aren't suspicious and neither is the medical team should be plenty of clarification for you. They have all the info we don't.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
He’ll be a 29 UFA in March 2027.
Y1 - redshirt rehab, never saw the field
Y2 - mixed bag preseason, 33 snaps 9 PA
Y3 - ?
Y4 - ??
If Goff continues to be an iron man playing at a high level, it’s conceivable HH could hit the market with a little over 100 offensive snaps and less than 50 pass attempts. There’s a market for that?
What could you get back for him? One 6th or 7th rounder?
Nobody knows anything, but I have zero expectations he’ll ever be a viable alternative.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Quick-hitting injury update ahead of third Detroit Lions' camp practice
Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell offered injury updates on several players ahead of Tuesday’s training camp practice.
Campbell confirmed it’s a hamstring strain for Vaki, which is a minor setback for the team’s plans for the young talent.
“Vaki is a guy, that was unfortunate, and we didn't have him in the spring,” Campbell said. “We're really high on him from an offensive standpoint. Certainly, special teams. He really helped us on special teams and we feel like he can do that again. But offensively, just to see what we can do with him, see if we can expand his role. We feel like, just athletically, size-wise, explosiveness, power, there's versatility in what he can do. He might be able to play multiple roles, multiple positions. This kind of sets us back.”
Vaki, a converted safety out of Utah, saw just 26 offensive snaps as a rookie.
“He got stepped on,” Campbell said. “He got stepped on with a cleat and the cleat twisted on top of his foot.”
Lopez was signed to a one-year deal this offseason after spending the past two years with Arizona. He had been working with the second-team defensive line and is expected to provide rotational depth behind DJ Reader.
“I would say Dorsey is probably the closest (to returning) from that group,” Campbell said. “We're hoping, man, late camp, we get Dorsey back. He's doing well. He's running. His speed is there. Now it's about being able to put your foot in the ground, make a transition, all that. But he's progressing. He's getting better and better.”
Dorsey is a key special teamer for the Lions, particularly his role as a gunner on Detroit’s record-breaking punt coverage group.
“He's doing good, doing really good, but I think he's another October guy,” Campbell said.
A top reserve and key special teamer, Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL in November.
Running back Sione Vaki
The second-year running back and special teams standout left in the early stages of Monday’s practice after a route-running drill. He had his left leg worked on by the training staff before it was determined that his day was done.Campbell confirmed it’s a hamstring strain for Vaki, which is a minor setback for the team’s plans for the young talent.
“Vaki is a guy, that was unfortunate, and we didn't have him in the spring,” Campbell said. “We're really high on him from an offensive standpoint. Certainly, special teams. He really helped us on special teams and we feel like he can do that again. But offensively, just to see what we can do with him, see if we can expand his role. We feel like, just athletically, size-wise, explosiveness, power, there's versatility in what he can do. He might be able to play multiple roles, multiple positions. This kind of sets us back.”
Vaki, a converted safety out of Utah, saw just 26 offensive snaps as a rookie.
Defensive tackle Roy Lopez
Lopez also exited Monday’s practice with an injury. Campbell said it will be at least a couple of days before the free-agent addition returns after he got cleated.“He got stepped on,” Campbell said. “He got stepped on with a cleat and the cleat twisted on top of his foot.”
Lopez was signed to a one-year deal this offseason after spending the past two years with Arizona. He had been working with the second-team defensive line and is expected to provide rotational depth behind DJ Reader.
Cornerback Khalil Dorsey
Dorsey was one of a handful of players working on the side during Monday’s practice. The cornerback is still working his way back from a broken leg he suffered in December.“I would say Dorsey is probably the closest (to returning) from that group,” Campbell said. “We're hoping, man, late camp, we get Dorsey back. He's doing well. He's running. His speed is there. Now it's about being able to put your foot in the ground, make a transition, all that. But he's progressing. He's getting better and better.”
Dorsey is a key special teamer for the Lions, particularly his role as a gunner on Detroit’s record-breaking punt coverage group.
Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez
Campbell projected Rodriguez to have a November timeline earlier this offseason, but bumped that up a month on Tuesday.“He's doing good, doing really good, but I think he's another October guy,” Campbell said.
A top reserve and key special teamer, Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL in November.
Guard Miles Frazier
Frazier landed on the physically unable to perform list late last week. The coach said the rookie offensive lineman is dealing with a knee injury that will likely keep him sidelined until September or October.Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo
Wingo is working his way back from a November meniscus injury. Campbell projected him back in September.
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It really sucks when a rookie misses training camp and preseason games.
King of the Jungle
Footballguy
No news is usually good news in the offseason. Too much news already with these injuries. Hope this is it until kickoff.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Disappointed Anzalone hoping to retire a Lion as contract frustrations simmer
Allen Park — There’s an almost comical tension between the Detroit Lions and defensive captain Alex Anzalone.
Those dynamics were unintentionally captured following Tuesday’s training camp practice when Anzalone stopped to talk with local media, facing an inevitable barrage of questions about his contract
Repeatedly, the veteran linebacker volleyed back reporters’ queries, telling them they would need to ask coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes about anything related to negotiations, which may or may not be ongoing. Humourously, the team’s brass stood no more than 10 yards behind Anzalone, conducting a joint interview with MMQB reporter Albert Breer.
The whole scene gave off the vibe of a husband and wife embroiled in a marital dispute, using their child as an intermediary at the dinner table.
“Violet, can you ask your mother to pass the salt?”
Anzalone didn’t say much during the nearly seven-minute conversation, but he said enough. He acknowledged he’s disappointed something hasn’t gotten done and reiterated a message he’s conveyed to the team behind closed doors: He’d like to retire a Lion.
“I put so much into my time here, being a four-time captain,” Anzalone said. “My teammates, the city, and just living here, you can list all the reasons. It's just important to me. I feel like I love this place. I want that opportunity.”
Anzalone didn’t attend the voluntary portions of the offseason program. Simultaneous with his absence, he shared multiple messages on social media about his production and value in relation to his pay, making his desire for an extension part of the public discourse.
Anzalone admitted that he weighed not reporting to training camp, but after considering the pros and cons, decided it wasn’t the best way to move forward.
“I’m in a situation where I thought about it, and for my own personal goals and what I want for the team, I didn’t think it was the best scenario (to not report). …We have a chance to win the Super Bowl and I want to be a part of it.”
Anzalone reported with the rest of his teammates on Saturday, reportedly “crushing” his conditioning test. But he has yet to practice the first three days of camp. According to Campbell, it’s a hamstring strain that’s sidelineing the veteran, and Anzalone confirmed it was suffered during the conditioning test.
What’s the timetable to return to action? That remains unclear. Anzalone said, “No clue.” And when asked whether he’d practice without a new deal in place, he was non-committal.
“I’m just taking this day-to-day right now,” he said. “I mean, we’ll see.”
Anzalone was definitive when he said the issues — hamstring and contract — wouldn’t keep him from playing in the regular season.
Entering his ninth season, Anzalone has been a key fixture of Detroit’s defense under Campbell. The two arrived together from New Orleans in 2021. Anzalone initially signed a one-year contract with the Lions, then a second prove-it deal, before landing a three-year, $18 million contract in 2023. He’s entering the final season of that agreement.
Since signing the pact, the linebacker market has exploded, leaving Anzalone underpaid relative to the market. That includes a three-year, $24 million contract awarded to teammate Derrick Barnes this offseason.
“I mean, it’s just kind of obvious, I think,” Anzalone said. “Production, play, the market. …I feel like I’ve done that a lot (put team first) through my four years here and I’m just in a situation where you want to be rewarded for that, at least in some regard.”
Will he get it? That’s the $10 million-or-so-per-year question. It’s not as if the Lions haven’t aggressively handed out extensions during Holmes’ tenure, including for older veterans such as Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow.
But only the GM knows if he’s willing to meet the linebacker’s expectations. And, yeah, we could ask him, but I assure you that we're less likely to get answers than Anzalone.
Those dynamics were unintentionally captured following Tuesday’s training camp practice when Anzalone stopped to talk with local media, facing an inevitable barrage of questions about his contract
Repeatedly, the veteran linebacker volleyed back reporters’ queries, telling them they would need to ask coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes about anything related to negotiations, which may or may not be ongoing. Humourously, the team’s brass stood no more than 10 yards behind Anzalone, conducting a joint interview with MMQB reporter Albert Breer.
The whole scene gave off the vibe of a husband and wife embroiled in a marital dispute, using their child as an intermediary at the dinner table.
“Violet, can you ask your mother to pass the salt?”
Anzalone didn’t say much during the nearly seven-minute conversation, but he said enough. He acknowledged he’s disappointed something hasn’t gotten done and reiterated a message he’s conveyed to the team behind closed doors: He’d like to retire a Lion.
“I put so much into my time here, being a four-time captain,” Anzalone said. “My teammates, the city, and just living here, you can list all the reasons. It's just important to me. I feel like I love this place. I want that opportunity.”
Anzalone didn’t attend the voluntary portions of the offseason program. Simultaneous with his absence, he shared multiple messages on social media about his production and value in relation to his pay, making his desire for an extension part of the public discourse.
Anzalone admitted that he weighed not reporting to training camp, but after considering the pros and cons, decided it wasn’t the best way to move forward.
“I’m in a situation where I thought about it, and for my own personal goals and what I want for the team, I didn’t think it was the best scenario (to not report). …We have a chance to win the Super Bowl and I want to be a part of it.”
Anzalone reported with the rest of his teammates on Saturday, reportedly “crushing” his conditioning test. But he has yet to practice the first three days of camp. According to Campbell, it’s a hamstring strain that’s sidelineing the veteran, and Anzalone confirmed it was suffered during the conditioning test.
What’s the timetable to return to action? That remains unclear. Anzalone said, “No clue.” And when asked whether he’d practice without a new deal in place, he was non-committal.
“I’m just taking this day-to-day right now,” he said. “I mean, we’ll see.”
Anzalone was definitive when he said the issues — hamstring and contract — wouldn’t keep him from playing in the regular season.
Entering his ninth season, Anzalone has been a key fixture of Detroit’s defense under Campbell. The two arrived together from New Orleans in 2021. Anzalone initially signed a one-year contract with the Lions, then a second prove-it deal, before landing a three-year, $18 million contract in 2023. He’s entering the final season of that agreement.
Since signing the pact, the linebacker market has exploded, leaving Anzalone underpaid relative to the market. That includes a three-year, $24 million contract awarded to teammate Derrick Barnes this offseason.
“I mean, it’s just kind of obvious, I think,” Anzalone said. “Production, play, the market. …I feel like I’ve done that a lot (put team first) through my four years here and I’m just in a situation where you want to be rewarded for that, at least in some regard.”
Will he get it? That’s the $10 million-or-so-per-year question. It’s not as if the Lions haven’t aggressively handed out extensions during Holmes’ tenure, including for older veterans such as Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow.
But only the GM knows if he’s willing to meet the linebacker’s expectations. And, yeah, we could ask him, but I assure you that we're less likely to get answers than Anzalone.
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BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Good stuff from Manu & Mahogany today. Hard to get too excited when they haven’t had full contact practice but still, good to see Gio is progressing & Christian is demonstrating last years 2 starts weren’t a fluke.
