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2025 Detroit Lions: 4-1 Lions win battle of the big cats. (24 Viewers)
- Thread starter Da Guru
- Start date
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
I think they might try to cancel all bets on this game because of the way it ended. But you did make a good call.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Campbell says Maurice Norris is breathing and has some movement. His mother is in the hospital with him.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Rapid Rewind: Lions' preseason game in Atlanta halted after safety Norris taken off via ambulance
Suddenly, the game no longer mattered.
Despite dozens of players for both the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons battling for their livelihoods Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, everything came to a standstill when Lions safety Morice Norris’ body went limp after his head and neck snapped back while making a tackle early in the fourth quarter.
The game was halted for more than a dozen minutes as Norris’ neck was stabilized, he was loaded onto a stretcher and then into an ambulance.
Norris was taken to a local hospital for further testing. Coach Dan Campbell offered what little information he could in the postgame press conference.
“He's breathing, he's talking,” Campbell said. “That's good. He's got some movement. Now, they're running more tests.”
In a surreal moment, when play resumed, the Falcons snapped the ball and allowed more than seven minutes to run off the clock as players on both sides prayed before the officiating crew announced the game was being suspended with 6:19 remaining.
“(Falcons coach) Raheem Morris is a class act,” Campbell said. “He's the ultimate class act. We agreed that it just didn't feel right to finish that game. That man is a class act, always has been.”
Campbell asked for prayers for Norris multiple times during the three-minute session. He noted members of the team's staff, potentially even some teammates, would stay in Atlanta to support the second-year defender. Additionally, the injured player’s mother was in town for the game, so she was able to be with her son at the hospital.
For what little it’s worth, the contest ended with the Lions holding a 17-10 lead, thanks to a pair of Kyle Allen touchdown tosses.
Offense: Hendon Hooker, Craig Reynolds, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Isaac TeSlaa, Shane Zylstra, Giovani Manu, Kayode Awosika, Trystan Colon, Tate Ratledge, Mason Miller
● 8:25 — Taking over in Lions territory after recovering a fumble, the Falcons shot themselves in the foot with a holding call, leaving the home team to settle for a 57-yard field goal off the foot of Lenny Craig. FALCONS 3, LIONS 0
Second quarter
● 2:23 — Replacing Hooker earlier than expected, Allen flourished during his first possession at quarterback. Overcoming a holding infraction, the veteran quarterback hit Meeks on a deep shot down the middle for 68 yards. Three plays later, facing third-and-2 from Atlanta’s 11-yard line, Allen dropped a pretty slot fade into the waiting arms of TeSlaa for the go-ahead score. LIONS 7. FALCONS 3
● 0:34 — The Falcons put together an impressive two-minute drive with quarterback Easton Stick completing all six of his throws for 70 yards, capping the series with a 13-yard scoring toss to receiver Chris Blair, besting the coverage of Erick Hallet. FALCONS 10, LIONS 7
Third quarter
● 11:48 — Allen leads the Lions to more points with a third-down conversion that had a roughing-the-passer penalty tacked on to Ronnie Bell’s 14-yard catch. The drive stalled when Allen overthrew Malik Taylor on a deep shot, but Jake Bates came through with a 57-yard field goal to knot things up. LIONS 10, FALCONS 10
0:42 — Taking over at their own 43 after the Falcons missed a field goal, the Lions marched 57 yards on 11 plays to retake the lead. Running back Jacob Saylors was the focal point during the series. He touched the ball on each of the first five snaps, gaining 25 yards with four carries and another 8 yards via a screen pass.
A fourth-down conversion by Saylors deep in the red zone set up a 1-yard touchdown toss from Allen to Meeks. LIONS 17, FALCONS 10
● 9:46, second quarter — After leading the Lions into the red zone with a fourth-down conversion, Hooker lost a second fumble when he was stripped in the pocket by defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, who blew past Miller, the right tackle.
● Saylors paced the Lions with 35 yards on nine carries. Reynolds, the starter, chipped in 15 yards on six carries. He briefly exited the game to be evaluated for injury after getting blown up on a wheel route. A flag was thrown for unnecessary roughness on the play.
● Fueled by his 68-yard catch, Meeks led the Lions with 78 yards on three receptions. Five others caught at least two passes.
● Muhammad and Nate Lynn recorded Detroit’s two sacks.
● Colon, who got the start at center, exited with an arm injury in the second quarter after taking a big hit from a stunting Falcons defensive lineman.
Despite dozens of players for both the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons battling for their livelihoods Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, everything came to a standstill when Lions safety Morice Norris’ body went limp after his head and neck snapped back while making a tackle early in the fourth quarter.
The game was halted for more than a dozen minutes as Norris’ neck was stabilized, he was loaded onto a stretcher and then into an ambulance.
Norris was taken to a local hospital for further testing. Coach Dan Campbell offered what little information he could in the postgame press conference.
“He's breathing, he's talking,” Campbell said. “That's good. He's got some movement. Now, they're running more tests.”
In a surreal moment, when play resumed, the Falcons snapped the ball and allowed more than seven minutes to run off the clock as players on both sides prayed before the officiating crew announced the game was being suspended with 6:19 remaining.
“(Falcons coach) Raheem Morris is a class act,” Campbell said. “He's the ultimate class act. We agreed that it just didn't feel right to finish that game. That man is a class act, always has been.”
Campbell asked for prayers for Norris multiple times during the three-minute session. He noted members of the team's staff, potentially even some teammates, would stay in Atlanta to support the second-year defender. Additionally, the injured player’s mother was in town for the game, so she was able to be with her son at the hospital.
For what little it’s worth, the contest ended with the Lions holding a 17-10 lead, thanks to a pair of Kyle Allen touchdown tosses.
Starters
Defense: Al-Quadian Muhammad, Chris Smith, Tyleik Williams, Keith Cooper, Trevor Nowaski, Zach Cunningham, Grant Stuard, Dicaprio Bootle, Rock Ya-Sin (at safety), Ian Kennelly, Erick HallettOffense: Hendon Hooker, Craig Reynolds, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Isaac TeSlaa, Shane Zylstra, Giovani Manu, Kayode Awosika, Trystan Colon, Tate Ratledge, Mason Miller
Game ball
Allen came off the bench to relieve Hooker in the second quarter, stating a strong case for Detroit’s backup quarterback job by completing 7-of-8 for 120 yards and two touchdowns.Scoring summary
First quarter● 8:25 — Taking over in Lions territory after recovering a fumble, the Falcons shot themselves in the foot with a holding call, leaving the home team to settle for a 57-yard field goal off the foot of Lenny Craig. FALCONS 3, LIONS 0
Second quarter
● 2:23 — Replacing Hooker earlier than expected, Allen flourished during his first possession at quarterback. Overcoming a holding infraction, the veteran quarterback hit Meeks on a deep shot down the middle for 68 yards. Three plays later, facing third-and-2 from Atlanta’s 11-yard line, Allen dropped a pretty slot fade into the waiting arms of TeSlaa for the go-ahead score. LIONS 7. FALCONS 3
● 0:34 — The Falcons put together an impressive two-minute drive with quarterback Easton Stick completing all six of his throws for 70 yards, capping the series with a 13-yard scoring toss to receiver Chris Blair, besting the coverage of Erick Hallet. FALCONS 10, LIONS 7
Third quarter
● 11:48 — Allen leads the Lions to more points with a third-down conversion that had a roughing-the-passer penalty tacked on to Ronnie Bell’s 14-yard catch. The drive stalled when Allen overthrew Malik Taylor on a deep shot, but Jake Bates came through with a 57-yard field goal to knot things up. LIONS 10, FALCONS 10
0:42 — Taking over at their own 43 after the Falcons missed a field goal, the Lions marched 57 yards on 11 plays to retake the lead. Running back Jacob Saylors was the focal point during the series. He touched the ball on each of the first five snaps, gaining 25 yards with four carries and another 8 yards via a screen pass.
A fourth-down conversion by Saylors deep in the red zone set up a 1-yard touchdown toss from Allen to Meeks. LIONS 17, FALCONS 10
Turnovers
● 11:03, first quarter — Feeling pressure prematurely on a third-down snap, Hooker attempted to scramble up the middle and had the ball knocked free by former Lions linebacker Josh Woods. The fumble was recovered by cornerback Dee Alford.● 9:46, second quarter — After leading the Lions into the red zone with a fourth-down conversion, Hooker lost a second fumble when he was stripped in the pocket by defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, who blew past Miller, the right tackle.
Key stats
● Hooker completed 7-of-10 throws for 38 yards, without a touchdown or an interception. He also ran for 27 yards on three scrambles, but his night was marred by the two lost fumbles.● Saylors paced the Lions with 35 yards on nine carries. Reynolds, the starter, chipped in 15 yards on six carries. He briefly exited the game to be evaluated for injury after getting blown up on a wheel route. A flag was thrown for unnecessary roughness on the play.
● Fueled by his 68-yard catch, Meeks led the Lions with 78 yards on three receptions. Five others caught at least two passes.
● Muhammad and Nate Lynn recorded Detroit’s two sacks.
Other injuries
● Detroit’s offensive tackle depth took another hit during pre-game warmups when Justin Herron was taken to the locker room with his right arm in an air cast.● Colon, who got the start at center, exited with an arm injury in the second quarter after taking a big hit from a stunting Falcons defensive lineman.
Next game
The Lions return home to continue the preseason against the Miami Dolphins. The teams will meet at Ford Field next Saturday at 1 p.m. after conducting a pair of joint practices at the Lions’ practice facility in Allen Park on Wednesday and Thursday.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Stock report: Lions QBs head in opposite directions, while a UDFA WR and two UFL transplants among those who popped
Here are 18 players or things trending up, down and staying level coming out of the Detroit Lions’ preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, which was suspended in the fourth quarter with the Lions ahead 17-10.
Entering the game with a little more than five minutes remaining in the second quarter, Allen immediately went to work with a five-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that featured a 68-yard deep shot and a pretty 11-yard touchdown toss.
Allen helped the offense net points on three of four series, with the exception coming at the end of the first half, when the Lions took possession at their 17-yard line with 30 seconds remaining.
On the night, Allen finished 7-of-8 for 120 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. That puts the pressure on the other contender for the job, especially after he stumbled as the starter in this contest.
However, any positive progress was washed away by an inability to take care of the football. Hooker lost a fumble on Detroit’s opening possession, made worse by the fact that he bailed from his pocket prematurely. Yes, there was a facemask grab that was missed, but that doesn’t excuse putting the ball on the ground.
Maybe you could live with a single turnover, but Hooker coughed it up a second time after leading the Lions into the red zone. This one popped free after his offensive tackle was beaten around the outside.