Also, feeling pretty confident Y2 Arnold is going to be similar trajectory we saw from Slay more than a decade ago; growing pains as a rookie, followed by a big step forward.
Also, feeling pretty confident Y2 Arnold is going to be similar trajectory we saw from Slay more than a decade ago; growing pains as a rookie, followed by a big step forward.
Lions camp observations: Defensive exuberance leads to practice ejection
Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations the Detroit Lions’ Tuesday morning training camp practice.
● Even when you know you're not allowed to tackle, it can be hard for an NFL defensive player who is exerting full effort trying to make a play to pull up. Still, it's hardly uncommon to hear a coach remind players to ease up or stay on their feet during a practice.
On Tuesday, a series of collisions crossed coach Dan Campbell’s threshold for innocent mistakes. It started with Brian Branch smashing into wide receiver Tim Patrick while breaking up a third-down throw, a hit that clearly irked the veteran receiver.
A few snaps later, defensive back Morice Norris hit rookie Isaac TeSlaa across the middle, causing Campbell to briefly pause practice, emphasizing that level of contact wouldn’t be appropriate until the pads came on later in the week.
Making a diving effort to break up a throw to receiver Dominic Lovett minutes later, Norris again caught too much of the body. Without hesitation, Campbell sent the second-year defender off the field and to the locker room, ending his day.
● Norris was visibly upset. That’s understandable. He’s a young player on the roster bubble. He can’t afford to upset the coaching staff. Teammate Kerby Joseph raced over to talk through the situation with Norris. That conversation continued for approximately five minutes before Norris went inside.
It was an impressive display of leadership for Joseph, a player who sometimes comes across as immature, but has quietly been instrumental in taking some of the roster’s younger defensive players under his wing.
“I feel like that's my youngin', and I've been in situations like that before,” Joseph said after practice. “I understand how the mental (frustrations) can get. The one thing you can't do is put your head down. Once you go in that hole, it's hard to get back out. I just want to make sure guys don't go in the hole.”
● TeSlaa has been wearing a compression sleeve over his left knee for the past couple of days. However, it wasn’t until Tuesday that you could see him battling through discomfort. There were multiple times during practice when he had a noticeable limp, particularly when decelerating.
I checked in with him after practice, and while he acknowledged the discomfort, he said he was fine powering through the pain and not at risk of making things worse.
● Perhaps correlated with the team’s heavy emphasis on working on third downs, the defense heavily utilized blitz packages on Tuesday, bringing pressure from every imaginable angle.
Obviously, there’s no hitting the quarterback this time of year. That said, Derrick Barnes, Amik Robertson and Grant Stuard were among the extra rushers who would have snagged easy sacks.
● On the flip side of the blitzes, running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a couple of impressive pickups, including one on Stuard. The Lions aren’t going to ask Gibbs to stay in protection often, but it’s still nice to see the work he’s put into improving in that department.
● Cornerback Terrion Arnold had a strong day. After getting bailed out by an overthrow when Jameson Williams got a step on him deep in the early going, Arnold responded in a big way.
The corner's best play was unquestionably a one-handed interception while working against Amon-Ra St. Brown in a one-on-one drill down the left sideline.
Also in one-on-ones, Arnold broke up a slant intended for Williams. Then, when the team opened up a seven-on-seven segment with a quick snap, hoping to catch the defense napping, Arnold was able to stay in phase with St. Brown down the left sideline for another PBU.
● In a comical moment, the one-on-one work between the receivers and defensive backs concluded with Joseph running a rep against Rock Ya-Sin with Kalif Raymond at quarterback. Joseph, a former college receiver, ran a rather smooth post route, getting a half-step on his teammate, but Raymond’s pass fell short.
● Also performing one-on-one work were the offensive and defensive lines. The offensive linemen dominated early, including a really impressive win for Giovanni Manu against Aidan Hutchinson.
The defense was able to flip the script late with Marcus Davenport smoking Penei Sewell around the outside edge and Mitchell Agude quickly getting the best of Manu.
Perhaps the most dominant player, on either side, was guard Christian Mahogany. He easily shut down the rushers he faced, including stonewalling rookie Tyleik Williams twice.
● The injuries continue to mount along the interior of Detroit’s defensive line. A day after Roy Lopez suffered a foot injury that sidelined him Tuesday, Brodric Martin exited with a foot concern.
Offensive tackle JaMarco Jones also had to be helped off the field, but it only ended up being cramps.
● Another day, another sack for Nate Lynn. He’s getting most of his reps with the third-team defense, but the second-year edge rusher bent the corner and toasted rookie lineman Mason Miller.
● Even when you know you're not allowed to tackle, it can be hard for an NFL defensive player who is exerting full effort trying to make a play to pull up. Still, it's hardly uncommon to hear a coach remind players to ease up or stay on their feet during a practice.
On Tuesday, a series of collisions crossed coach Dan Campbell’s threshold for innocent mistakes. It started with Brian Branch smashing into wide receiver Tim Patrick while breaking up a third-down throw, a hit that clearly irked the veteran receiver.
A few snaps later, defensive back Morice Norris hit rookie Isaac TeSlaa across the middle, causing Campbell to briefly pause practice, emphasizing that level of contact wouldn’t be appropriate until the pads came on later in the week.
Making a diving effort to break up a throw to receiver Dominic Lovett minutes later, Norris again caught too much of the body. Without hesitation, Campbell sent the second-year defender off the field and to the locker room, ending his day.
● Norris was visibly upset. That’s understandable. He’s a young player on the roster bubble. He can’t afford to upset the coaching staff. Teammate Kerby Joseph raced over to talk through the situation with Norris. That conversation continued for approximately five minutes before Norris went inside.
It was an impressive display of leadership for Joseph, a player who sometimes comes across as immature, but has quietly been instrumental in taking some of the roster’s younger defensive players under his wing.
“I feel like that's my youngin', and I've been in situations like that before,” Joseph said after practice. “I understand how the mental (frustrations) can get. The one thing you can't do is put your head down. Once you go in that hole, it's hard to get back out. I just want to make sure guys don't go in the hole.”
● TeSlaa has been wearing a compression sleeve over his left knee for the past couple of days. However, it wasn’t until Tuesday that you could see him battling through discomfort. There were multiple times during practice when he had a noticeable limp, particularly when decelerating.
I checked in with him after practice, and while he acknowledged the discomfort, he said he was fine powering through the pain and not at risk of making things worse.
● Perhaps correlated with the team’s heavy emphasis on working on third downs, the defense heavily utilized blitz packages on Tuesday, bringing pressure from every imaginable angle.
Obviously, there’s no hitting the quarterback this time of year. That said, Derrick Barnes, Amik Robertson and Grant Stuard were among the extra rushers who would have snagged easy sacks.
● On the flip side of the blitzes, running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a couple of impressive pickups, including one on Stuard. The Lions aren’t going to ask Gibbs to stay in protection often, but it’s still nice to see the work he’s put into improving in that department.
● Cornerback Terrion Arnold had a strong day. After getting bailed out by an overthrow when Jameson Williams got a step on him deep in the early going, Arnold responded in a big way.
The corner's best play was unquestionably a one-handed interception while working against Amon-Ra St. Brown in a one-on-one drill down the left sideline.
Also in one-on-ones, Arnold broke up a slant intended for Williams. Then, when the team opened up a seven-on-seven segment with a quick snap, hoping to catch the defense napping, Arnold was able to stay in phase with St. Brown down the left sideline for another PBU.
● In a comical moment, the one-on-one work between the receivers and defensive backs concluded with Joseph running a rep against Rock Ya-Sin with Kalif Raymond at quarterback. Joseph, a former college receiver, ran a rather smooth post route, getting a half-step on his teammate, but Raymond’s pass fell short.
● Also performing one-on-one work were the offensive and defensive lines. The offensive linemen dominated early, including a really impressive win for Giovanni Manu against Aidan Hutchinson.
The defense was able to flip the script late with Marcus Davenport smoking Penei Sewell around the outside edge and Mitchell Agude quickly getting the best of Manu.
Perhaps the most dominant player, on either side, was guard Christian Mahogany. He easily shut down the rushers he faced, including stonewalling rookie Tyleik Williams twice.
● The injuries continue to mount along the interior of Detroit’s defensive line. A day after Roy Lopez suffered a foot injury that sidelined him Tuesday, Brodric Martin exited with a foot concern.
Offensive tackle JaMarco Jones also had to be helped off the field, but it only ended up being cramps.
● Another day, another sack for Nate Lynn. He’s getting most of his reps with the third-team defense, but the second-year edge rusher bent the corner and toasted rookie lineman Mason Miller.
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BobbyLayne
Footballguy
No practice Wednesday, day off for the players
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
After losing Onwuzurike, Lions faced with finding new source of interior pass rush
Allen Park — On Sunday, the first day of Detroit Lions training camp, we learned the team will be without defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurikefor the upcoming season.
The fifth-year defender, placed on the physically unable to perform list earlier in the week, required season-ending ACL surgery after nagging knee pain turned out to be structural damage in need of repair.
Outside the quarterback position, a single blow to the lineup is rarely enough to derail a season. The Lions proved this last season, overcoming a number of injuries to key players, including star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, en route to winning a franchise-record 15 games. It wasn’t until the postseason that the cumulative losses contributed to an early exit.
Regardless, while the loss of Onwuzurike shouldn’t be viewed as a crushing blow to Detroit’s 2025 aspirations, it does create a schematic void that could prove challenging to backfill on short notice.
Without question, Onwuzurike was the team’s premier interior pass rusher, a department where he was going to need to shoulder a greater load with Alim McNeill months away from getting cleared from his own ACL tear.
It may feel like a distant memory, but interior pass rush used to be a significant issue for the Lions. It wasn’t until McNeill slimmed down and started playing more 3-tech alignments that the team turned a corner. And things really took off for the group last season, when McNeill and Onwuzurike each set career-highs with 45 quarterback pressures apiece.
Now, the team will start the season with both on the shelf, and it’s uncertain where that interior rush will come from, at least until McNeill is cleared to return.
Lions coach Dan Campbell did his best to downplay the concern.
“We’ll be all right,” Campbell said. “We’ll find it, and if we need to fabricate it, we’ll fabricate it.”
We probably shouldn’t anticipate the projected starting tandem of DJ Reader and rookie Tyleik Williams bridging the gap. Reader, who turned 31 this month, generated 20 QB pressures in his first season with the Lions. He should be better this season than last, two years removed from tearing his quad, but he’s topped 25 pressures just once in the past four seasons.
As for Williams, with a similar 330-pound frame, averaged only 21 pressures in his final two seasons at Ohio State.
Good luck running the ball against that space-eating duo. And no one is denying both have well-above-average athleticism for their size. Still, the fact remains, there isn’t a recent track record for steady pocket disruption with either.
The Lions did add to the position in free agency, signing Roy Lopez. But, again, we’re talking about a defensive tackle who is a better run-stuffer than pass rusher. The veteran has not generated more than 19 quarterback pressures in any of his first four seasons.
Is it Brodric Martin’s time to shine? The Lions would welcome a breakout performance from the former third-round pick. Still, it would be silly to think the 330-pound nose tackle is going to morph into a backfield penetrator overnight. Even against inferior competition during his final college season at Western Kentucky in 2022, Martin finished with 23 pressures in 14 games.
More realistically, someone unexpected will need to emerge.
Perhaps that option will be Pat O’Connor. Yes, it feels like a stretch for a guy who set a career-high with 10 pressures last season. However, there’s an undeniable athleticism and quickness off the ball. And, to be fair, those 10 pressures came in just 134 pass-rush snaps. That’s a respectable clip.
Even though O’Connor is entering his ninth season, there’s upside. Plus, working with Kacy Rodgers, his longtime defensive line coach in Tampa who joined the Lions this offseason, should further bolster O’Connor’s opportunity for an increased role and impact.
“He’s a jack of all trades,” Campbell said. “As he was running by me yesterday, he wanted to make sure I knew he could play blocking tight end. I’m telling you, kickoff, kickoff return, watch him. He’s a pretty smooth athlete for a big man. Played the nose, played the three, played the big end.
“He’s versatile, and that’s why he just keeps competing to stay on rosters because it’s hard to ignore a guy like him,” Campbell said. “He just does so many different jobs. You know if you get him into the game, you’re going to be able to use him.”
Other young veterans on the fringes of the mix are Chris Smith, Myles Adams and Raequan Williams.
Pondering the team’s hypothetical solutions, Campbell also tossed out an undrafted rookie who first caught the team’s eye as a tryout player at rookie minicamp back in May.
“Look, we kind of like (Keith) Cooper now,” Campbell said. “He’s a young guy. Let’s see what he can do.”
Cooper was surprised to hear Campbell had brought him up in a press conference. Regardless, the rookie was quick to let the acknowledgement roll off his back, noting he had plenty of work to do to prove to the Lions he’s worthy of a roster spot and can be a contributor.
One thing is clear: The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Cooper has done it before, if only at the college level. At Tulane in 2023, he racked up 38 pressures and 5.0 sacks. He followed that up with 29 pressures and 3.5 sacks after transferring to Houston for his senior season.
The Lions could conceivably turn to a picked-over pool of free agents, as well, particularly with the unit’s mounting injuries. Beyond McNeill and Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo remains sidelined by last year’s knee injury, inside-out lineman Josh Paschal is on the non-football injury list, and Lopez and Martin are both dealing with foot issues suffered in recent practices.
The siutation is unquestionably a quandary and has suddenly emerged as an underrated area to moniotor as camp progresses.
The fifth-year defender, placed on the physically unable to perform list earlier in the week, required season-ending ACL surgery after nagging knee pain turned out to be structural damage in need of repair.
Outside the quarterback position, a single blow to the lineup is rarely enough to derail a season. The Lions proved this last season, overcoming a number of injuries to key players, including star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, en route to winning a franchise-record 15 games. It wasn’t until the postseason that the cumulative losses contributed to an early exit.
Regardless, while the loss of Onwuzurike shouldn’t be viewed as a crushing blow to Detroit’s 2025 aspirations, it does create a schematic void that could prove challenging to backfill on short notice.
Without question, Onwuzurike was the team’s premier interior pass rusher, a department where he was going to need to shoulder a greater load with Alim McNeill months away from getting cleared from his own ACL tear.
It may feel like a distant memory, but interior pass rush used to be a significant issue for the Lions. It wasn’t until McNeill slimmed down and started playing more 3-tech alignments that the team turned a corner. And things really took off for the group last season, when McNeill and Onwuzurike each set career-highs with 45 quarterback pressures apiece.
Now, the team will start the season with both on the shelf, and it’s uncertain where that interior rush will come from, at least until McNeill is cleared to return.
Lions coach Dan Campbell did his best to downplay the concern.
“We’ll be all right,” Campbell said. “We’ll find it, and if we need to fabricate it, we’ll fabricate it.”
We probably shouldn’t anticipate the projected starting tandem of DJ Reader and rookie Tyleik Williams bridging the gap. Reader, who turned 31 this month, generated 20 QB pressures in his first season with the Lions. He should be better this season than last, two years removed from tearing his quad, but he’s topped 25 pressures just once in the past four seasons.
As for Williams, with a similar 330-pound frame, averaged only 21 pressures in his final two seasons at Ohio State.
Good luck running the ball against that space-eating duo. And no one is denying both have well-above-average athleticism for their size. Still, the fact remains, there isn’t a recent track record for steady pocket disruption with either.
The Lions did add to the position in free agency, signing Roy Lopez. But, again, we’re talking about a defensive tackle who is a better run-stuffer than pass rusher. The veteran has not generated more than 19 quarterback pressures in any of his first four seasons.
Is it Brodric Martin’s time to shine? The Lions would welcome a breakout performance from the former third-round pick. Still, it would be silly to think the 330-pound nose tackle is going to morph into a backfield penetrator overnight. Even against inferior competition during his final college season at Western Kentucky in 2022, Martin finished with 23 pressures in 14 games.
More realistically, someone unexpected will need to emerge.
Perhaps that option will be Pat O’Connor. Yes, it feels like a stretch for a guy who set a career-high with 10 pressures last season. However, there’s an undeniable athleticism and quickness off the ball. And, to be fair, those 10 pressures came in just 134 pass-rush snaps. That’s a respectable clip.
Even though O’Connor is entering his ninth season, there’s upside. Plus, working with Kacy Rodgers, his longtime defensive line coach in Tampa who joined the Lions this offseason, should further bolster O’Connor’s opportunity for an increased role and impact.
“He’s a jack of all trades,” Campbell said. “As he was running by me yesterday, he wanted to make sure I knew he could play blocking tight end. I’m telling you, kickoff, kickoff return, watch him. He’s a pretty smooth athlete for a big man. Played the nose, played the three, played the big end.
“He’s versatile, and that’s why he just keeps competing to stay on rosters because it’s hard to ignore a guy like him,” Campbell said. “He just does so many different jobs. You know if you get him into the game, you’re going to be able to use him.”
Other young veterans on the fringes of the mix are Chris Smith, Myles Adams and Raequan Williams.
Pondering the team’s hypothetical solutions, Campbell also tossed out an undrafted rookie who first caught the team’s eye as a tryout player at rookie minicamp back in May.
“Look, we kind of like (Keith) Cooper now,” Campbell said. “He’s a young guy. Let’s see what he can do.”
Cooper was surprised to hear Campbell had brought him up in a press conference. Regardless, the rookie was quick to let the acknowledgement roll off his back, noting he had plenty of work to do to prove to the Lions he’s worthy of a roster spot and can be a contributor.
One thing is clear: The 6-foot-3, 280-pound Cooper has done it before, if only at the college level. At Tulane in 2023, he racked up 38 pressures and 5.0 sacks. He followed that up with 29 pressures and 3.5 sacks after transferring to Houston for his senior season.
The Lions could conceivably turn to a picked-over pool of free agents, as well, particularly with the unit’s mounting injuries. Beyond McNeill and Onwuzurike, Mekhi Wingo remains sidelined by last year’s knee injury, inside-out lineman Josh Paschal is on the non-football injury list, and Lopez and Martin are both dealing with foot issues suffered in recent practices.
The siutation is unquestionably a quandary and has suddenly emerged as an underrated area to moniotor as camp progresses.
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Moonlight
Footballguy
I can't find anything that confirms that Levi attended OTAs would be interested in your source Bobby Layne that he did. Al Karsten who covers the Lions for Pride of Detroit in a July 17 post said that neither Levi nor Pascal were seen on the field at OTAs or in the weight room during off season workouts.
Dave Burkett of the Free Press reported Levi had his surgery this spring.
I would like clarification regarding how this went down. I didn't find Campbell's statement that it was something that crept up on him to be informative and thought it overly vague. It triggered something in me based on working with executives that when something was overly vague that the person didn't know what they were talking about or there was something they were keeping back.
It opens up speculation. Wondering whether team doctors handled the situation appropriately, when did Levi report the issue etc. First possibilty that popped in my head though was whether Levi held information back. So maybe I'm overly suspicious about all of this.
I listened to Jeff Risdon of Lions wire on his podcast with his guests. They thought the thing was weird as well and didn't understand how it developed. So I'm not alone.
Dave Burkett of the Free Press reported Levi had his surgery this spring.
I would like clarification regarding how this went down. I didn't find Campbell's statement that it was something that crept up on him to be informative and thought it overly vague. It triggered something in me based on working with executives that when something was overly vague that the person didn't know what they were talking about or there was something they were keeping back.
It opens up speculation. Wondering whether team doctors handled the situation appropriately, when did Levi report the issue etc. First possibilty that popped in my head though was whether Levi held information back. So maybe I'm overly suspicious about all of this.
I listened to Jeff Risdon of Lions wire on his podcast with his guests. They thought the thing was weird as well and didn't understand how it developed. So I'm not alone.
msudaisy26
Footballguy
My issue isn’t the fact it is weird. Sometimes weird injuries happen. Remember Joel Zumaya and the guitar hero thing? You immediately jumped on him hiding the injury to get a new contract and continue to ignore the fact if the injury was from late last season or even if he fell down the stairs in March, and hid it until the contract was signed that the doctors would know.
Moonlight
Footballguy
You are saying these things are fact. You are speculating as well. You don't know.
Also you stated as a fact that Levi participated at OTAs. I can't find that.
Moonlight
Footballguy
After this post I'm done discussing this thing with Levi any further. These ongoing arguments just muddy the thread.
I threw out my thoughts to see how others saw it. There wasn't support for the possibility. But I continue to think there is something off about what happened. We were counting on Levi and to be informed on the first day of camp that he was out for the season was surprising and we were not given much information regarding what happened.
You make reference to me jumping on Levi but yet that is what you did yourself toward me. Using words like crazy and other aggressive language.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
May 30 2025 OTA (Rogers) - Levi was one of 21 veterans who didn't practice that day
Just to clarify what I said previously:
Levi signed his extension around March 11 or 13, I forget which. Dan Campbell said the injury crept up on them about 5-6 weeks after he signed. Coach said (unprompted) the player did nothing wrong.
This is not the Epstein files or the Cold Play kiss cam. There's nothing there.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions' preseason broadcast duo will be Jason Benetti and T.J. Lang. That feels like a win for fans.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
NFL Top 100
NFLN has released its first 4 lists (65-100), looks like they're really milking it this year.
Last year the entire list was done by August 2nd.
Lions who have appeared so far:
NFLN has released its first 4 lists (65-100), looks like they're really milking it this year.
Last year the entire list was done by August 2nd.
| Episode No. | Air date | Original network | Numbers revealed |
| 1 | June 30 – July 4 | NFL+ | 100–91 |
| 2 | July 7 – July 11 | 90–81 | |
| 3 | July 14 – July 18 | 80–71 | |
| 4 | July 21 – July 25 | 70–61 | |
| 5 | July 28 – August 1 | 60–51 | |
| 6 | August 4 – August 8 | 50–41 | |
| 7 | August 11 – August 15 | 40–31 | |
| 8 | August 18 – August 22 | 30–21 | |
| 9 | August 25 – August 29 | 20–11 | |
| 10 | September 1 | NFLN | 10–1 |
Lions who have appeared so far:
- 94 - LaPorta (80th last year, 1 Pro Bowl)
- 71 - Joseph (debut, 0 pro bowl, 1x All Pro)
- Hutchinson (47th 2024, 88th 2023, 1x Pro Bowl)
- Sewell (22nd 2024, 3x Pro Bowl, 2x All Pro)
- St Brown (23rd 2024, 67th 2023, 3x Pro Bowl, 2x All Pro)
- Goff (48th 2024, 66th 2023, 32nd 2019, 38th 2018, 4x Pro Bowl + declined 2023)
- Gibbs (NR, 2x Pro Bowl)
- Branch (1st pro bowl 2024)
- Jack Campbell (0 pro bowls, PFF 2nd team All-NFL LB, 10th best LB overall grade)
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions camp observations: O-line shuffle, more practice-halting chippiness, and punchout efforts rewarded
Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from the Detroit Lions’ Thursday morning training camp practice.