After the second giveaway, Hooker got an early hook in favor of Allen.
Meeks caught his next target for a first down, then hauled in a 68-yard bomb from Allen to set up Detroit’s first touchdown. On that fade route to Isaac TeSlaa, Meeks set a pick to help his teammate get separation.
Meeks would be the recipient of Detroit’s second touchdown, a 1-yard toss from Allen. And on top of it all, Meeks was active, effective and occasionally dominant as a run blocker.
That’s how you interview for a job. In Meeks’ case, he might be interviewing for 32 of them if the Lions can’t find room on their 53-man roster.
Against the Falcons, Hallett drew the start on the outside. He was frequently targeted in the contest, giving up five receptions, including a 13-yard touchdown on a play where he was also flagged for pass interference.
With Ennis Rakestraw ruled out for the year, there’s potentially room for another cornerback on the roster. Hallett had a shaky week of practice followed by an equally rough outing in this matchup, missing out on an opportunity to strengthen his resume.
Against the Falcons, Whiteside broke up a third-down throw and made a couple of open-field tackles. Targeted twice, the opposition gained just 3 yards on those snaps.
Martin also had a QB pressure, but unfortunately made contact with the passer’s helmet in the pocket, drawing a 15-yard roughing call.
The Lions certainly needed Manu to step up his game with the team’s offensive tackle depth depleted going into the night and worsened by a pre-game injury to veteran Justin Herron.
Miller was closer to adequate in the ground game, especially during Detroit’s run-heavy, 11-play, 57-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. Still, he needs to start making strides in protection to justify a spot on the practice squad.
Zylstra, the best receiver from the group, is the only one who saw a target. He had three balls thrown his way and came down with all of them, but for a measly 8 yards and a long of 4.
The undrafted rookie Horton was the position’s best blocker on the night, including a couple of nice ones on the aforementioned 57-yard touchdown drive. Still, it wasn't anything worth writing home about.
Yeboah was less impressive than last week, perhaps still dealing with residual discomfort after having his leg unnaturally bent backward in the Hall of Fame game.
The Lions didn’t give up a third-down conversion until the second half, limiting the Falcons to 1-for-7 on the night, while also getting a stop on the opposition’s lone fourth-down try.
On the critical, drive-ending down, the defense kept things in front of them and did a nice job making tackles shy of the sticks.
The coverage wasn’t even that bad, but Falcons starting quarterback Easton Stick carved up the secondary on the series, completing six consecutive passes for 70 yards, including a capping touchdown to Chris Blair.
Saylors led the UFL in rushing, and you got a small taste why on Friday as he gained a team-high 35 yards on nine carries, adding another 9 yards on a well-executed screen pass.
Running hard up the middle, Saylors found holes and maximized the blocking, especially with a fourth-down conversion that set up Detroit’s “winning” touchdown.
Linebacker Zach Cunningham was a menacing presence against the run, defensive end Al-Quadian Muhammad was disruptive, finding his way into the backfield for an early sack, and Rock Ya-Sin was a force multiplier in his debut at safety.
Stock up: Quarterback Kyle Allen
Allen was going to need to significantly outperform the incumbent to be seriously considered for Detroit’s backup job. What the veteran showed against the Atlanta Falcons could have the scales tipping in his favor.Entering the game with a little more than five minutes remaining in the second quarter, Allen immediately went to work with a five-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that featured a 68-yard deep shot and a pretty 11-yard touchdown toss.
Allen helped the offense net points on three of four series, with the exception coming at the end of the first half, when the Lions took possession at their 17-yard line with 30 seconds remaining.
On the night, Allen finished 7-of-8 for 120 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers. That puts the pressure on the other contender for the job, especially after he stumbled as the starter in this contest.
Stock down: Quarterback Hendon Hooker
After describing his preseason debut as a 0-out-of-10 performance, Hooker operated at a decidedly better level against the Falcons, completing 70% of his throws and scrambling for 27 yards.However, any positive progress was washed away by an inability to take care of the football. Hooker lost a fumble on Detroit’s opening possession, made worse by the fact that he bailed from his pocket prematurely. Yes, there was a facemask grab that was missed, but that doesn’t excuse putting the ball on the ground.
Maybe you could live with a single turnover, but Hooker coughed it up a second time after leading the Lions into the red zone. This one popped free after his offensive tackle was beaten around the outside.
After the second giveaway, Hooker got an early hook in favor of Allen.
Stock up: Wide receiver Jackson Meeks
Meeks didn’t do Hooker any favors early, dropping a well-placed third-down throw across the middle. But the undrafted rookie receiver, who has impressed all camp, authoritatively rebounded from the miscue.Meeks caught his next target for a first down, then hauled in a 68-yard bomb from Allen to set up Detroit’s first touchdown. On that fade route to Isaac TeSlaa, Meeks set a pick to help his teammate get separation.
Meeks would be the recipient of Detroit’s second touchdown, a 1-yard toss from Allen. And on top of it all, Meeks was active, effective and occasionally dominant as a run blocker.
That’s how you interview for a job. In Meeks’ case, he might be interviewing for 32 of them if the Lions can’t find room on their 53-man roster.
Stock down: Cornerback Erick Hallett
Hallett had a strong start to camp, showcasing previously unrecognized versatility by moving from safety to cornerback, where he’s seen reps both outside and in the slot.Against the Falcons, Hallett drew the start on the outside. He was frequently targeted in the contest, giving up five receptions, including a 13-yard touchdown on a play where he was also flagged for pass interference.
With Ennis Rakestraw ruled out for the year, there’s potentially room for another cornerback on the roster. Hallett had a shaky week of practice followed by an equally rough outing in this matchup, missing out on an opportunity to strengthen his resume.
Stock up: Cornerback Nick Whiteside
Earlier this week, we wrote about Whiteside, the local product who signed mid-camp after playing in the UFL this spring. It can be difficult to acclimate in those situations. However, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has played with confidence and routinely made plays on the ball during recent practices.Against the Falcons, Whiteside broke up a third-down throw and made a couple of open-field tackles. Targeted twice, the opposition gained just 3 yards on those snaps.
Treading water: Defensive tackle Brodric Martin
It was surprising to see Martin on the field after he missed the two practices leading up to the game. He showed some promise in limited snaps, including a perfectly played run stop that saw him use his length to keep the blocker off his body before shedding the interior lineman to make the tackle.Martin also had a QB pressure, but unfortunately made contact with the passer’s helmet in the pocket, drawing a 15-yard roughing call.
Stock up: Offensive tackle Giovanni Manu
I’m not going to pretend Manu went out and mauled his assignments from bell to bell. Still, after getting manhandled on the practice field by Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport the past week, the second-year offensive tackle showed resiliency and poise, effectively executing his assignment most of his nearly 50 snaps.The Lions certainly needed Manu to step up his game with the team’s offensive tackle depth depleted going into the night and worsened by a pre-game injury to veteran Justin Herron.
Stock down: Offensive tackle Mason Miller
Miller wasn’t similarly able to elevate his game. The undrafted rookie, who drew the start and played all 48 offensive snaps at right tackle, allowed multiple pressures, including the sack that dislodged the ball from Hooker in the red zone.Miller was closer to adequate in the ground game, especially during Detroit’s run-heavy, 11-play, 57-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. Still, he needs to start making strides in protection to justify a spot on the practice squad.
Treading water: Reserve tight ends
If you were looking for one of the three contenders — Shane Zylstra, Kenny Yeboah or Zach Horton — to step up, you likely feel unfulfilled.Zylstra, the best receiver from the group, is the only one who saw a target. He had three balls thrown his way and came down with all of them, but for a measly 8 yards and a long of 4.
The undrafted rookie Horton was the position’s best blocker on the night, including a couple of nice ones on the aforementioned 57-yard touchdown drive. Still, it wasn't anything worth writing home about.
Yeboah was less impressive than last week, perhaps still dealing with residual discomfort after having his leg unnaturally bent backward in the Hall of Fame game.
Stock up: Edge Nate Lynn
Lynn continues to intrigue enough to remain on the fringes of the roster discussion. He didn’t play a ton, but he found a way to generate multiple pressures on the quarterback, including an impressive sack in the second half.Stock down: Edge Mitchell Agude
Agude has also been in that mix of young edge rushers with something to prove. Still, he’s been quiet through two preseason games, and his playing time looks to be dwindling in favor of Lynn, Isaac Ukwu and rookie Ahmed Hassanein, who are each making more plays than the longer-tenured Agude.Stock up: Third down defens
eThe Lions didn’t give up a third-down conversion until the second half, limiting the Falcons to 1-for-7 on the night, while also getting a stop on the opposition’s lone fourth-down try.
On the critical, drive-ending down, the defense kept things in front of them and did a nice job making tackles shy of the sticks.
Stock down: Two-minute defense
The Lions gave up one touchdown in the game, allowing the Falcons to slice through the defense in the closing minutes of the first half.The coverage wasn’t even that bad, but Falcons starting quarterback Easton Stick carved up the secondary on the series, completing six consecutive passes for 70 yards, including a capping touchdown to Chris Blair.
Stock up: Running back Jacob Saylors
On the roster for fewer than two weeks, Saylors is making some noise, much like his former St. Louis Battlehawks teammate, Whiteside.Saylors led the UFL in rushing, and you got a small taste why on Friday as he gained a team-high 35 yards on nine carries, adding another 9 yards on a well-executed screen pass.
Running hard up the middle, Saylors found holes and maximized the blocking, especially with a fourth-down conversion that set up Detroit’s “winning” touchdown.
Stock down: Running back Jabari Small
After some eye-catching runs on the practice field, Small hasn’t translated the success to the preseason games. After a quiet showing in the Hall of Fame contest a week ago, it was more of the same in Atlanta. He finished with 13 yards on five carries (2.6 yards per carry) and wasn’t targeted as a receiving option.Stock up: Veteran defensive backups
You could appreciate the guys who have been around the block a few times on Detroit’s defense.Linebacker Zach Cunningham was a menacing presence against the run, defensive end Al-Quadian Muhammad was disruptive, finding his way into the backfield for an early sack, and Rock Ya-Sin was a force multiplier in his debut at safety.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Stock down: Special teams cohesiveness:
Coaching special teams is difficult this time of year. You’re talking about groups with more moving parts than the offense or defense, and who get less time to practice reps at full speed. Plus, you’re dealing with a lot of young talent being asked to perform jobs where they have minimal experience.The process can understandably be shaky through the preseason. It certainly was on Friday as the Lions had four youngsters commit penalties on the coverage and return groups.
Coordinator Dave Fipp will have plenty of teaching points to work through this week.
Stock up: Kicker Jake Bates
No one questions Bates’ leg strength, but his accuracy from long distance hasn’t been inconsistent in camp. He drilled a 60-yarder recently, but has missed his fair share between 50 and 55 yards.Regardless, there’s something about Bates; when the lights come on, he’s at his best. He nailed a 57-yarder against the Falcons that was down the middle with several yards to spare.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Update on Norris.
www.wxyz.com
Detroit safety Morice Norris is stable & has feeling in all extremities, Lions say
Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was taken off the field in an ambulance after a hit during the Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons preseason game.
www.wxyz.com
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Listening to the pundits this morning and the reviews on Hooker were not glowing, saying he has no pocket presence, that he does not go through progressions and panics if first read is not open. "That was the knock on him coming out of college, a one read QB. They expected better from a third year QB.
Allen is not much better but has a better command on the NFL game than Hooker. Hooker was supposed to play longer than he did but DC gave Hooker the early hook. So if they keep Hooker at 27 years old it looks like he will be the #3 QB.
So it seems the "Hooker situation" is now between Hooker and Allen, not Hooker and Goff.
Allen is not much better but has a better command on the NFL game than Hooker. Hooker was supposed to play longer than he did but DC gave Hooker the early hook. So if they keep Hooker at 27 years old it looks like he will be the #3 QB.
So it seems the "Hooker situation" is now between Hooker and Allen, not Hooker and Goff.
ignatiusjreilly
Footballguy
Prayers up for Norris. I stopped using the phrase “same old Lions” early in the Campbell/Holmes era (in part because of some of the things @BobbyLayne wrote in this thread) but sadly, when it comes to spinal injuries it does seem to be SOL
Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
What actual starting positions are open on the Lions' team?
How many reserve spots are open as camp unfolds?
Have they replaced/rebuilt the IOL?
Glad Norris is able to move his arms and legs
Thanks
How many reserve spots are open as camp unfolds?
Have they replaced/rebuilt the IOL?
Glad Norris is able to move his arms and legs
Thanks
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
It’s hard to reconcile bc every beat writer has said he looks like a different guy in practice reps. It’s not translating to game time. Critical juncture in his career and rn he is floundering.
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
We have to wait and see what Footballs Jones official assessment is of Hookers future. I know he thinks Hooker is the second coming of Lamar Jackson.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Graham Glasgow will start at C, primarily because he’s had more time on task and is decent at calling pre-snap line adjustments. It’s really all about who Goff is more comfortable with.
Tate Ratledge is the likely C in 2026 and going forward. They feel pretty good about him at RG.
Christian Mahogany looked brilliant in two starts last year. There were concerns about sample size but he’s made a year 2 leap and is probably better than Jonah Jackson (pro bowl G they let walk.)
GG is 33 this year and was not comfortable at LG last year. They actually have pretty solid development in the backups so I think they’re probably still a top 5 OL - but that’s often a function of jelling as a group, it’s not just the sum of the individual parts. Obviously OT remains a core strength.
There are no camp battles for starting jobs. Backup QB, WR5, 3rd TE, LB4/5, CB4 and S3/4 are the most competitive spots. TeSlaa may surpass Patrick at WR3.
All the specialists (P, K, LS) are all pro / pro bowl caliber, same guys as last year. Both new coordinators are well liked and respected, though at the moment it’s clear the D is ahead of the O (pretty common first few weeks of TC.) They also have new assistants at Passing game coordinator, Running game coordinator, RBs. TEs, DL, LB, DB - but a lot of those were internal promotions or lateral shifts. Others, like the passing game coordinator & RB coach, have worked for with Goff, ARSB & Gibbs in previous years.
Campbell is pretty good at building a cohesive staff. They run some of the hardest hitting & most intense camps in the NFL. Guys who came from other teams routinely say this is the hardest they’ve ever had to work. They encourage competition as it brings out the best in people.
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BobbyLayne
Footballguy
On second watch: What a closer look at the tape revealed about Lions in preseason game in Atlanta
Allen Park — If you didn’t see the note via the site’s chat last week, I didn’t fly to Atlanta for Friday’s preseason game between the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.
Not traveling for road preseason contests that don’t include joint practices was an early decision I made when I launched this venture last year. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze, financially.
That meant I covered Friday’s game from home. It’s not the first time, but I hate it all the same. It’s actually more challenging, knowing you’re behind the live action, not having the eagle-eye view from the press box, and lacking the immediate benefit of a broadcast replay before the next snap, or a nearby colleague to confirm a detail where uncertainty exists. Instead, I find myself rewinding and rewatching whole drives, falling several minutes behind to ensure nearly the same level of accuracy I’d have if I were there.
The at-home process can be relentless. Maybe I should reconsider my travel stance, simply to avoid that feeling.
Regardless, whether I’m at the stadium or consuming the game from my couch, the film always reveals more than the live view or the broadcast. The camera angles, particularly from the end zone, provide an enhanced understanding of the movements and execution of the offensive and defensive lines that are impossible to absorb otherwise. If I didn’t watch the film a day or two later, my knowledge of the team I cover would be incomplete.
OK, enough rambling about the process. Here are some of my takeaways from the tape of Friday’s action.
Hooker landed on the negative side of the postgame stock report for obvious reasons. You cannot lose two fumbles in four possessions and expect any other evaluation.
But what about the remainder of the performance? Hooker completed 7-of-10 throws. He also ran for 23 yards on three scrambles. How did the decision-making and accuracy look on closer inspection?
Honestly, pretty good.
Let’s skip past the opening drive, where a scripted quick throw to kickstart the series was snuffed out by the defense after 2 yards, and an unblocked edge didn’t bite on a play-action rollout on second down, blowing up the play before it could develop.
Hooker was better on the second series, starting with a good scrambling decision that netted 23 yards with his reads well covered on the third-and-10 snap.
Hooker followed that up with three incompletions, but the balls were good and more the fault of factors outside the quarterback’s control. On a post pattern to Isaac TeSlaa, the receiver slipped on his route break, hindering his separation on the timing throw and leaving the defender in position to make a diving breakup. Then, on a wheel route to running back Craig Reynolds, Hooker had to trigger early and put some extra air under it for the back to clear the initial layer of coverage because of edge pressure. That resulted in Reynolds getting smashed by the safety, drawing a flag for hitting a defenseless receiver.
Finally, Jackson Meeks dropped a rope into his hands on third down. Those two missed connections with TeSlaa and Meeks left around 30 yards on the table, with the latter killing the drive.
The third-year quarterback attempted just one pass on the third series, checking it down to tight end Shane Zylstra on third-and-long. Hooker wanted TeSlaa, but the Falcons were in Cover-2 with a safety sitting short, taking away the rookie's dig route beyond the sticks. With pressure coming from his right, the quarterback did the right thing and progressed to his checkdown.
On his final possession, Hooker’s first throw was a crisp 9-yard toss to Meeks for a first down, followed by a well-executed receiver screen to Tom Kennedy for another 15 yards.
A mid-snap injury to center Trystan Colon forced the third-down scramble that was stopped short. However, Hooker kept the drive going with an on-target timing throw to TeSlaa on fourth down. Unfortunately, in the red zone, the QB lost his second fumble when right tackle Mason Miller was badly beaten, resulting in a clean and forceful hit in the pocket.
I’m not sure what I can add on Kyle Allen, who checked in late in the second quarter and led the Lions to 17 points with his three full drives.
He showed accuracy at all levels. He also demonstrated impressive mobility repeatedly. Allen scrambled for 8 yards when both of his tackles were beaten on a snap. He made unblocked defenders miss in the backfield twice, salvaging a screen on one. And he hit Meeks in stride on a sprint rollout for a short touchdown.
Hooker wasn’t as bad as many of us probably thought. However, Allen was as good, probably even better than the initial impressions.
Shifting to the skill positions, I’m routinely impressed by how aggressively and effectively Detroit’s receivers block. That includes the rookies, speaking to the type of talent general manager Brad Holmes and the front office are targeting and acquiring.
TeSlaa delivered a great block on Kennedy’s receiver screen, Meeks was routinely physical in the ground game, and even Kennedy was sticking his nose into the box to help clear paths for the team’s backs.
Also impressive with the skill guys was their precision in the passing game, creating natural traffic with their route combinations to aid the execution of the play. On TeSlaa’s touchdown, Meeks was in good position to disrupt coverage. The same for tight end Zach Horton on Meeks’ score. These refined details at this early stage are a credit to offensive coordinator John Morton and position coaches Scottie Montgomery and Tyler Roehl.
What hindered a better offensive performance was the blocking. And it didn’t help that the Lions were down to their fourth and fifth offensive tackles — a still-baking developmental project and an undrafted rookie —who were both asked to play the entire game. On top of that, veterans Trystan Colon and Colby Sorsdal exited with injuries, adding to Detroit's depth issues.
My snap-by-snap notes are littered with missed assignments, led by the tackles. Nobody needed to watch the game a second time to understand Mason Miller, the rookie right tackle, was overwhelmed.
Manu, whom we listed as a stock up in our postgame reporting for the way he responded to a rough week of practice at the hands of starting defensive tackles Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, was shakier than initially thought.
While I’d still contend Hooker bailed from his pocket prematurely on the first fumble, the QB felt the heat as Manu was driven back into the pocket. The second-year tackle settled down and was solid the next few drives, but more inconsistent once Allen entered the game. Manu lost his block on the deep ball to Meeks. The tackle had his punch hand slapped away, forcing Allen to scramble the next snap. And Manu was in the QB’s lap on the touchdown toss to TeSlaa.
It makes it easier to understand why we glossed over some of Manu’s rough snaps when they’re erased by positive overall results.
What stands out for Manu isn't footwork issues, but problems above the waist. He has incredible length and power, but isn't consistently aggressive or accurate with his punch in protection, too frequently allowing defenders into his body.
Beyond the tackles, I thought Detroit’s veteran guards weren’t as consistent as you’d expect. Both Kayode Awosika, the front-runner to be the first man off the bench, and Netane Muti had letdown performances after strong preseason debuts in the Hall of Fame game. To Muti’s credit, he finished with some strong run blocking on Detroit’s second touchdown drive, but that was against third-string defenders he should be dominating.
In the center competition, Kingsley Eguakun, splitting time between snapping and playing right guard, was sharper than Colon. But, again, Colon faced better defenders during his playing time.
Finally, we should comment on Tate Ratledge’s debut. He played 24 snaps, and they were mostly positive. He did allow one QB pressure, but I liked how much movement he got on several run plays. There was one snap where he was knocked to the ground and another where he surprisingly didn’t sustain his effort in the second level. There’s no doubt he’ll hear about that one in the meeting room, and it will get corrected.