● As always, let’s start with a quick injury update. Linebacker Alex Anzalone (hamstring), defensive tackle Roy Lopez (foot) and running back Sione Vaki (hamstring) remained sidelined.
Among the new issues that cropped up on Thursday, linebacker Derrick Barnes (hand) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (leg) left in the second half of practice for further medical evaluation. I didn’t see when either injury occurred. Asking around to the other reporters in attendance, no one seemed to have eyes on it. For what it’s worth, both players walked off without assistance.
It’s safe to expect updates on both Arnold and Barnes on Friday morning, when coach Dan Campbell is scheduled to meet with the media ahead of the team’s first padded practice.
In more positive news, defensive tackle Brodric Martin was back on the field after exiting Tuesday with a foot injury. And cornerback Stanley Thomas-Oliver was activated off the non-football injury list.
● For the second consecutive practice, coach Dan Campbell had to stop things, huddle up the team and tell the roster to chill out. There were four minor post-whistle scuffles to start the day, and the coach was getting ahead of things before they escalated further.
One incident saw agitating wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown deliver a late block under the chin of defensive back Brian Branch, who took exception to the action that could have easily justified a flag for hands to the face.
Things boiled over for Campbell when linebacker Anthony Pittman unnecessarily tossed running back Jabari Small to the ground at the end of a carry. That spiraled into offensive lineman Trystan Colon shoving Pittman, followed by edge rusher Anthony Lynn giving Colon a stiff forearm to the back.
After Campbell’s speech to the roster, things calmed down in a hurry.
● Earlier in the week, Campbell had said he wanted to spend the next 10 or so days, leading up to the Hall of Fame game, to evaluate rookie Tate Ratledge at center. Plans seemingly changed as Graham Glasgow took over snapping with the first team offense on Thursday, with Ratledge shifting to right guard, the position he played for the University of Georgia.
Glasgow at center always seemed like the safer option. Regardless, the Lions have been intent on giving Ratledge a long leash to figure things out. There’s still a lot of time before the Lions need to decide on the team’s Week 1 lineup. Even if it ends up being Glasgow at center, Ratledge could very well end up the long-term replacement for Frank Ragnow.
● It’s really difficult to explain how improved Jameson Williams looks to start this training camp. His route running is so much more precise, particularly on patterns coming back to the quarterback. He put that ability on full display, easily beating DJ Reed on a hitch route in one-on-one drills.
Williams’ hands also continue to improve. He’s showing them late and snagging the ball off his frame. It’s amazing when you consider the struggles he went through two years ago. It’s not hyperbole when I say he had some of the worst issues catching the ball of any receiver I’ve watched since starting on the beat in 2011.
Still, there’s an occasional lapse with Williams. During seven-on-seven, he prematurely cut off a route and didn’t look back for a ball that came to him, resulting in a pick. More on that in a moment.
● Kicker Jake Bates got off to a strong start to practice, making his first seven field goals, ranging from 33 to 53 yards, before he pulled two additional efforts from 53 yards wide left.
● After exhibiting a significant limp during Tuesday’s practice, rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa was moving much better on Thursday. The limp still showed up at the end of a few plays, but wasn’t anywhere near as pronounced. The rookie hauled in a bomb over safety Ian Kennelly in one-on-one drills.
● Kalif Raymond is a menacing cover for Detroit’s defensive backs in those drills. He absolutely cooked Amik Robertson on a stop-and-go, then got Detroit’s starting nickel again on a slant.
● If you’re trying to get an early sense for Detroit’s offensive line depth chart beyond the starters, the popular second-team grouping was Jamarco Jones and Giovanni Manu at tackle, Kayode Awosika and Netane Muti at guard and Kingsley Eguakun at center. Pending snaps for Ratledge in the preseason, expect to see this group quite a bit in the Hall of Fame game.
After exiting with cramping during Tuesday’s practice, Jones got rolled up on Thursday and briefly came off the field. Fortunately, he was able to return and finish the session.
● Quarterback Hendon Hooker continues to play well, but he missed safety Avonte Maddox sitting underneath on an intermediate throw across the middle in the early stages of practice. The pass proved too hot for the safety to handle, resulting in a break-up as opposed to an interception.
● Back to the interception on the throw intended for Williams. It was the first pick for Jared Goff in a team segment this camp, and it went to safety Erick Hallett II, who was filling in for Arnold at outside cornerback with the first-team defense. Hallett had excellent positioning on the route, anticipating and driving on the throw for what would have resulted in a touchdown going the other way.
● Working in tandem, Ratledge and Glasgow opened up a quality lane for running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who shot through the hole and made a man miss in the second level. It probably results in a touchdown in a game setting.
Ratledge came off the combination block awkwardly, but was able to regain his balance and wall off DJ Reader at the last moment to keep the lane intact.
● Small also had a long run, bursting into the second level after rookie offensive tackle caved into the right side of the line with a down block. Small has an impressive burst and should make a strong push for a practice squad spot with a good preseason.
Where Small failed to help himself was dropping a well-placed ball from Hooker on a wheel route that arced perfectly over the back’s shoulder and into his hands.
● Detroit’s defense has been doing a good job trying to punch the ball out and was rewarded with jarring two free on Thursday. Defensive tackle Raequan Williams was responsible for the first, knocking it from the grasp of running back Kyle Robichaux.
Later, cornerback Dicaprio Booty took advantage of Ronnie Bell scrambling to his feet after going to the ground to make a grab, punching it out from behind the receiver.
● As always, let’s start with a quick injury update. Linebacker Alex Anzalone (hamstring), defensive tackle Roy Lopez (foot) and running back Sione Vaki (hamstring) remained sidelined.
Among the new issues that cropped up on Thursday, linebacker Derrick Barnes (hand) and cornerback Terrion Arnold (leg) left in the second half of practice for further medical evaluation. I didn’t see when either injury occurred. Asking around to the other reporters in attendance, no one seemed to have eyes on it. For what it’s worth, both players walked off without assistance.
It’s safe to expect updates on both Arnold and Barnes on Friday morning, when coach Dan Campbell is scheduled to meet with the media ahead of the team’s first padded practice.
In more positive news, defensive tackle Brodric Martin was back on the field after exiting Tuesday with a foot injury. And cornerback Stanley Thomas-Oliver was activated off the non-football injury list.
● For the second consecutive practice, coach Dan Campbell had to stop things, huddle up the team and tell the roster to chill out. There were four minor post-whistle scuffles to start the day, and the coach was getting ahead of things before they escalated further.
One incident saw agitating wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown deliver a late block under the chin of defensive back Brian Branch, who took exception to the action that could have easily justified a flag for hands to the face.
Things boiled over for Campbell when linebacker Anthony Pittman unnecessarily tossed running back Jabari Small to the ground at the end of a carry. That spiraled into offensive lineman Trystan Colon shoving Pittman, followed by edge rusher Anthony Lynn giving Colon a stiff forearm to the back.
After Campbell’s speech to the roster, things calmed down in a hurry.
● Earlier in the week, Campbell had said he wanted to spend the next 10 or so days, leading up to the Hall of Fame game, to evaluate rookie Tate Ratledge at center. Plans seemingly changed as Graham Glasgow took over snapping with the first team offense on Thursday, with Ratledge shifting to right guard, the position he played for the University of Georgia.
Glasgow at center always seemed like the safer option. Regardless, the Lions have been intent on giving Ratledge a long leash to figure things out. There’s still a lot of time before the Lions need to decide on the team’s Week 1 lineup. Even if it ends up being Glasgow at center, Ratledge could very well end up the long-term replacement for Frank Ragnow.
● It’s really difficult to explain how improved Jameson Williams looks to start this training camp. His route running is so much more precise, particularly on patterns coming back to the quarterback. He put that ability on full display, easily beating DJ Reed on a hitch route in one-on-one drills.
Williams’ hands also continue to improve. He’s showing them late and snagging the ball off his frame. It’s amazing when you consider the struggles he went through two years ago. It’s not hyperbole when I say he had some of the worst issues catching the ball of any receiver I’ve watched since starting on the beat in 2011.
Still, there’s an occasional lapse with Williams. During seven-on-seven, he prematurely cut off a route and didn’t look back for a ball that came to him, resulting in a pick. More on that in a moment.
● Kicker Jake Bates got off to a strong start to practice, making his first seven field goals, ranging from 33 to 53 yards, before he pulled two additional efforts from 53 yards wide left.
● After exhibiting a significant limp during Tuesday’s practice, rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa was moving much better on Thursday. The limp still showed up at the end of a few plays, but wasn’t anywhere near as pronounced. The rookie hauled in a bomb over safety Ian Kennelly in one-on-one drills.
● Kalif Raymond is a menacing cover for Detroit’s defensive backs in those drills. He absolutely cooked Amik Robertson on a stop-and-go, then got Detroit’s starting nickel again on a slant.
● If you’re trying to get an early sense for Detroit’s offensive line depth chart beyond the starters, the popular second-team grouping was Jamarco Jones and Giovanni Manu at tackle, Kayode Awosika and Netane Muti at guard and Kingsley Eguakun at center. Pending snaps for Ratledge in the preseason, expect to see this group quite a bit in the Hall of Fame game.
After exiting with cramping during Tuesday’s practice, Jones got rolled up on Thursday and briefly came off the field. Fortunately, he was able to return and finish the session.
● Quarterback Hendon Hooker continues to play well, but he missed safety Avonte Maddox sitting underneath on an intermediate throw across the middle in the early stages of practice. The pass proved too hot for the safety to handle, resulting in a break-up as opposed to an interception.
● Back to the interception on the throw intended for Williams. It was the first pick for Jared Goff in a team segment this camp, and it went to safety Erick Hallett II, who was filling in for Arnold at outside cornerback with the first-team defense. Hallett had excellent positioning on the route, anticipating and driving on the throw for what would have resulted in a touchdown going the other way.
● Working in tandem, Ratledge and Glasgow opened up a quality lane for running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who shot through the hole and made a man miss in the second level. It probably results in a touchdown in a game setting.
Ratledge came off the combination block awkwardly, but was able to regain his balance and wall off DJ Reader at the last moment to keep the lane intact.
● Small also had a long run, bursting into the second level after rookie offensive tackle caved into the right side of the line with a down block. Small has an impressive burst and should make a strong push for a practice squad spot with a good preseason.
Where Small failed to help himself was dropping a well-placed ball from Hooker on a wheel route that arced perfectly over the back’s shoulder and into his hands.
● Detroit’s defense has been doing a good job trying to punch the ball out and was rewarded with jarring two free on Thursday. Defensive tackle Raequan Williams was responsible for the first, knocking it from the grasp of running back Kyle Robichaux.
Later, cornerback Dicaprio Booty took advantage of Ronnie Bell scrambling to his feet after going to the ground to make a grab, punching it out from behind the receiver.
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BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Terrion with a strained calf. Not considered serious but they’ll err on the side of caution and hold him out for a few days.
Derrick Barnes is fine.
First practice in full pads Friday.
Derrick Barnes is fine.
First practice in full pads Friday.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I have to imagine that this time of the year some injuries are a bit overblown. Plenty of time to ramp up for the regular season.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Barnes has a finger injury but he’ll be back at there today.
No reason to rush TA. There is a theory calf strains can lead to achilles but I imagine that’s less of a concern for 22 year olds. He’s already demonstrated big improvement over his rookie year so missing a few reps shouldn’t hurt him too much.
As Zepplin mentioned, the ones TC injuries really hurt are the rookies who need more time on task.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Coordinator review: Sheppard at ease in new role, talks blitz philosophy and hypes up Hutchinson
Allen Park — Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard met with the media for the first time this training camp. Here are some highlights from his high-energy media session.
Without hesitation, the coordinator said he feels the secondary is shaping up to be one of the roster’s strengths.
“I believe that’s the strength of not only the defense, but that’s one of the deepest spots on the team,” Sheppard said. “That’s going to be a luxury to us this season, as far as moving people around, being able to create different matchups that we want to dictate, not what the offense is trying to dictate.”
Sheppard specifically highlighted the improvement of second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold, who had come hot out of the gate in his second training camp before exiting Thursday’s practice with a leg injury.
“He’s come in, not only this offseason but this training camp, looking like a different guy,” Sheppard said. “His body’s more developed, but also from the neck up, the mental aspect of the game, he’s seeing it faster. He’s feeling the routes faster.”
We'll know more about Arnold's injury when Dan Campbell talks on Friday, but NFL insider Jordan Schultz is reporting it's a minor calf issue.
Before naming Sheppard as Glenn’s replacement, Lions coach Dan Campbell emphasized wanting the next person in the coordinator chair to maintain the team's aggressive approach.
“It’s very important,” Sheppard said. “We’re going to be aggressive. I think (those) who have been around here since I came know I’m an aggressive guy. My mentality is to get after you, play in and play out.
“But also, you have to be calculated,” Sheppard said. “There has to be a ‘why’ behind it. More importantly, the players have to understand the ‘why’ behind it, why I’m asking them to do certain things. You have to make it all look the same, pre-snap reads versus post-snap reads and things like that. Like I said, these guys are bought in so the more they can handle, the more we’ll do.”
“Sometimes, when you get a new coach or a first-year coach, you can tell a little bit,” Anzalone said. “But with him, you can't tell at all. It's like he's built for it.”
Sheppard was asked how the reality of the coordinator role was matching up with his expectations coming into his first year on the job. His sentiments matched Anzalone’s observations in the sense that things have come naturally.
“I want to give credit to Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, because it’s exactly what I thought it would be,” Sheppard said. “I’m humbly saying that. I don’t feel overwhelmed.
“I got asked by somebody close to me yesterday, ‘Do you feel overwhelmed? Do you feel discomfort?’ I’ve never felt that, and that's a blessing to be able to say that in my first year, in my first six months of doing this,” Sheppard continued.”
Sheppard noted that a big component of the seamless transition has been the coaches around him. Starting at the lowest rungs, Sheppard recognized quality control coaches August Mangin and Caleb Collins. Sheppard and Mangin were roommates at LSU, while Collins was working at the school when Sheppard returned to begin his coaching career.
Sheppard continued the roll call of acknowledgments through the entire defensive coaching staff, praising how well the group works collaboratively.
“It’s not like it’s a rookie staff by any means,” Sheppard said. “Two guys on my staff are former coordinators, and it’s an open floor. I told the players the other day in the defensive unit meeting, this isn’t my stuff I’m saying. This is our stuff. I’m not ever going to stand up here and say I’m some genius guru and I invented football. I have allowed my staff to have ownership in their respective positions. I allow input from everyone, from top to bottom. If there’s a why behind it, it's going in (the playbook). These guys know that, so I think that allows them to work harder.
“The trust is there,” Sheppard said. “There’s no looking over your shoulder. I don’t have to go in position rooms and wonder what’s being said. I know it’s one voice. When you have that lefel of comfortability within your staff, I’m able to do more of my coordinator stuff versus looking over people’s shoulders.”
Sheppard also knows he’ll get a far better feel for the high-motor Hassanein on Friday, when the team dons pads for the first time this offseason.
“I don’t think his game could be seen until the pads are on,” Sheppard said. “With the way he plays, the mentality he plays with, the effort he plays with, he’s everything we’re about here.”
Still, Sheppard was quick to temper expectations for the sixth-round pick out of Boise State.
“It’s just that development piece to learn and curve,” Sheppard said. “That’s why I don’t want people to start saying ‘Is he the answer?’. Guys, this guy is a rookie. He just started playing football six years ago. He just (re-)learned the English language six, seven years ago, so let’s not turn this guy into Lawrence Taylor.
"He’s a rookie, he’s on the developmental swing, but he’s been afforded the opportunity to work with one of the best, if not the best (defensive line coach) in the league in my opinion in Kacy Rodgers," Sheppard said. "I’m already seeing it. I saw it in the spring. But that guy’s all in. Whatever his potential is, (he’ll be) able to reach it because he’s going to work at it that way.”
“Listen, I’m not saying anything about numbers, statistics, any of that, but I see a better player than we had last year,” Sheppard said. “You might be like, Whoa!’ That’s the same thing I said when I saw him out there. I’m like, ‘Whoa'!’ But if you know Hutch, which all of you do, and the way he works, the way he attacked his rehab, a week after the surgery, he’s in here trying to work out and things like that. It’s not a surprise.
“Now it’s about going out in live action, getting those hits, taking those blows, building those mental pieces back,” Sheppard said. “In live action, you can only build that throughout training camp with the pads on, live reps when we do have that setting here. The joint practices will be really good for Hutch, going against a foreign opponent where you don’t kind of know, it’s not as controlled and things like that. But I see a better player, quite frankly, and I’m looking for Hutch to have a big season.”
“I was one of those position coaches yelling at my room, ‘We need to get the ball back,’” Sheppard said. “When you turn on the tape this spring in the self scout, some guys stuck out: Amik (Robertson), Brian Branch, Jack Campbell. I told the defense, guys shouldn’t stick out. It should be the opposite. You should be the anomaly if you’re not touching the ball, if you’re not finishing on the ball.
“I call it biting the football every play,” Sheppard said. “It shouldn’t be three guys sticking out because they’re finishing on the ball. So that kind of has been the mindset. …We need to turn into a pack of wild dogs. When people turn on our tape, they know, you better tuck the ball and you better get down if the defense is around you.”
Secondary a primary strength
Framed around an impressively dominant seven-on-seven period for his unit earlier in the week, Sheppard was asked how he feels the team’s back seven is coming together.Without hesitation, the coordinator said he feels the secondary is shaping up to be one of the roster’s strengths.
“I believe that’s the strength of not only the defense, but that’s one of the deepest spots on the team,” Sheppard said. “That’s going to be a luxury to us this season, as far as moving people around, being able to create different matchups that we want to dictate, not what the offense is trying to dictate.”
Sheppard specifically highlighted the improvement of second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold, who had come hot out of the gate in his second training camp before exiting Thursday’s practice with a leg injury.
“He’s come in, not only this offseason but this training camp, looking like a different guy,” Sheppard said. “His body’s more developed, but also from the neck up, the mental aspect of the game, he’s seeing it faster. He’s feeling the routes faster.”
We'll know more about Arnold's injury when Dan Campbell talks on Friday, but NFL insider Jordan Schultz is reporting it's a minor calf issue.
Pressure remains a priority
As noted in Tuesday’s training camp observations, Detroit’s defense hasn’t been shy about utilizing the blitz. We probably shouldn’t be surprised. Under former coordinator Aaron Glenn, the team ranked second in the league in blitz rate in 2024, sending an extra rusher on 34.6% of passing plays.Before naming Sheppard as Glenn’s replacement, Lions coach Dan Campbell emphasized wanting the next person in the coordinator chair to maintain the team's aggressive approach.
“It’s very important,” Sheppard said. “We’re going to be aggressive. I think (those) who have been around here since I came know I’m an aggressive guy. My mentality is to get after you, play in and play out.
“But also, you have to be calculated,” Sheppard said. “There has to be a ‘why’ behind it. More importantly, the players have to understand the ‘why’ behind it, why I’m asking them to do certain things. You have to make it all look the same, pre-snap reads versus post-snap reads and things like that. Like I said, these guys are bought in so the more they can handle, the more we’ll do.”
Like a duck to water
Talking about Sheppard’s first few months on the job, veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone noted how naturally his former position coach has taken to the larger role.“Sometimes, when you get a new coach or a first-year coach, you can tell a little bit,” Anzalone said. “But with him, you can't tell at all. It's like he's built for it.”
Sheppard was asked how the reality of the coordinator role was matching up with his expectations coming into his first year on the job. His sentiments matched Anzalone’s observations in the sense that things have come naturally.
“I want to give credit to Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, because it’s exactly what I thought it would be,” Sheppard said. “I’m humbly saying that. I don’t feel overwhelmed.
“I got asked by somebody close to me yesterday, ‘Do you feel overwhelmed? Do you feel discomfort?’ I’ve never felt that, and that's a blessing to be able to say that in my first year, in my first six months of doing this,” Sheppard continued.”
Sheppard noted that a big component of the seamless transition has been the coaches around him. Starting at the lowest rungs, Sheppard recognized quality control coaches August Mangin and Caleb Collins. Sheppard and Mangin were roommates at LSU, while Collins was working at the school when Sheppard returned to begin his coaching career.
Sheppard continued the roll call of acknowledgments through the entire defensive coaching staff, praising how well the group works collaboratively.
“It’s not like it’s a rookie staff by any means,” Sheppard said. “Two guys on my staff are former coordinators, and it’s an open floor. I told the players the other day in the defensive unit meeting, this isn’t my stuff I’m saying. This is our stuff. I’m not ever going to stand up here and say I’m some genius guru and I invented football. I have allowed my staff to have ownership in their respective positions. I allow input from everyone, from top to bottom. If there’s a why behind it, it's going in (the playbook). These guys know that, so I think that allows them to work harder.
“The trust is there,” Sheppard said. “There’s no looking over your shoulder. I don’t have to go in position rooms and wonder what’s being said. I know it’s one voice. When you have that lefel of comfortability within your staff, I’m able to do more of my coordinator stuff versus looking over people’s shoulders.”
Measured expectations
Unprompted, Sheppard said he’s excited by rookie defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein, even if the young edge rusher is still figuring out his A, B and C gap responsibilities.Sheppard also knows he’ll get a far better feel for the high-motor Hassanein on Friday, when the team dons pads for the first time this offseason.
“I don’t think his game could be seen until the pads are on,” Sheppard said. “With the way he plays, the mentality he plays with, the effort he plays with, he’s everything we’re about here.”
Still, Sheppard was quick to temper expectations for the sixth-round pick out of Boise State.