Detroit’s revolving door of blocking struggles also extended to the tight ends. Kenny Yeboah’s performance was particularly disappointing. Blocking is his calling card, and he had multiple snaps where he either whiffed or was easily shed. No one is standing out in the competition for the third job behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.
Not traveling for road preseason contests that don’t include joint practices was an early decision I made when I launched this venture last year. The juice isn’t worth the squeeze, financially.
That meant I covered Friday’s game from home. It’s not the first time, but I hate it all the same. It’s actually more challenging, knowing you’re behind the live action, not having the eagle-eye view from the press box, and lacking the immediate benefit of a broadcast replay before the next snap, or a nearby colleague to confirm a detail where uncertainty exists. Instead, I find myself rewinding and rewatching whole drives, falling several minutes behind to ensure nearly the same level of accuracy I’d have if I were there.
The at-home process can be relentless. Maybe I should reconsider my travel stance, simply to avoid that feeling.
Regardless, whether I’m at the stadium or consuming the game from my couch, the film always reveals more than the live view or the broadcast. The camera angles, particularly from the end zone, provide an enhanced understanding of the movements and execution of the offensive and defensive lines that are impossible to absorb otherwise. If I didn’t watch the film a day or two later, my knowledge of the team I cover would be incomplete.
OK, enough rambling about the process. Here are some of my takeaways from the tape of Friday’s action.
Offense
Let’s start with the quarterbacks, and we’ll go chronological with their appearances, opening with Hendon Hooker.Hooker landed on the negative side of the postgame stock report for obvious reasons. You cannot lose two fumbles in four possessions and expect any other evaluation.
But what about the remainder of the performance? Hooker completed 7-of-10 throws. He also ran for 23 yards on three scrambles. How did the decision-making and accuracy look on closer inspection?
Honestly, pretty good.
Let’s skip past the opening drive, where a scripted quick throw to kickstart the series was snuffed out by the defense after 2 yards, and an unblocked edge didn’t bite on a play-action rollout on second down, blowing up the play before it could develop.
Hooker was better on the second series, starting with a good scrambling decision that netted 23 yards with his reads well covered on the third-and-10 snap.
Hooker followed that up with three incompletions, but the balls were good and more the fault of factors outside the quarterback’s control. On a post pattern to Isaac TeSlaa, the receiver slipped on his route break, hindering his separation on the timing throw and leaving the defender in position to make a diving breakup. Then, on a wheel route to running back Craig Reynolds, Hooker had to trigger early and put some extra air under it for the back to clear the initial layer of coverage because of edge pressure. That resulted in Reynolds getting smashed by the safety, drawing a flag for hitting a defenseless receiver.
Finally, Jackson Meeks dropped a rope into his hands on third down. Those two missed connections with TeSlaa and Meeks left around 30 yards on the table, with the latter killing the drive.
The third-year quarterback attempted just one pass on the third series, checking it down to tight end Shane Zylstra on third-and-long. Hooker wanted TeSlaa, but the Falcons were in Cover-2 with a safety sitting short, taking away the rookie's dig route beyond the sticks. With pressure coming from his right, the quarterback did the right thing and progressed to his checkdown.
On his final possession, Hooker’s first throw was a crisp 9-yard toss to Meeks for a first down, followed by a well-executed receiver screen to Tom Kennedy for another 15 yards.
A mid-snap injury to center Trystan Colon forced the third-down scramble that was stopped short. However, Hooker kept the drive going with an on-target timing throw to TeSlaa on fourth down. Unfortunately, in the red zone, the QB lost his second fumble when right tackle Mason Miller was badly beaten, resulting in a clean and forceful hit in the pocket.
I’m not sure what I can add on Kyle Allen, who checked in late in the second quarter and led the Lions to 17 points with his three full drives.
He showed accuracy at all levels. He also demonstrated impressive mobility repeatedly. Allen scrambled for 8 yards when both of his tackles were beaten on a snap. He made unblocked defenders miss in the backfield twice, salvaging a screen on one. And he hit Meeks in stride on a sprint rollout for a short touchdown.
Hooker wasn’t as bad as many of us probably thought. However, Allen was as good, probably even better than the initial impressions.
Shifting to the skill positions, I’m routinely impressed by how aggressively and effectively Detroit’s receivers block. That includes the rookies, speaking to the type of talent general manager Brad Holmes and the front office are targeting and acquiring.
TeSlaa delivered a great block on Kennedy’s receiver screen, Meeks was routinely physical in the ground game, and even Kennedy was sticking his nose into the box to help clear paths for the team’s backs.
Also impressive with the skill guys was their precision in the passing game, creating natural traffic with their route combinations to aid the execution of the play. On TeSlaa’s touchdown, Meeks was in good position to disrupt coverage. The same for tight end Zach Horton on Meeks’ score. These refined details at this early stage are a credit to offensive coordinator John Morton and position coaches Scottie Montgomery and Tyler Roehl.
What hindered a better offensive performance was the blocking. And it didn’t help that the Lions were down to their fourth and fifth offensive tackles — a still-baking developmental project and an undrafted rookie —who were both asked to play the entire game. On top of that, veterans Trystan Colon and Colby Sorsdal exited with injuries, adding to Detroit's depth issues.
My snap-by-snap notes are littered with missed assignments, led by the tackles. Nobody needed to watch the game a second time to understand Mason Miller, the rookie right tackle, was overwhelmed.
Manu, whom we listed as a stock up in our postgame reporting for the way he responded to a rough week of practice at the hands of starting defensive tackles Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, was shakier than initially thought.
While I’d still contend Hooker bailed from his pocket prematurely on the first fumble, the QB felt the heat as Manu was driven back into the pocket. The second-year tackle settled down and was solid the next few drives, but more inconsistent once Allen entered the game. Manu lost his block on the deep ball to Meeks. The tackle had his punch hand slapped away, forcing Allen to scramble the next snap. And Manu was in the QB’s lap on the touchdown toss to TeSlaa.
It makes it easier to understand why we glossed over some of Manu’s rough snaps when they’re erased by positive overall results.
What stands out for Manu isn't footwork issues, but problems above the waist. He has incredible length and power, but isn't consistently aggressive or accurate with his punch in protection, too frequently allowing defenders into his body.
Beyond the tackles, I thought Detroit’s veteran guards weren’t as consistent as you’d expect. Both Kayode Awosika, the front-runner to be the first man off the bench, and Netane Muti had letdown performances after strong preseason debuts in the Hall of Fame game. To Muti’s credit, he finished with some strong run blocking on Detroit’s second touchdown drive, but that was against third-string defenders he should be dominating.
In the center competition, Kingsley Eguakun, splitting time between snapping and playing right guard, was sharper than Colon. But, again, Colon faced better defenders during his playing time.
Finally, we should comment on Tate Ratledge’s debut. He played 24 snaps, and they were mostly positive. He did allow one QB pressure, but I liked how much movement he got on several run plays. There was one snap where he was knocked to the ground and another where he surprisingly didn’t sustain his effort in the second level. There’s no doubt he’ll hear about that one in the meeting room, and it will get corrected.
Detroit’s revolving door of blocking struggles also extended to the tight ends. Kenny Yeboah’s performance was particularly disappointing. Blocking is his calling card, and he had multiple snaps where he either whiffed or was easily shed. No one is standing out in the competition for the third job behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Defense
Let’s jump right into the preseason debut of Tyleik Williams, the team’s first-round pick. Understanding that fans hoped to see more splash plays, that’s not really the type of player Williams will be for the Lions. He’s a lane clogger in the run game, and, despite some above-average athleticism for his size, his pass-rush production is primarily going to be pushing the pocket with only occasional flashes of penetration.What was encouraging from the debut was that space-eating element in the ground game. Williams only saw six snaps as a run defender against the Falcons. Still, there were multiple examples of anchoring against double teams and creating opportunities for linebackers — namely Zach Cunningham in this contest — to make plays.
Williams did get an edge on a guard in a one-on-one setting, redirecting the back into the arms of teammate Keith Cooper. But in terms of pass rushing, Williams was largely a non-factor, often playing on his heels and hunting for an opportunity to get his hands in the passing lane like he did at Ohio State. This won't necessarily be par for the course for the former Buckeye. Still, you should expect several zeroes in the quarterback pressure column this season.
Detroit’s defensive line was quiet, overall, when rushing the passer. However, there were a few bright moments. Early on, Al-Quadian Muhammad bent the edge twice against Atlanta’s backup tackles, generating pressure and a sack. Each was a smooth win. He's locked into his role as the No. 3 edge.
Also, without question, Nate Lynn is the standout among the younger options at the back of the roster. He had a nice spin move on the opening drive that didn’t factor into the play because the ball was out quickly. Lynn rebounded with a sack later in the contest, dipping under the outside shoulder of the left tackle. The defender also reached out and almost knocked away the ball as the quarterback threw on a different snap.
Isaac Ukwu, another player in that mix, wasn’t as effective. He conceded an edge on a read-option when he crashed on the back. And on a third-down pass-rush rep, he overran the pocket and was washed out of the play that resulted in a first-down completion.
We’ve already written about Brodric Martin. He had one series where he jumped off the screen, generating late pressure on a stunt and coming up with an authoritative tackle for loss on a run play. As the game progressed, he showed an ability to anchor against a double-team and added another pass-rush pressure with his surprisingly quick first step. It was a small sample size, but it was as positive a performance as we’ve seen from the former third-rounder.
Something else that stood out from the All-22 tape was how sticky the Lions’ defensive backs were in man-to-man coverage throughout the night. Even the guys who get knocked for allowing completions, such as Dicaprio Bootle and Erick Hallett, were draped all over their assignments much of the night. With some minor adjustments to their technique on some of those plays, some of those contested catches are turning into incompletions. Atlanta completed 19-of-23 throws on the night, which was not reflective of how good Detroit played in coverage.
Finally, I was already impressed with Rock Ya-Sin’s safety debut on first watch, but even more so when watching his movements from the wide-angle view. The Lions played him both deep and as an underneath rover. He took very few false steps, playing with confidence and regularly finding himself in a position to contribute over-the-top support for the cornerbacks and make a few plays underneath.
Kudos to the coaching staff for identifying some untapped potential versatility with the veteran.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions sign four replacements after putting three on injured reserve, including Sorsdal and Yeboah
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions didn’t come out of Friday’s preseason game unscathed, losing four players to injury. The team placed offensive tackle Justin Herron, offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal and tight end Kenny Yeboah on injured reserve, while also waiving running back Jabari Small with an injury designation.
Detroit's woes started before kickoff when Herron suffered an arm injury during pre-game warmups. They continued during the game when third-year guard Colby Sorsdal’s left leg was rolled up on during his first snap of the contest, after coming in to replace rookie Tate Ratledge at right guard in the second quarter.
Sorsdal stayed down for a moment after the play, but finished the series before exiting.
It’s unclear when Yeboah was hurt or whether his transfer to the injured list was related to exiting in the previous contest with a leg injury.
To backfill the losses, the Lions announced the signing of four players on Sunday — offensive linemen Gunner Britton and Keaton Sutherland, tight end Gunnar Oakes and running back Deon Jackson.
Britton went undrafted out of Auburn in 2024, where he started every game at left guard. He also showed some versatility, working a handful of snaps at left and right tackle.
The 6-foot-7, 305-pounder signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie and saw action at left guard and left tackle during the preseason a year ago. More recently, he was with the UFL’s Washington Defenders, appearing in 10 games during the spring season.
Sutherland was also on a UFL roster this spring, playing for the Birmingham Stallions. Prior to that, he bounced around a number of NFL rosters since going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2019. He’s appeared in just six NFL games since that time, and none since 2021. He logged limited snaps at all three interior spots.
The second Gunnar added Sunday, Oakes, played collegiately at Eastern Michigan. In five seasons for the Eagles, he amassed 56 catches for 621 yards and two touchdowns, with nearly half that production coming during his senior season in 2022.
Oakes is the latest former Michigan Panther to sign with the Lions. That group is headlined by kicker Jake Bates. Oakes appeared in 12 games for the UFL's Panthers last season, including two postseason contests.
Jackson is the best-known player from the group of signings. The former Colts, Browns and Giants runner has 29 NFL appearances under his belt, with more than 500 combined offensive and special teams snaps.
Returning to the losses, it's likely season-ending for the three placed on reserve. Sorsdal, a fifth-round pick in 2023, had been repping with the third-team offense most of camp and wasn't expected to make the roster despite a strong preseason debut.
Yeboah, meanwhile, entered training camp as the presumptive front-runner for the team's third tight end job after signing a one-year contract as a free agent that included nearly $500,000 in guarantees. However, that competition remained wide open entering the game against Atlanta, with Shane Zyltra and undrafted rookie Zach Horton firmly in the mix.
In positive news, safety Morice Norris was not immediately moved to the injured list. The game was eventually stopped in the fourth quarter after Norris was rendered motionless following a hit.
The game was stopped for a dozen minutes while Norris’ neck was stabilized and he was loaded onto an ambulance. He was taken to a local medical facility for further evaluation, and it’s since been reported that he has movement in his extremities. The day after the game, Norris shared on Instagram, I'm all good."
Detroit's woes started before kickoff when Herron suffered an arm injury during pre-game warmups. They continued during the game when third-year guard Colby Sorsdal’s left leg was rolled up on during his first snap of the contest, after coming in to replace rookie Tate Ratledge at right guard in the second quarter.
Sorsdal stayed down for a moment after the play, but finished the series before exiting.
It’s unclear when Yeboah was hurt or whether his transfer to the injured list was related to exiting in the previous contest with a leg injury.
To backfill the losses, the Lions announced the signing of four players on Sunday — offensive linemen Gunner Britton and Keaton Sutherland, tight end Gunnar Oakes and running back Deon Jackson.
Britton went undrafted out of Auburn in 2024, where he started every game at left guard. He also showed some versatility, working a handful of snaps at left and right tackle.
The 6-foot-7, 305-pounder signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted rookie and saw action at left guard and left tackle during the preseason a year ago. More recently, he was with the UFL’s Washington Defenders, appearing in 10 games during the spring season.
Sutherland was also on a UFL roster this spring, playing for the Birmingham Stallions. Prior to that, he bounced around a number of NFL rosters since going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2019. He’s appeared in just six NFL games since that time, and none since 2021. He logged limited snaps at all three interior spots.
The second Gunnar added Sunday, Oakes, played collegiately at Eastern Michigan. In five seasons for the Eagles, he amassed 56 catches for 621 yards and two touchdowns, with nearly half that production coming during his senior season in 2022.
Oakes is the latest former Michigan Panther to sign with the Lions. That group is headlined by kicker Jake Bates. Oakes appeared in 12 games for the UFL's Panthers last season, including two postseason contests.
Jackson is the best-known player from the group of signings. The former Colts, Browns and Giants runner has 29 NFL appearances under his belt, with more than 500 combined offensive and special teams snaps.
Returning to the losses, it's likely season-ending for the three placed on reserve. Sorsdal, a fifth-round pick in 2023, had been repping with the third-team offense most of camp and wasn't expected to make the roster despite a strong preseason debut.
Yeboah, meanwhile, entered training camp as the presumptive front-runner for the team's third tight end job after signing a one-year contract as a free agent that included nearly $500,000 in guarantees. However, that competition remained wide open entering the game against Atlanta, with Shane Zyltra and undrafted rookie Zach Horton firmly in the mix.
In positive news, safety Morice Norris was not immediately moved to the injured list. The game was eventually stopped in the fourth quarter after Norris was rendered motionless following a hit.
The game was stopped for a dozen minutes while Norris’ neck was stabilized and he was loaded onto an ambulance. He was taken to a local medical facility for further evaluation, and it’s since been reported that he has movement in his extremities. The day after the game, Norris shared on Instagram, I'm all good."
This is in fact a great development for Colby Sorsdal. He was almost surely not going to make the 53-man. He and Brodric Martin were at risk to not vest.
Happy when guys earn that pension, 5 years of health insurance, and a plethora of other benefits for becoming vested. For fringe players that's a big relief for them when they get credit for their third season.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions CB Morice Norris was back at the team facility in Allen Park today
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
6 players on season ending IR or PUP
Who says we can’t repeat past year?
:confetti:
(but only 1 starter & 1 key reserve -
Who says we can’t repeat past year?
:confetti:
(but only 1 starter & 1 key reserve -
- Levi Onwuzurike
- Dan Jackson
- Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
- Justin Herron
- Colby Sorsdal
- Kenny Yeboah)
Lions injury updates: Norris in concussion protocol, Colon down 'a while,' three tackles getting healthier
Allen Park — Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell opened his Monday morning press conference with the team’s most relevant injury update.
Safety Morice Norris, who was removed from Friday’s game by ambulance, is back with the team and in concussion protocol.
“He's doing well,” Campbell said. “It's good to have him back. He's good. Obviously, he's in concussion protocol. We're going to take it nice and easy here, make sure he's good over the next, let's call it 10 to 14 days and reassess. That's good news.”
Campbell said Norris’ prognosis and quick return to Detroit have been uplifting for the team after Friday’s scary situation that ultimately led to the suspension of the preseason game in the fourth quarter.
“Everybody was fired up to see him,” Campbell said. “It's a breath of fresh air, man. That's hard when something like that happens and you don't know. It's one thing, we've all seen, I can't tell you the number of times I've seen guys with concussions, knocked out. I've had them myself. But when you have these and you don't know. You know they're breathing, but you don't know anything else. Then they're gone. It's just different. You're trying to block that out, but it's still there. That makes it a little more difficult. That's why that's out of the norm.”
The game initially continued after Norris’ injury. However, the two teams protested with the Falcons snapping the ball and letting the clock run as the players gathered in the middle of the field and prayed. After more than seven minutes had elapsed, the league eventually stopped the action.
Campbell was asked why the league didn’t intervene sooner. The coach bit his tongue.
“Don't do this to me,” Campbell said, holding back on what he wanted to say. “(Falcons coach) Raheem (Morris) and I agreed that's what we were going to do. (Referee) Shawn Hochuli let us know that, ‘Hey, the game is still on.’ We communicated with each other and told Shawn we'll be taking knees. He said, 'I understand,' and that's the way it went. Then the game was called.”
Beyond Norris, the Lions lost a few other players to injury in Friday’s game. On Sunday, the team placed offensive tackle Justin Herron, tight end Kenny Yeboah and offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal on injured reserve.
On Monday, Campbell also announced center Trystan Colon would be out “a while” with an elbow injury suffered in the contest.
On the positive front, offensive tackles Dan Skipper and Jamarco Jones are returning to practice Monday in a limited capacity, while starting left tackle Taylor Decker is expected to progress to taking team reps this week for the first time since an offseason clean-up surgery on his shoulder.
Finally, cornerback Terrion Arnold (hamstring) and wide receiver Dominic Lovett (abdominal) remain sidelined. Still, both are progressing positively, according to Campbell.
Safety Morice Norris, who was removed from Friday’s game by ambulance, is back with the team and in concussion protocol.
“He's doing well,” Campbell said. “It's good to have him back. He's good. Obviously, he's in concussion protocol. We're going to take it nice and easy here, make sure he's good over the next, let's call it 10 to 14 days and reassess. That's good news.”
Campbell said Norris’ prognosis and quick return to Detroit have been uplifting for the team after Friday’s scary situation that ultimately led to the suspension of the preseason game in the fourth quarter.
“Everybody was fired up to see him,” Campbell said. “It's a breath of fresh air, man. That's hard when something like that happens and you don't know. It's one thing, we've all seen, I can't tell you the number of times I've seen guys with concussions, knocked out. I've had them myself. But when you have these and you don't know. You know they're breathing, but you don't know anything else. Then they're gone. It's just different. You're trying to block that out, but it's still there. That makes it a little more difficult. That's why that's out of the norm.”
The game initially continued after Norris’ injury. However, the two teams protested with the Falcons snapping the ball and letting the clock run as the players gathered in the middle of the field and prayed. After more than seven minutes had elapsed, the league eventually stopped the action.
Campbell was asked why the league didn’t intervene sooner. The coach bit his tongue.
“Don't do this to me,” Campbell said, holding back on what he wanted to say. “(Falcons coach) Raheem (Morris) and I agreed that's what we were going to do. (Referee) Shawn Hochuli let us know that, ‘Hey, the game is still on.’ We communicated with each other and told Shawn we'll be taking knees. He said, 'I understand,' and that's the way it went. Then the game was called.”
Beyond Norris, the Lions lost a few other players to injury in Friday’s game. On Sunday, the team placed offensive tackle Justin Herron, tight end Kenny Yeboah and offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal on injured reserve.
On Monday, Campbell also announced center Trystan Colon would be out “a while” with an elbow injury suffered in the contest.
On the positive front, offensive tackles Dan Skipper and Jamarco Jones are returning to practice Monday in a limited capacity, while starting left tackle Taylor Decker is expected to progress to taking team reps this week for the first time since an offseason clean-up surgery on his shoulder.