“It’s just that development piece to learn and curve,” Sheppard said. “That’s why I don’t want people to start saying ‘Is he the answer?’. Guys, this guy is a rookie. He just started playing football six years ago. He just (re-)learned the English language six, seven years ago, so let’s not turn this guy into Lawrence Taylor.
"He’s a rookie, he’s on the developmental swing, but he’s been afforded the opportunity to work with one of the best, if not the best (defensive line coach) in the league in my opinion in Kacy Rodgers," Sheppard said. "I’m already seeing it. I saw it in the spring. But that guy’s all in. Whatever his potential is, (he’ll be) able to reach it because he’s going to work at it that way.”
Better than ever?
There’s some understandable anxiety about how quickly Aidan Hutchinson will be able to regain his form as an elite edge rusher coming back from last year’s broken leg. Sheppard is happy to quell those concerns.“Listen, I’m not saying anything about numbers, statistics, any of that, but I see a better player than we had last year,” Sheppard said. “You might be like, Whoa!’ That’s the same thing I said when I saw him out there. I’m like, ‘Whoa'!’ But if you know Hutch, which all of you do, and the way he works, the way he attacked his rehab, a week after the surgery, he’s in here trying to work out and things like that. It’s not a surprise.
“Now it’s about going out in live action, getting those hits, taking those blows, building those mental pieces back,” Sheppard said. “In live action, you can only build that throughout training camp with the pads on, live reps when we do have that setting here. The joint practices will be really good for Hutch, going against a foreign opponent where you don’t kind of know, it’s not as controlled and things like that. But I see a better player, quite frankly, and I’m looking for Hutch to have a big season.”
Pressure on punchouts
There’s been a noticeable uptick in Detroit’s defenders trying to punch the ball free from ball carriers to start camp. Sheppard acknowledged it’s been a point of emphasis. He's trying to elevate the entire roster to match some of the team’s more effective players at jarring the ball free.“I was one of those position coaches yelling at my room, ‘We need to get the ball back,’” Sheppard said. “When you turn on the tape this spring in the self scout, some guys stuck out: Amik (Robertson), Brian Branch, Jack Campbell. I told the defense, guys shouldn’t stick out. It should be the opposite. You should be the anomaly if you’re not touching the ball, if you’re not finishing on the ball.
“I call it biting the football every play,” Sheppard said. “It shouldn’t be three guys sticking out because they’re finishing on the ball. So that kind of has been the mindset. …We need to turn into a pack of wild dogs. When people turn on our tape, they know, you better tuck the ball and you better get down if the defense is around you.”
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Early onset? IDK why I forgot abour this, guess it’s true it takes 21 days to build a new habit. Went back & tagged a half dozen articles.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
It's going to be so important for this season to have a fully healthy and rehabbed Hutch. I hope he's able to be 100%.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Correction, Terrion did practice today. Given how they couched it yesterday I’m guessing it was not a serious calf strain.
Practice observations later this afternoon - first day in pads. Also, nice feature I’ll post on Zach Cunningham. I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t even know he was on the roster lol.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Filling in for Anzalone, former NFL tackle leader Cunningham striving to put 'name back on the map'
Allen Park — Nearing a week into training camp, Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone remains sidelined. For how long is anyone’s guess.
Hamstrings can be tricky, in a nagging way. Anzalone reportedly tweaked his while going through his conditioning test when the team’s veterans reported last weekend. For what it's worth, things appear to be trending in a positive direction. The defensive captain was spotted going through a workout on the indoor field after Thursday’s practice.
Regardless, it’s uncertain whether gaining medical clearance will be enough. There’s still a lingering stalemate with Anzalone's contract. He wants an extension, while the team has been reluctant to this stage. Only he knows if he’ll practice without a new deal in place.
“I’m just taking this day-to-day right now,” he said earlier in the week. “I mean, we’ll see. I have no clue.”
In the meantime, the practice reps have to be filled. In a different timeline, they’d have gone to Malcolm Rodriguez. However, the fourth-year vet is still working his way back after tearing his ACL last November.
Detroit had other options, including holder Ezekiel Turner, who logged 111 defensive snaps in nine games as a midseason addition in 2024, or free-agent signing Grant Stuard, who started five games for the Indianapolis Colts last season, including a 19-tackle effort in the first of them.
But the Lions bypassed those players for a veteran they signed at the end of May. Hello, Zach Cunningham.
A former second-round pick, Cunningham was once one of the league’s rising stars at his position. Between his third and fourth seasons, he racked up more than 300 tackles, leading the league with 164 stops in 2020. That earned him a four-year, $58 million extension from the Houston Texans the following offseason, which included more than $23 million in guarantees.
But his stay at the top was a short one. In 2021, he was released by the Texans for multiple violations of team rules, including at least one issue related to mandatory COVID testing. He was scooped off waivers by the Titans, reuniting him with his former defensive coordinator in Houston, Mike Vrabel. Unfortunately, Cunningham missed most of next season with an elbow injury, again leading to his release.
In 2023, he bounced back. He appeared in 13 games, including 10 starts, racking up 85 tackles and breaking up four passes for the Eagles. Still, the stint didn’t last beyond the season. Most recently, Cunningham spent 2024 with the Denver Broncos, starting on the practice squad and logging just 15 defensive snaps in seven games.
He's proof of how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL, even for a top performer in their prime.
“Yeah, it's been a whirlwind,” Cunningham acknowledges.
Cunningham weighed his options this offseason, ultimately settling on trying to get things back on track in Detroit. Whatever cultural issues he had in Houston that ended his tenure with the franchise that drafted him aren’t something that concerns the Lions now. There’s little doubt that coach Dan Campbell checked in with mentor and friend Sean Payton, who coaches the Broncos, before bringing Cunningham aboard.
And to thrust Cunningham into Anzalone’s spot in the starting lineup to open camp demonstrates how quickly the newcomer has gained the coaching staff's trust in his new surroundings.
“He’s a very good athlete,” Campbell said. “He’s a pretty instinctive, smart guy. He’s fluid,” Campbell continued. “Man, sometimes it’s effortless. He’s a fluid mover. We do so much stuff in the pass game, because it’s really all you can do in the spring, but some of his cover skills, cover ability, watching him match (up), a couple of routes he had on (tight end Sam) LaPorta that he did a pretty good job of in the spring.
“So there’s an element that he brings, an athletic element that we like,” Campbell said. “We’re intrigued. We’re intrigued, and he knows this is a great opportunity for him, so we’ll see.”
Cunningham has also quickly made a good impression with his new teammates, as well.
"He's a locker room guy, loves to teach, also loves to learn,” Derrick Barnes said. “(He) even asks me questions. I know the defense can get complex sometimes. The guy loves football, and that's all we care about here."
For his part, Cunningham is taking it a day at a time. He probably couldn’t have imagined this would be the path his career would have taken him five years ago, but he’s not angry at the way things played out. On the contrary, he feels blessed he still has the opportunity to play the game he loves.
“I thank God I still have the ability to strive, keep working and get better. That's what I'm focused on.”
But it’s more than that. On the first day of camp, Cunningham diagnosed a play-action snap and smothered running back David Montgomery in the flat. It was an example of that effortless fluidity Campbell mentioned. Obviously, you don’t rack up those kinds of tackle numbers in the NFL without it.
Cunningham wants to prove that guy still exists.
“I'm here to work,” he said. “I'm here to strive to put my name back on the map, to show I'm still here and I still got it. And I want to help this team, help this team win. They have a great program here, and I just want to add on to that.”
Hamstrings can be tricky, in a nagging way. Anzalone reportedly tweaked his while going through his conditioning test when the team’s veterans reported last weekend. For what it's worth, things appear to be trending in a positive direction. The defensive captain was spotted going through a workout on the indoor field after Thursday’s practice.
Regardless, it’s uncertain whether gaining medical clearance will be enough. There’s still a lingering stalemate with Anzalone's contract. He wants an extension, while the team has been reluctant to this stage. Only he knows if he’ll practice without a new deal in place.
“I’m just taking this day-to-day right now,” he said earlier in the week. “I mean, we’ll see. I have no clue.”
In the meantime, the practice reps have to be filled. In a different timeline, they’d have gone to Malcolm Rodriguez. However, the fourth-year vet is still working his way back after tearing his ACL last November.
Detroit had other options, including holder Ezekiel Turner, who logged 111 defensive snaps in nine games as a midseason addition in 2024, or free-agent signing Grant Stuard, who started five games for the Indianapolis Colts last season, including a 19-tackle effort in the first of them.
But the Lions bypassed those players for a veteran they signed at the end of May. Hello, Zach Cunningham.
A former second-round pick, Cunningham was once one of the league’s rising stars at his position. Between his third and fourth seasons, he racked up more than 300 tackles, leading the league with 164 stops in 2020. That earned him a four-year, $58 million extension from the Houston Texans the following offseason, which included more than $23 million in guarantees.
But his stay at the top was a short one. In 2021, he was released by the Texans for multiple violations of team rules, including at least one issue related to mandatory COVID testing. He was scooped off waivers by the Titans, reuniting him with his former defensive coordinator in Houston, Mike Vrabel. Unfortunately, Cunningham missed most of next season with an elbow injury, again leading to his release.
In 2023, he bounced back. He appeared in 13 games, including 10 starts, racking up 85 tackles and breaking up four passes for the Eagles. Still, the stint didn’t last beyond the season. Most recently, Cunningham spent 2024 with the Denver Broncos, starting on the practice squad and logging just 15 defensive snaps in seven games.
He's proof of how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL, even for a top performer in their prime.
“Yeah, it's been a whirlwind,” Cunningham acknowledges.
Cunningham weighed his options this offseason, ultimately settling on trying to get things back on track in Detroit. Whatever cultural issues he had in Houston that ended his tenure with the franchise that drafted him aren’t something that concerns the Lions now. There’s little doubt that coach Dan Campbell checked in with mentor and friend Sean Payton, who coaches the Broncos, before bringing Cunningham aboard.
And to thrust Cunningham into Anzalone’s spot in the starting lineup to open camp demonstrates how quickly the newcomer has gained the coaching staff's trust in his new surroundings.
“He’s a very good athlete,” Campbell said. “He’s a pretty instinctive, smart guy. He’s fluid,” Campbell continued. “Man, sometimes it’s effortless. He’s a fluid mover. We do so much stuff in the pass game, because it’s really all you can do in the spring, but some of his cover skills, cover ability, watching him match (up), a couple of routes he had on (tight end Sam) LaPorta that he did a pretty good job of in the spring.
“So there’s an element that he brings, an athletic element that we like,” Campbell said. “We’re intrigued. We’re intrigued, and he knows this is a great opportunity for him, so we’ll see.”
Cunningham has also quickly made a good impression with his new teammates, as well.
"He's a locker room guy, loves to teach, also loves to learn,” Derrick Barnes said. “(He) even asks me questions. I know the defense can get complex sometimes. The guy loves football, and that's all we care about here."
For his part, Cunningham is taking it a day at a time. He probably couldn’t have imagined this would be the path his career would have taken him five years ago, but he’s not angry at the way things played out. On the contrary, he feels blessed he still has the opportunity to play the game he loves.
“I thank God I still have the ability to strive, keep working and get better. That's what I'm focused on.”