Finally, cornerback Terrion Arnold (hamstring) and wide receiver Dominic Lovett (abdominal) remain sidelined. Still, both are progressing positively, according to Campbell.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
All 22 Films - Tate Ratledge & Giovanni Manu film study
nittanylion
Footballguy
Lionsguys -
What is an Essang Bassey? TIA.
What is an Essang Bassey? TIA.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Never made it past the practice squad with us
Commanders are his 6th team in 6 years so…
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions camp observations: Hassanein banged up, Bates struggles, Meeks and Strickland have strong days
Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from the Detroit Lions’ Monday morning training camp practice.
● In addition to some of the injury news from earlier in the day, wide receivers Tim Patrick and Tom Kennedy, running back Sione Vaki, and defensive tackle Pat O’Connor didn’t participate on Monday.
Additionally, rookie defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein had to exit practice early after he was rolled up on during a deep pass play. He was tended to by trainers for several minutes as they evaluated him for a lower left leg injury. Regardless, he stayed outside for the remainder of practice, lessening concern.
In terms of players working out on the side, there were a handful running the hill under the supervision of the training staff. That group included rookie offensive lineman Miles Frazier, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, defensive tackle Mehki Wingo and cornerback Terrion Arnold.
The first three aren’t expected back for a few more weeks, at the earliest, while Arnold is inching closer to returning from a hamstring strain suffered last week.
● After the typical opening of stretching and individual drills, practice shifted into some two-on-two and three-on-three route combination work between the skill positions and back-seven defenders.
Amon-Ra St. Brown thrived during the segment, twice besting the coverage of Amik Robertson, first snagging a slant before taking in a deep ball over the slot corner.
Also scoring a deep grab was tight end Shane Zylstra. He was blanketed by Alex Anzalone, but the linebacker lost the rep after failing to get his head around to locate the ball.
The defense didn’t get many wins, although cornerback Erick Hallett had a breakup against Ronnie Bell, running a wheel route.
● 11-on-11 work opened with a series of runs. With the first team, Marcus Davenport sliced between Taylor Decker and Christian Mahogany for a tackle in the backfield.
Once the second team came on the field, defensive back Rock Ya-Sin continued to flourish with his reps at safety, securing back-to-back stops in the box.
● The team then divided up between seven-on-seven red zone work and one-on-one pass rush reps. It had been several practices since I’d focused on the trench talent, so I put my attention there.
Like always, the battles between Aidan Hutchinson and Penei Sewell are must-watch. The All-Pro tackle won the first, driving the defender wide. Hutchinson bounced back when on the brink of being pushed wide a second time, before impressively dipping low around Sewell’s outside shoulder back into the pocket.
The offensive linemen dominated the drill early, winning the first 11 reps before Tyleik Williams got the better of backup guard Michael Niese with a push-pull move. Things leveled up a bit from that point, with the most surprising win coming on a violent push-pull move by rookie Keith Cooper to get past the typically stellar Mahogany.
Mahogany rebounded in a rematch, staying in front and reanchoring with authority against Cooper’s spin move.
Defensive tackle Chris Smith was also a standout. After losing his initial battle against Kayode Awosika, Smith dominated four consecutive reps against four different linemen, using a bull rush on the first three, including a decisive win against veteran Netane Muti.
Offensive tackle Giovanni Manu continued his recent practice struggles during the drill. He was beaten around the outside by Al-Quadin Muhammad, gave up the inside to Hassanein, and got bullied by Isaac Ukwu's bull rush. Manu closed with decent footwork in a rep against Hutchinson, but was still driven too far back into the pocket when trying to anchor against the power rush.
An offensive lineman who stood out was center Kingsley Eguakun, who twice fired out of his stance to shut down the bigger and more powerful Brodric Martin.
● Some of the names on the top kickoff coverage units were Isaac TeSlaa, Zach Cunningham, Nate Lynn, Ian Kennelly, Ya-Sin, Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Derrick Barnes and Avonte Maddox.
It’s still a little early to read too much into these slots. Still, Lynn and Kennelly are definitely impressing and getting tested in some roles higher up the depth chart as they make roster pushes.
● Practice closed with a lengthy scrimmage that transitioned into some two-minute work to close out the day.
The first-team offense cruised down the field with long passes to St. Brown and Kalif Raymond, before stalling out and settling for a 33-yard field goal.
The second-team offense, led by Kyle Allen, had less initial success. After securing a first down, back-to-back blitzes ended the drive. Cornerback Dicaprio Bootle forced Allen to turf the ball on the first, while Nowaske came through untouched on third down for a sack.
● The offense started from the opposing 40 the next few series, with Hutchinson ruining the first with a sack on first down after rookie Tate Ratledge couldn’t get across the formation quickly enough on a pull.
The offense had to settle for a 56-yard field goal attempt that Jake Bates clanged off the left upright.
The top groups stayed on the field for a reset, and the offense finally found the end zone when Jameson Williams got behind safety Kerby Joseph on the Cover-0 pressure look.
Bates unfortunately missed the PAT, also left.
Following the score, Hendon Hooker took over at quarterback and quickly found rookie Jackson Meeks, running a circus route from the slot, for 27 yards. Inexplicably, the offense ran it three straight times after the catch, settling for a chip shot from Bates.
● For the situational drives, the offensive starters were given the ball at midfield with 58 seconds and two timeouts, down three.
It went poorly for Jared Goff and company.
Pressure from Tyleik Williams on first down led to a near-interception for Hutchinson, who had dropped in coverage. A short pass to St. Brown on second down made it third-and-3. From there, Goff sailed a well-covered out-and-up to LaPorta, before Raymond was smothered by cornerback DJ Reed on fourth down, forcing the turnover on downs.
● The second-team offense got the ball at their own 30 with 28 seconds and three timeouts. Allen connected on three consecutive throws, including two to Meeks, for 27 total yards, before Reynolds ran the ball to center a long field-goal try for Bates. The kicker's rough day ended with another miss. He sent the 56-yarder, you guessed it, wide left.
● Safety Loren Strickland popped multiple times during practice. He intercepted Hooker in the end zone during seven-on-seven, had a quick tackle on a kickoff, and drew praise from the coaches for an edge-setting run stop.
● In addition to some of the injury news from earlier in the day, wide receivers Tim Patrick and Tom Kennedy, running back Sione Vaki, and defensive tackle Pat O’Connor didn’t participate on Monday.
Additionally, rookie defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein had to exit practice early after he was rolled up on during a deep pass play. He was tended to by trainers for several minutes as they evaluated him for a lower left leg injury. Regardless, he stayed outside for the remainder of practice, lessening concern.
In terms of players working out on the side, there were a handful running the hill under the supervision of the training staff. That group included rookie offensive lineman Miles Frazier, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, defensive tackle Mehki Wingo and cornerback Terrion Arnold.
The first three aren’t expected back for a few more weeks, at the earliest, while Arnold is inching closer to returning from a hamstring strain suffered last week.
● After the typical opening of stretching and individual drills, practice shifted into some two-on-two and three-on-three route combination work between the skill positions and back-seven defenders.
Amon-Ra St. Brown thrived during the segment, twice besting the coverage of Amik Robertson, first snagging a slant before taking in a deep ball over the slot corner.
Also scoring a deep grab was tight end Shane Zylstra. He was blanketed by Alex Anzalone, but the linebacker lost the rep after failing to get his head around to locate the ball.
The defense didn’t get many wins, although cornerback Erick Hallett had a breakup against Ronnie Bell, running a wheel route.
● 11-on-11 work opened with a series of runs. With the first team, Marcus Davenport sliced between Taylor Decker and Christian Mahogany for a tackle in the backfield.
Once the second team came on the field, defensive back Rock Ya-Sin continued to flourish with his reps at safety, securing back-to-back stops in the box.
● The team then divided up between seven-on-seven red zone work and one-on-one pass rush reps. It had been several practices since I’d focused on the trench talent, so I put my attention there.
Like always, the battles between Aidan Hutchinson and Penei Sewell are must-watch. The All-Pro tackle won the first, driving the defender wide. Hutchinson bounced back when on the brink of being pushed wide a second time, before impressively dipping low around Sewell’s outside shoulder back into the pocket.
The offensive linemen dominated the drill early, winning the first 11 reps before Tyleik Williams got the better of backup guard Michael Niese with a push-pull move. Things leveled up a bit from that point, with the most surprising win coming on a violent push-pull move by rookie Keith Cooper to get past the typically stellar Mahogany.
Mahogany rebounded in a rematch, staying in front and reanchoring with authority against Cooper’s spin move.
Defensive tackle Chris Smith was also a standout. After losing his initial battle against Kayode Awosika, Smith dominated four consecutive reps against four different linemen, using a bull rush on the first three, including a decisive win against veteran Netane Muti.
Offensive tackle Giovanni Manu continued his recent practice struggles during the drill. He was beaten around the outside by Al-Quadin Muhammad, gave up the inside to Hassanein, and got bullied by Isaac Ukwu's bull rush. Manu closed with decent footwork in a rep against Hutchinson, but was still driven too far back into the pocket when trying to anchor against the power rush.
An offensive lineman who stood out was center Kingsley Eguakun, who twice fired out of his stance to shut down the bigger and more powerful Brodric Martin.
● Some of the names on the top kickoff coverage units were Isaac TeSlaa, Zach Cunningham, Nate Lynn, Ian Kennelly, Ya-Sin, Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Derrick Barnes and Avonte Maddox.
It’s still a little early to read too much into these slots. Still, Lynn and Kennelly are definitely impressing and getting tested in some roles higher up the depth chart as they make roster pushes.
● Practice closed with a lengthy scrimmage that transitioned into some two-minute work to close out the day.
The first-team offense cruised down the field with long passes to St. Brown and Kalif Raymond, before stalling out and settling for a 33-yard field goal.
The second-team offense, led by Kyle Allen, had less initial success. After securing a first down, back-to-back blitzes ended the drive. Cornerback Dicaprio Bootle forced Allen to turf the ball on the first, while Nowaske came through untouched on third down for a sack.
● The offense started from the opposing 40 the next few series, with Hutchinson ruining the first with a sack on first down after rookie Tate Ratledge couldn’t get across the formation quickly enough on a pull.
The offense had to settle for a 56-yard field goal attempt that Jake Bates clanged off the left upright.
The top groups stayed on the field for a reset, and the offense finally found the end zone when Jameson Williams got behind safety Kerby Joseph on the Cover-0 pressure look.
Bates unfortunately missed the PAT, also left.
Following the score, Hendon Hooker took over at quarterback and quickly found rookie Jackson Meeks, running a circus route from the slot, for 27 yards. Inexplicably, the offense ran it three straight times after the catch, settling for a chip shot from Bates.