But it’s more than that. On the first day of camp, Cunningham diagnosed a play-action snap and smothered running back David Montgomery in the flat. It was an example of that effortless fluidity Campbell mentioned. Obviously, you don’t rack up those kinds of tackle numbers in the NFL without it.
Cunningham wants to prove that guy still exists.
“I'm here to work,” he said. “I'm here to strive to put my name back on the map, to show I'm still here and I still got it. And I want to help this team, help this team win. They have a great program here, and I just want to add on to that.”
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I really liked him coming out of college and was a guy on my radar for the Lions. He was a solid starter for a few years but it sure seems like his best football is well behind him but he's a great backup to have. He has a ton of experience.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Looking good so far
Campbell always says we don’t really know anything about where the guys are at until they go full contact….
Lions camp observations: Hutchinson extinguishing lingering doubts during first padded practice
Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from the Detroit Lions’ Friday morning training camp practice.
● Let’s start with some positive news on the injury front. Cornerback Terrion Arnold and linebacker Derrick Barnes both returned to practice after exiting early the previous day.
Arnold limped off with what NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported was a calf strain. However, the second-year cornerback wasn’t wearing so much as a compression sleeve on Friday.
As for Barnes, he jammed a finger and was wearing some extra tape over the glove on his left hand. He could be seen fidgeting with it a few times after snaps, but otherwise, it didn’t seem to be restrictive.
In terms of players who weren’t out there, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and safety Ian Kennely were new absences. Meanwhile, cornerback Ennis Rakestraw (chest), linebacker Alex Anzalone (hamstring) and defensive end Al-Quadian Muhammad continue to be temporarily shelved.
● The team got started with the hitting early in its first padded practice, pitting the linebackers and defensive backs against the skill position in a tackling drill.
In the initial stages, the offense absolutely dominated, with Jameson Williams opening the action by zooming around cornerback Terrion Arnold.
Eventually, the defense settled down, sparked by Amik Robertson burying rookie receiver Dominic Lovett in the dirt. Robertson somehow baited Lovett into a premature hurdle attempt before pouncing, wrapping up the ball carrier and driving them into the ground.
Arnold bounced back after Robertson's play, authoritatively dropping Williams on a second rep between the pair. Also splitting their two reps were running back David Montgomery and linebacker Jack Campbell.
A couple of offensive standouts from the drill were tight end Sam LaPorta and receiver Tom Kennedy. LaPorta made easy work of defensive backs Brian Branch and Avonte Maddox, using a stiff arm to fend off Branch. The third-year tight end is an incredibly smooth mover in tight spaces.
The most jaw-dropping rep belonged to rookie Isaac TeSlaa. Safety Morice Norris delivered a pad-popping shot, but TeSlaa was somehow able to absorb the blow and impressively plow through the defender.
Defensively, Campbell’s second rep against Montgomery was a textbook tackle with the level of punishment you would expect the 6-foot-5, 246-pounder to deliver. Grant Stuard also had a nice stop, latching on and dragging down Kenny Yeboah, despite giving up five inches and 25 pounds to the tight end in the matchup.
● Transitioning to one-on-one pass rush drills between the offensive and defensive lines, if anyone is worried about Aidan Hutchinson being all the way back from last year’s broken leg, this practice segment might have been enough to wash away lingering concern.
On the first rep of the drill, working against All-Pro Penei Sewell, Hutchinson uncorked his trademark spin move to great effect. Then, working against Dan Skipper on the opposite side, Hutchinson utilized a swim move to the inside that left the veteran offensive tackle in the dust.
In other notable reps from the drill, Pat O’Connor kickstarted a strong day with a win against rookie Tate Ratledge, Christian Mahogany stonewalled defensive tackle Chris Smith twice, Giovanni Manu showed good balance and handwork to stymie edge rusher Isaac Ukwu, and defensive tackle Myles Adams recovered from an earlier loss to Kayode Awosika with an impressive spin move to get by Kingsley Eguakun.
● The receivers and defensive backs were going one-on-one at the same time as the trench players, so I only picked up a few sporadic reps from those battles, even though many were happening right in front of where I was standing along the sideline.
I enjoyed a rep between Arnold and Williams, more for the post-play banter. Williams got a step down the sideline, but couldn’t hang on to the throw over his shoulder. Arnold celebrated the incompletion, while Williams kept telling the cornerback to calm down because he had lost the rep. Arnold countered that even if Williams hadn’t dropped the pass, he would have finished out of bounds. The two sounded like bickering kids in the school yard. At the end of the day, all of this is an extension of that.
One other rep that caught my eye was TeSlaa hauling in a deep ball over Maddox. Another reporter labeled near me it a "Mossing."
● Highlighting the lofty standards of receivers coach Scottie Montgomery, he had his position group go through a drill that worked on their releases with three stations, increasing from one to three rapid steps before firing forward from a stationary position. Whenever a receiver wasn’t perfect with their execution, Montgomery would send them back to the starting point to do the drill again.
● With Tyleik Williams sidelined, the Lions rotated a few options through his spot as the first-team defensive tackle next to DJ Reader. Chris Smith got most of the work, but undrafted rookie Keith Cooper continues to get tastes with the top defensive grouping.
● 11-on-11 work, at least early, was focused on the ground game. Knowing it’s coming puts the defense at an advantage. Still, it was impressive how effectively the second-level group was getting to the ball carrier. The standouts were Zach Cunningham and Brian Branch.
The veteran linebacker, filling in for Anzalone, routinely found himself in the backfield, disrupting the play at or near the line of scrimmage multiple times. He certainly looked like a guy who previously led the NFL in tackles.
Cunningham also had a quarterback pressure later in practice, coming through the A gap cleanly on a blitz to force a throwaway.
As for Branch, it’s kind of what we’ve come to expect. He has an advanced understanding of angles, paired with elite anticipation, allowing him to regularly beat the blocker to their landmark.
Notably, in large part because of the interest he’ll generate all camp, rookie Ahmed Hassanein blew up one play for a TFL. At the snap, he drove a tight end attached to the left tackle back 2-3 yards into the backfield before shedding them to make the stop.
● Jameson Williams is the king of over-the-top celebrations. His go-to is launching the ball 20-40 yards downfield after making any type of catch. It happens so often that you barely even notice. Except today, when Kerby Joseph dropped back and pretended to field one of Jamo’s celebratory bombs like a punt, even simulating making the first man miss after snagging the ball.
● Another day, another sack for Marcus Davenport. A blitz by Branch caused some chaos that allowed Davenport to shake his block and get home on Goff.
● In one-on-one punt blocking, rookie receiver Jackson Meeks continues to showcase his effectiveness with those groups, excelling as both a blocker and a block-beater.
Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin had a couple of nice reps, as well, effectively working in tandem with Maddox on a well-executed jam of the gunner, before splitting two jammers to tag the tackling dummy as a gunner.
Amik Roberston wasn’t given a helper when he was asked to jam Lovett, who blew by the veteran corner for the easy win down the sideline.
The best rep belonged to former Ferris State receiver Malik Taylor, who swatted away the hands of cornerback Stantley Thomas Oliver on an attempted jam before getting into the chest of the blocker and putting him into the ground.
● Joseph was shaken up toward the end of practice. He was briefly checked on by the trainer, but remained on the sideline to finish the day. The first-team defense didn’t take another snap after the injury occurred, so it’s unclear whether Joseph would have returned to action.
● Let’s start with some positive news on the injury front. Cornerback Terrion Arnold and linebacker Derrick Barnes both returned to practice after exiting early the previous day.
Arnold limped off with what NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported was a calf strain. However, the second-year cornerback wasn’t wearing so much as a compression sleeve on Friday.
As for Barnes, he jammed a finger and was wearing some extra tape over the glove on his left hand. He could be seen fidgeting with it a few times after snaps, but otherwise, it didn’t seem to be restrictive.
In terms of players who weren’t out there, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and safety Ian Kennely were new absences. Meanwhile, cornerback Ennis Rakestraw (chest), linebacker Alex Anzalone (hamstring) and defensive end Al-Quadian Muhammad continue to be temporarily shelved.
● The team got started with the hitting early in its first padded practice, pitting the linebackers and defensive backs against the skill position in a tackling drill.
In the initial stages, the offense absolutely dominated, with Jameson Williams opening the action by zooming around cornerback Terrion Arnold.
Eventually, the defense settled down, sparked by Amik Robertson burying rookie receiver Dominic Lovett in the dirt. Robertson somehow baited Lovett into a premature hurdle attempt before pouncing, wrapping up the ball carrier and driving them into the ground.
Arnold bounced back after Robertson's play, authoritatively dropping Williams on a second rep between the pair. Also splitting their two reps were running back David Montgomery and linebacker Jack Campbell.
A couple of offensive standouts from the drill were tight end Sam LaPorta and receiver Tom Kennedy. LaPorta made easy work of defensive backs Brian Branch and Avonte Maddox, using a stiff arm to fend off Branch. The third-year tight end is an incredibly smooth mover in tight spaces.
The most jaw-dropping rep belonged to rookie Isaac TeSlaa. Safety Morice Norris delivered a pad-popping shot, but TeSlaa was somehow able to absorb the blow and impressively plow through the defender.
Defensively, Campbell’s second rep against Montgomery was a textbook tackle with the level of punishment you would expect the 6-foot-5, 246-pounder to deliver. Grant Stuard also had a nice stop, latching on and dragging down Kenny Yeboah, despite giving up five inches and 25 pounds to the tight end in the matchup.
● Transitioning to one-on-one pass rush drills between the offensive and defensive lines, if anyone is worried about Aidan Hutchinson being all the way back from last year’s broken leg, this practice segment might have been enough to wash away lingering concern.
On the first rep of the drill, working against All-Pro Penei Sewell, Hutchinson uncorked his trademark spin move to great effect. Then, working against Dan Skipper on the opposite side, Hutchinson utilized a swim move to the inside that left the veteran offensive tackle in the dust.
In other notable reps from the drill, Pat O’Connor kickstarted a strong day with a win against rookie Tate Ratledge, Christian Mahogany stonewalled defensive tackle Chris Smith twice, Giovanni Manu showed good balance and handwork to stymie edge rusher Isaac Ukwu, and defensive tackle Myles Adams recovered from an earlier loss to Kayode Awosika with an impressive spin move to get by Kingsley Eguakun.
● The receivers and defensive backs were going one-on-one at the same time as the trench players, so I only picked up a few sporadic reps from those battles, even though many were happening right in front of where I was standing along the sideline.
I enjoyed a rep between Arnold and Williams, more for the post-play banter. Williams got a step down the sideline, but couldn’t hang on to the throw over his shoulder. Arnold celebrated the incompletion, while Williams kept telling the cornerback to calm down because he had lost the rep. Arnold countered that even if Williams hadn’t dropped the pass, he would have finished out of bounds. The two sounded like bickering kids in the school yard. At the end of the day, all of this is an extension of that.
One other rep that caught my eye was TeSlaa hauling in a deep ball over Maddox. Another reporter labeled near me it a "Mossing."
● Highlighting the lofty standards of receivers coach Scottie Montgomery, he had his position group go through a drill that worked on their releases with three stations, increasing from one to three rapid steps before firing forward from a stationary position. Whenever a receiver wasn’t perfect with their execution, Montgomery would send them back to the starting point to do the drill again.
● With Tyleik Williams sidelined, the Lions rotated a few options through his spot as the first-team defensive tackle next to DJ Reader. Chris Smith got most of the work, but undrafted rookie Keith Cooper continues to get tastes with the top defensive grouping.
● 11-on-11 work, at least early, was focused on the ground game. Knowing it’s coming puts the defense at an advantage. Still, it was impressive how effectively the second-level group was getting to the ball carrier. The standouts were Zach Cunningham and Brian Branch.
The veteran linebacker, filling in for Anzalone, routinely found himself in the backfield, disrupting the play at or near the line of scrimmage multiple times. He certainly looked like a guy who previously led the NFL in tackles.
Cunningham also had a quarterback pressure later in practice, coming through the A gap cleanly on a blitz to force a throwaway.
As for Branch, it’s kind of what we’ve come to expect. He has an advanced understanding of angles, paired with elite anticipation, allowing him to regularly beat the blocker to their landmark.
Notably, in large part because of the interest he’ll generate all camp, rookie Ahmed Hassanein blew up one play for a TFL. At the snap, he drove a tight end attached to the left tackle back 2-3 yards into the backfield before shedding them to make the stop.
● Jameson Williams is the king of over-the-top celebrations. His go-to is launching the ball 20-40 yards downfield after making any type of catch. It happens so often that you barely even notice. Except today, when Kerby Joseph dropped back and pretended to field one of Jamo’s celebratory bombs like a punt, even simulating making the first man miss after snagging the ball.
● Another day, another sack for Marcus Davenport. A blitz by Branch caused some chaos that allowed Davenport to shake his block and get home on Goff.
● In one-on-one punt blocking, rookie receiver Jackson Meeks continues to showcase his effectiveness with those groups, excelling as both a blocker and a block-beater.
Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin had a couple of nice reps, as well, effectively working in tandem with Maddox on a well-executed jam of the gunner, before splitting two jammers to tag the tackling dummy as a gunner.
Amik Roberston wasn’t given a helper when he was asked to jam Lovett, who blew by the veteran corner for the easy win down the sideline.
The best rep belonged to former Ferris State receiver Malik Taylor, who swatted away the hands of cornerback Stantley Thomas Oliver on an attempted jam before getting into the chest of the blocker and putting him into the ground.
● Joseph was shaken up toward the end of practice. He was briefly checked on by the trainer, but remained on the sideline to finish the day. The first-team defense didn’t take another snap after the injury occurred, so it’s unclear whether Joseph would have returned to action.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Good thing to keep in mind every time you hear that so-and-so was “carted off” with an injury during practice. Means something completely different in the preseason
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Locals here reported it's feared Justin Fields suffered a season ending lower leg injury as he was carted off the field in practice today
He was out there jumping around the next day
(dislocated toe, which I'm sure hurts, but he'll be fine)
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
In perpetual survival mode, Pat O'Connor always looking for new ways to help the Lions
Allen Park — Defensive lineman Pat O’Connor wears plenty of hats for the Detroit Lions. Still, he likes to let coach Dan Campbell know there’s untapped potential in his 6-foot-4, 300-pound frame.
“As he’s running by me yesterday, he wanted to make sure I knew he could play blocking tight end,” Campbell said.
It’s a bit, but one rooted in purpose. A seventh-round draft pick for the Lions out of Eastern Michigan in 2017, O’Connor thought his career might be over when he was cut after his first training camp.
“I was like, damn, I didn't even get a chance,” he said.
Eight years later, he’s entering his ninth season. Regardless, he’s never gotten comfortable. He’s been in perpetual survival mode, scrapping to ensure he still has a job. And when you’re hovering around the bottom of the 53-man roster, one of the best ways to accomplish that is by being versatile.
Could O’Connor play blocking tight end? Who knows, but you can be damn certain he would put everything into figuring it out if Campbell asked him to do it.
Landing back in Detroit last year after seven seasons with Tampa Bay, O’Connor started the campaign on the practice squad. But as attrition decimated Detroit’s depth chart, he earned an early-season promotion. He ended up appearing in 12 games and logging 236 defensive snaps, nearly doubling his career total. He also showcased unconventional versatility, carving out a special teams role that included more than 100 snaps on kickoff and kickoff coverage.
Frankly, there aren’t many 300-pounders around the league working with those groups.
O'Connor was at the forefront of the defensive reinforcements the Lions required last season, a group that was affectionately known as the "Northern Savages." His contributions earned him another contract with the Lions this offseason, a one-year offer that includes $300,000 in guarantees. It’s not enough to declare him a roster lock, but it at least suggests the team expected him to earn a job and have a role in 2025.
Not that O’Connor would ever allow himself to feel anything resembling security.
“I never think of that, no,” he said. “My dad always tells me, you start as this totem pole and you're all the way at the bottom. I don't want to think of that, ever want to put that in the back of my head, because if you think you've made the team — I've been in positions where I damn near led the preseason in sacks and still got cut. You always want to think about the worst-case scenario, you know? I would love to be a lock, but I never think of that.
“I've just been around so long,” O’Connor continued. “You see people thinking that, that they don't have to do too much more, too little, and then you get cut. I never want to be that guy. I always want to be all feet down running at the wall rather than jogging through, getting cut. If I gave it my all and I get cut, I'm cool. But if I'm bullshitting, doing the bare minimum and get cut, that's a problem. I'd rather get cut full force.”
He might want to block out the suggestion, but it’s difficult to argue that O’Connor isn’t more important to the Lions now than he was three months ago. The team was already preparing to begin the season without Alim McNeill, who is still working his way back from last year's torn ACL. More recently, the team has lost Levi Onwuzurike for the season, while Josh Paschal and Mekhi Wingo are also on the shelf with injuries that could carry into the start of the season.
The Lions need interior depth. They need O’Connor’s versatility. And they could use the pass-rush potential the veteran defender flashed last season. Probably not coincidentally, that's been a focal point of O'Connor's offseason preparation, and has been showing up in camp. That includes a would-be sack late in the team’s first padded practice Friday afternoon.
“I always thought of myself as a very good or decently to good run stopper,” O’Connor said. “But obviously you don't wanna be one-dimensional. Like I always say, the more you can do, the more you play. So the point of emphasis this year was to kind of focus on pass rush, get off blocks more, convert on the run to pass, heavy play-action. And then, just watch (Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch. Watch him and (Marcus) Davenport practice how they do it, and just kind of dissect what they do and try to formulate it.”
O’Connor, who turns 32 in November, loves playing in Detroit, specifically for Campbell. The coach clearly has an affinity for the player, as well.
Furthering O'Connor's comfort level is the unique opportunity he gets to play for his former defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, who came to Detroit from Tampa this offseason.
"It's great," O'Connor said. "I know how he coaches. I know what he wants, so he doesn't have to ask me for much. I know when I mess up. I don't need to go up and ask him what's going on. He knows I know. So it's good, being on the same wavelength, to be able to do whatever he tells me. Play nose, play d tackle, play end, play rush, play whatever he wants me to do. He knows I can do it, and hopefully, he can keep trusting me to do it throughout the season."
“As he’s running by me yesterday, he wanted to make sure I knew he could play blocking tight end,” Campbell said.
It’s a bit, but one rooted in purpose. A seventh-round draft pick for the Lions out of Eastern Michigan in 2017, O’Connor thought his career might be over when he was cut after his first training camp.
“I was like, damn, I didn't even get a chance,” he said.
Eight years later, he’s entering his ninth season. Regardless, he’s never gotten comfortable. He’s been in perpetual survival mode, scrapping to ensure he still has a job. And when you’re hovering around the bottom of the 53-man roster, one of the best ways to accomplish that is by being versatile.
Could O’Connor play blocking tight end? Who knows, but you can be damn certain he would put everything into figuring it out if Campbell asked him to do it.
Landing back in Detroit last year after seven seasons with Tampa Bay, O’Connor started the campaign on the practice squad. But as attrition decimated Detroit’s depth chart, he earned an early-season promotion. He ended up appearing in 12 games and logging 236 defensive snaps, nearly doubling his career total. He also showcased unconventional versatility, carving out a special teams role that included more than 100 snaps on kickoff and kickoff coverage.
Frankly, there aren’t many 300-pounders around the league working with those groups.
O'Connor was at the forefront of the defensive reinforcements the Lions required last season, a group that was affectionately known as the "Northern Savages." His contributions earned him another contract with the Lions this offseason, a one-year offer that includes $300,000 in guarantees. It’s not enough to declare him a roster lock, but it at least suggests the team expected him to earn a job and have a role in 2025.
Not that O’Connor would ever allow himself to feel anything resembling security.
“I never think of that, no,” he said. “My dad always tells me, you start as this totem pole and you're all the way at the bottom. I don't want to think of that, ever want to put that in the back of my head, because if you think you've made the team — I've been in positions where I damn near led the preseason in sacks and still got cut. You always want to think about the worst-case scenario, you know? I would love to be a lock, but I never think of that.
“I've just been around so long,” O’Connor continued. “You see people thinking that, that they don't have to do too much more, too little, and then you get cut. I never want to be that guy. I always want to be all feet down running at the wall rather than jogging through, getting cut. If I gave it my all and I get cut, I'm cool. But if I'm bullshitting, doing the bare minimum and get cut, that's a problem. I'd rather get cut full force.”
He might want to block out the suggestion, but it’s difficult to argue that O’Connor isn’t more important to the Lions now than he was three months ago. The team was already preparing to begin the season without Alim McNeill, who is still working his way back from last year's torn ACL. More recently, the team has lost Levi Onwuzurike for the season, while Josh Paschal and Mekhi Wingo are also on the shelf with injuries that could carry into the start of the season.
The Lions need interior depth. They need O’Connor’s versatility. And they could use the pass-rush potential the veteran defender flashed last season. Probably not coincidentally, that's been a focal point of O'Connor's offseason preparation, and has been showing up in camp. That includes a would-be sack late in the team’s first padded practice Friday afternoon.
“I always thought of myself as a very good or decently to good run stopper,” O’Connor said. “But obviously you don't wanna be one-dimensional. Like I always say, the more you can do, the more you play. So the point of emphasis this year was to kind of focus on pass rush, get off blocks more, convert on the run to pass, heavy play-action. And then, just watch (Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch. Watch him and (Marcus) Davenport practice how they do it, and just kind of dissect what they do and try to formulate it.”
O’Connor, who turns 32 in November, loves playing in Detroit, specifically for Campbell. The coach clearly has an affinity for the player, as well.
Furthering O'Connor's comfort level is the unique opportunity he gets to play for his former defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, who came to Detroit from Tampa this offseason.
"It's great," O'Connor said. "I know how he coaches. I know what he wants, so he doesn't have to ask me for much. I know when I mess up. I don't need to go up and ask him what's going on. He knows I know. So it's good, being on the same wavelength, to be able to do whatever he tells me. Play nose, play d tackle, play end, play rush, play whatever he wants me to do. He knows I can do it, and hopefully, he can keep trusting me to do it throughout the season."
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
1 v 1s from today
- Hutch beating Penei
- Davenport v Skipper
- Teslaa climbs the ladder on Maddox
- St Brown torching Branch
- Robertson press man, int v Kalif Raymond
- Ronnie Bell v Brady Breeze
- Issac T with a toe tapper v off coverage Bootle