● For the situational drives, the offensive starters were given the ball at midfield with 58 seconds and two timeouts, down three.
It went poorly for Jared Goff and company.
Pressure from Tyleik Williams on first down led to a near-interception for Hutchinson, who had dropped in coverage. A short pass to St. Brown on second down made it third-and-3. From there, Goff sailed a well-covered out-and-up to LaPorta, before Raymond was smothered by cornerback DJ Reed on fourth down, forcing the turnover on downs.
● The second-team offense got the ball at their own 30 with 28 seconds and three timeouts. Allen connected on three consecutive throws, including two to Meeks, for 27 total yards, before Reynolds ran the ball to center a long field-goal try for Bates. The kicker's rough day ended with another miss. He sent the 56-yarder, you guessed it, wide left.
● Safety Loren Strickland popped multiple times during practice. He intercepted Hooker in the end zone during seven-on-seven, had a quick tackle on a kickoff, and drew praise from the coaches for an edge-setting run stop.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Ahmed Hassanein left practice early and is being evaluated for a lower leg injury. Left under his own power walking with a limp. Lions have Tuesday off so we may not get an update until midweek.
Dolphins come in for joint practices on Wednesday & Thursday. Game is on Saturday at 1pm, which seems strange for the preseason, eh.
Dolphins come in for joint practices on Wednesday & Thursday. Game is on Saturday at 1pm, which seems strange for the preseason, eh.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
we're not the only ones, eh - is this normal? feels kind of nuts
As camp injuries mount, UFL has served as valuable source of replacement talent for Detroit Lions
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions have dealt with plenty of injuries during the first few weeks of training camp, including a handful still lingering from last season. However, they’re hardly alone. A quick look around the league reveals many teams dealing with double-digit concerns.
In the case of longer-term issues, teams eventually are forced to replenish the depth chart. Since camp started, the Lions have added 10 players to the roster, including four on Sunday, following the team’s preseason game against Atlanta.
Within that, a unique trend has emerged. The Lions have turned to the UFL, a professional football league, whose season runs from late March to mid-June, to restock the cupboards.
Of those 10 camp signings, eight played in the UFL this spring. With the inclusion of kicker Jake Bates, the league’s alums now represent nearly 10% of Detroit’s 91-man roster.
“I think it’s because you have instant tape on those guys, right?” Lions coach Dan Campbell said about the emerging pipeline. “They’re fresh. (General manager) Brad (Holmes) does a great job, and that’s one of the things that he’s made a point of, like, ‘Man, let’s get guys in here that have just played. They’re in shape, we’ve seen the tape.’
“These aren’t guys that haven’t been moving, man,” Campbell continued. “They’ve been in football shape doing real things, real cuts, real contact, real all of it. So that’s important to get you through camp, and then you get a look at these guys.”
The first two UFL signings this offseason, cornerback Nick Whiteside and running back Jacob Saylor, both from the St. Louis Battlehawks, have had an impact in their limited time with the Lions.
Saylors played 17 snaps against Atlanta and ran well, racking up 49 yards from scrimmage, including 35 yards on nine carries, despite playing a little more than a quarter.
Meanwhile, Whiteside has routinely made plays on the practice field, racking up several pass breakups the past couple of weeks. He came off the bench in the early stages on Friday to log 16 defensive snaps and nine special teams reps.
“I love those guys that come in (and compete),” Campbell said. “That was like (quarterback Jake) Fromm last year, right? He just showed up like three days before the last preseason game.
“…I mean, you can call it what you want, that’s hard on some guys,” Campbell said. I’ve got to just jump in and know what I’m supposed to know, and then I’m in practice, then I’m immediately in a game. So, the ones that can figure it out quickly, they stand out like a sore thumb. And so, I like Whiteside, man. Just the fact that he comes in, he competes, he’s a pro, he jumps into every drill, even if he’s not supposed to be in there. He wants it. He’s a sponge and he likes to compete.”
Will any of the UFL guys be able to make Detroit’s 53-man roster as Bates did a year ago? That’s admittedly a long shot. However, Whiteside and Saylors are putting themselves on track for practice squad spots, which often lead to regular-season opportunities with the Lions later in the season. The others just got here. It remains to be seen what kind of impression they can make in the next three weeks.
In addition to Saylors and Whiteside, the Lions have also signed cornerback D.J. Miller (Michigan Panthers), tight end Steven Stilianos (San Antonio Brahmas), running back Deon Jackson (DC Defenders), tight end Gunnar Oakes (Michigan Panthers) and offensive linemen Gunner Britton (DC Defenders) and Keaton Sutherland (Birmingham Stallions).
In the case of longer-term issues, teams eventually are forced to replenish the depth chart. Since camp started, the Lions have added 10 players to the roster, including four on Sunday, following the team’s preseason game against Atlanta.
Within that, a unique trend has emerged. The Lions have turned to the UFL, a professional football league, whose season runs from late March to mid-June, to restock the cupboards.
Of those 10 camp signings, eight played in the UFL this spring. With the inclusion of kicker Jake Bates, the league’s alums now represent nearly 10% of Detroit’s 91-man roster.
“I think it’s because you have instant tape on those guys, right?” Lions coach Dan Campbell said about the emerging pipeline. “They’re fresh. (General manager) Brad (Holmes) does a great job, and that’s one of the things that he’s made a point of, like, ‘Man, let’s get guys in here that have just played. They’re in shape, we’ve seen the tape.’
“These aren’t guys that haven’t been moving, man,” Campbell continued. “They’ve been in football shape doing real things, real cuts, real contact, real all of it. So that’s important to get you through camp, and then you get a look at these guys.”
The first two UFL signings this offseason, cornerback Nick Whiteside and running back Jacob Saylor, both from the St. Louis Battlehawks, have had an impact in their limited time with the Lions.
Saylors played 17 snaps against Atlanta and ran well, racking up 49 yards from scrimmage, including 35 yards on nine carries, despite playing a little more than a quarter.
Meanwhile, Whiteside has routinely made plays on the practice field, racking up several pass breakups the past couple of weeks. He came off the bench in the early stages on Friday to log 16 defensive snaps and nine special teams reps.
“I love those guys that come in (and compete),” Campbell said. “That was like (quarterback Jake) Fromm last year, right? He just showed up like three days before the last preseason game.
“…I mean, you can call it what you want, that’s hard on some guys,” Campbell said. I’ve got to just jump in and know what I’m supposed to know, and then I’m in practice, then I’m immediately in a game. So, the ones that can figure it out quickly, they stand out like a sore thumb. And so, I like Whiteside, man. Just the fact that he comes in, he competes, he’s a pro, he jumps into every drill, even if he’s not supposed to be in there. He wants it. He’s a sponge and he likes to compete.”
Will any of the UFL guys be able to make Detroit’s 53-man roster as Bates did a year ago? That’s admittedly a long shot. However, Whiteside and Saylors are putting themselves on track for practice squad spots, which often lead to regular-season opportunities with the Lions later in the season. The others just got here. It remains to be seen what kind of impression they can make in the next three weeks.
In addition to Saylors and Whiteside, the Lions have also signed cornerback D.J. Miller (Michigan Panthers), tight end Steven Stilianos (San Antonio Brahmas), running back Deon Jackson (DC Defenders), tight end Gunnar Oakes (Michigan Panthers) and offensive linemen Gunner Britton (DC Defenders) and Keaton Sutherland (Birmingham Stallions).
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Hutchinson came in at #55
Down to the Top 38 to go
- Gibbs
- Goff
- Sewell
- St Brown
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
6 matchups I'll be watching during Lions' joint practices with the Dolphins
JUSTIN ROGERSAUG 12, 2025
Allen Park — Joint practices are upon us.
After more than three weeks of training camp practices and two preseason games, the Detroit Lions will get some of their best work of the offseason this week with a pair of shared sessions with the Miami Dolphins ahead of their preseason game this Saturday.
Here are six practice-field matchups that will have my attention this week.
Arnold is dealing with a hamstring strain, which has shelved him the past couple of weeks. He’s close to returning, based on how well he’s been moving while working with trainers off to the side the past few days. However, hamstrings are easily re-aggravated, and that’s not something the Lions need as the regular season nears, no matter how valuable these reps might be for the young defender.
Arnold was cooking to start camp. Charting practice stats is a silly exercise, but if I did, I’m confident he’d have the most pass breakups, even factoring in his recent absence. Last year’s first-round pick looks primed to make a much-anticipated second-year jump after logging more than 1,000 defensive snaps as a rookie when you include the playoffs.
Arnold and Detroit’s cornerbacks get tested daily by a talented corps led by Amon-Ra St. Brown. Still, Miami’s dynamic starting duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is the fastest starting tandem in the league. If Arnold could have maintained his camp success against them, being less familiar with their tendencies than his teammates, it would have sent the hype train into overdrive.
Assuming Arnold isn’t full go, we’ll settle for Reed matching up against Hill and Waddle, although both receivers could sit out this week with injuries. Hill has an oblique strain, while an undisclosed ailment recently sidelined Waddle.
Reed has proven to be a stellar addition to Detroit’s roster, replacing Carlton Davis III with a similar caliber man-to-man corner on the outside. The Dolphins’ duo are familiar foes for Reed, who saw them twice each year as a member of the New York Jets the past three seasons.
It’s a shame the Dolphins traded Jalen Ramsey this offseason. The three-time All-Pro would have pushed Williams to his limit, particularly at the line. Instead, we’ll see Detroit’s receivers work against the likes of Storm Duck and Kendall Sheffield. It just won’t be the same.
Where Williams will be tested is his ability to take the top off a defense with Minkah Fitzpatrick — the key piece that came back in the Ramsey deal — patrolling deep. Fitzpatrick has 20 career interceptions and led the league in 2022.
Beyond Williams, rookie Isaac TeSlaa merits continued monitoring. The third-round draft pick’s first camp and early preseason performances have been pleasant surprises because of his ability to rapidly clear developmental hurdles.
Even with starter Tim Patrick nursing a quad strain, most of TeSlaa’s work is expected to come with the No. 2 offense, meaning he’ll primarily operate against the Dolphins’ backup corners. No matter, work is work at this early stage of his career, and a veteran like Jack Jones should provide a solid test for TeSlaa.
Ratledge is just one piece of an overhauled interior that has Graham Glasgow shifting back to center and Christian Mahogany taking over at left guard after spending most of his college career on the opposite side.
So far, the collective has performed decently during Detroit’s camp. But with Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike out with long-term injuries, they haven’t been fully tested by a defensive interior that thrives at rushing the passer.
Miami rookie Kenneth Grant isn’t that. He’s more like Detroit’s first-round pick, Tyleik Williams, an impressively athletic nose tackle. It will be more telling how Detroit's group handles Zach Sieler, the former Ferris State standout who has finished with 10.0 sacks each of the past two seasons.
On top of the standard matchups, we’ll also want to see how the communication with Detroit’s interior is developing. The Dolphins aren’t an ultra-aggressive blitzing defense under coordinator Anthony Weaver. Still, they did send an extra rusher nearly a quarter of their opponents’ pass plays last year, which would be a sufficient test.
To a lesser degree, Marcus Davenport has been doing the same, working opposite Hutchinson. They rush differently, but Davenport has been delivering on expectations as the power complement on the edge.
Like Ramsey, we’re being robbed of a premium practice matchup following the offseason retirement of five-time Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead. Instead, Detroit’s duo will likely see plenty of Austin Jackson and Patrick Paul, two average to below-average pass protectors.
No one gets the ball out quicker than Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. If forced to hold on to it by Detroit’s back seven, Hutchinson and Davenport should have plenty of success this week.
Even with two interceptions in the Hall of Fame Game, Allen has been superior, posting a 95.1 passer rating compared to Hooker’s 42.7. That metric doesn’t even account for Hooker's two lost fumbles against Atlanta on Friday.
On the practice field, they’ve been closer to even, which is why it’s premature to hand the job to Allen. Joint practices are unique because they allow the coaching staff to control the situations to sharpen the evaluations.
Let’s see if Hooker can regain some momentum after his rough showings against the Chargers and Falcons.
I promise that battle won’t be overlooked. Still, Keith Cooper’s ability to build on his early camp momentum is potentially more intriguing. Williams should open the season as a starter. Cooper, meanwhile, is still fighting for a spot on Detroit’s roster.
Cooper is undersized as a defensive tackle, but that frame gives him the versatility to play both inside and on the edge. He had below-average athletic testing during the pre-draft process, causing him to go undrafted. He wasn’t even initially offered a contract as a free agent, having to gain the opportunity through a tryout at Detroit’s rookie minicamp. Regardless, he’s impressed, earning work with the team’s second defensive grouping and a smattering of first-team reps.
Cooper can get an edge on a guard and bull rush a tackle. His frame and skillset are similar to Josh Paschal’s, and Cooper could help the Lions bridge Paschal’s absence as he continues to recover from an offseason injury.
After more than three weeks of training camp practices and two preseason games, the Detroit Lions will get some of their best work of the offseason this week with a pair of shared sessions with the Miami Dolphins ahead of their preseason game this Saturday.
Here are six practice-field matchups that will have my attention this week.
Reed vs. Miami’s receivers
Look, there’s no question about it: Terrion Arnold should top my list of players to watch this week. The problem is we don’t know if the second-year cornerback is going to suit up, and even if he does, what his level of participation will be.Arnold is dealing with a hamstring strain, which has shelved him the past couple of weeks. He’s close to returning, based on how well he’s been moving while working with trainers off to the side the past few days. However, hamstrings are easily re-aggravated, and that’s not something the Lions need as the regular season nears, no matter how valuable these reps might be for the young defender.
Arnold was cooking to start camp. Charting practice stats is a silly exercise, but if I did, I’m confident he’d have the most pass breakups, even factoring in his recent absence. Last year’s first-round pick looks primed to make a much-anticipated second-year jump after logging more than 1,000 defensive snaps as a rookie when you include the playoffs.
Arnold and Detroit’s cornerbacks get tested daily by a talented corps led by Amon-Ra St. Brown. Still, Miami’s dynamic starting duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is the fastest starting tandem in the league. If Arnold could have maintained his camp success against them, being less familiar with their tendencies than his teammates, it would have sent the hype train into overdrive.
Assuming Arnold isn’t full go, we’ll settle for Reed matching up against Hill and Waddle, although both receivers could sit out this week with injuries. Hill has an oblique strain, while an undisclosed ailment recently sidelined Waddle.
Reed has proven to be a stellar addition to Detroit’s roster, replacing Carlton Davis III with a similar caliber man-to-man corner on the outside. The Dolphins’ duo are familiar foes for Reed, who saw them twice each year as a member of the New York Jets the past three seasons.
Jamo and TeSlaa vs. Dolphins CBs (and Minkah)
No projected starter for the Lions has shown more year-to-year growth than Jameson Williams. Coming off a 1,000-yard campaign, the fourth-year receiver has drastically improved as a route runner, showing maturation with his releases, breaks, timing and hands, making him a far more dangerous weapon, overall.It’s a shame the Dolphins traded Jalen Ramsey this offseason. The three-time All-Pro would have pushed Williams to his limit, particularly at the line. Instead, we’ll see Detroit’s receivers work against the likes of Storm Duck and Kendall Sheffield. It just won’t be the same.
Where Williams will be tested is his ability to take the top off a defense with Minkah Fitzpatrick — the key piece that came back in the Ramsey deal — patrolling deep. Fitzpatrick has 20 career interceptions and led the league in 2022.
Beyond Williams, rookie Isaac TeSlaa merits continued monitoring. The third-round draft pick’s first camp and early preseason performances have been pleasant surprises because of his ability to rapidly clear developmental hurdles.
Even with starter Tim Patrick nursing a quad strain, most of TeSlaa’s work is expected to come with the No. 2 offense, meaning he’ll primarily operate against the Dolphins’ backup corners. No matter, work is work at this early stage of his career, and a veteran like Jack Jones should provide a solid test for TeSlaa.
Detroit’s interior OL vs. the Dolphins’ interior DL
Fans were offered a first glimpse of Tate Ratledge in last Friday’s preseason game against Atlanta. The rookie guard had more ups than downs. However, it’s difficult to get a full grasp on his abilities when he’s playing between two backups, including an undrafted rookie offensive tackle.Ratledge is just one piece of an overhauled interior that has Graham Glasgow shifting back to center and Christian Mahogany taking over at left guard after spending most of his college career on the opposite side.
So far, the collective has performed decently during Detroit’s camp. But with Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike out with long-term injuries, they haven’t been fully tested by a defensive interior that thrives at rushing the passer.
Miami rookie Kenneth Grant isn’t that. He’s more like Detroit’s first-round pick, Tyleik Williams, an impressively athletic nose tackle. It will be more telling how Detroit's group handles Zach Sieler, the former Ferris State standout who has finished with 10.0 sacks each of the past two seasons.
On top of the standard matchups, we’ll also want to see how the communication with Detroit’s interior is developing. The Dolphins aren’t an ultra-aggressive blitzing defense under coordinator Anthony Weaver. Still, they did send an extra rusher nearly a quarter of their opponents’ pass plays last year, which would be a sufficient test.
Starting edge rushers vs. the Dolphins OTs
Aidan Hutchinson looks fully recovered from last year’s broken leg. He's won his fair share of reps against All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell and traumatized Detroit’s backup blindside blockers while Taylor Decker recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.To a lesser degree, Marcus Davenport has been doing the same, working opposite Hutchinson. They rush differently, but Davenport has been delivering on expectations as the power complement on the edge.
Like Ramsey, we’re being robbed of a premium practice matchup following the offseason retirement of five-time Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead. Instead, Detroit’s duo will likely see plenty of Austin Jackson and Patrick Paul, two average to below-average pass protectors.
No one gets the ball out quicker than Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. If forced to hold on to it by Detroit’s back seven, Hutchinson and Davenport should have plenty of success this week.
Hooker/Allen vs. Miami’s second-team defense
Detroit’s backup quarterback competition still hangs in the balance, with veteran Kyle Allen taking a presumptive lead over incumbent Hendon Hooker on the strength of their preseason performances.Even with two interceptions in the Hall of Fame Game, Allen has been superior, posting a 95.1 passer rating compared to Hooker’s 42.7. That metric doesn’t even account for Hooker's two lost fumbles against Atlanta on Friday.
On the practice field, they’ve been closer to even, which is why it’s premature to hand the job to Allen. Joint practices are unique because they allow the coaching staff to control the situations to sharpen the evaluations.
Let’s see if Hooker can regain some momentum after his rough showings against the Chargers and Falcons.
Keith Cooper vs. the Dolphins’ offensive line
The easier matchup to close this guide would have been highlighting Tyleik Williams against another rookie, guard Jonah Savaiinaea, who the Dolphins grabbed early in the second round.I promise that battle won’t be overlooked. Still, Keith Cooper’s ability to build on his early camp momentum is potentially more intriguing. Williams should open the season as a starter. Cooper, meanwhile, is still fighting for a spot on Detroit’s roster.
Cooper is undersized as a defensive tackle, but that frame gives him the versatility to play both inside and on the edge. He had below-average athletic testing during the pre-draft process, causing him to go undrafted. He wasn’t even initially offered a contract as a free agent, having to gain the opportunity through a tryout at Detroit’s rookie minicamp. Regardless, he’s impressed, earning work with the team’s second defensive grouping and a smattering of first-team reps.
Cooper can get an edge on a guard and bull rush a tackle. His frame and skillset are similar to Josh Paschal’s, and Cooper could help the Lions bridge Paschal’s absence as he continues to recover from an offseason injury.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Quick injury updates via Campbell:
- Vaki returning to practice today.
- Hassanein avoided serious injury & should practice today, even if it's limited.
- Arnold won't participate in joint practices. Lions are targeting next week.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
[Justin Rogers - Substack subscribers chat]
What an absolute *** kicking the Lions laid on the Dolphins today. Compiling observations now, but it was a massacre. Never seen a joint practice like this one.
What an absolute *** kicking the Lions laid on the Dolphins today. Compiling observations now, but it was a massacre. Never seen a joint practice like this one.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Okudah came back to the NFC North?
IDK how I missed that. Gonna have to bump up Jamo's yardage projection.
IDK how I missed that. Gonna have to bump up Jamo's yardage projection.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions joint practice observations: Offense, defense both sizzle in first day working against Dolphins
Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from the Detroit Lions’ Wednesday morning training camp practice, a joint session with the Miami Dolphins.
● Quickly, on the injury front. Running back Sione Vaki returned to practice. So did cornerback Terrion Arnold (hamstring), but only working through individual drills. As for defensive end Ahmed Hassanein, who exited Monday's practice early after getting rolled up, he was back on the field Wednesday, but limited to individuals.
Not practicing — wide receivers Tim Patrick (quad) and Dominic Lovett (abdomen), safety Morice Norris (concussion), defensive lineman Pat O’Connor (lower leg) and safety Kerby Joseph (unknown).
Two players left practice with injuries on Wednesday. Recently signed offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland had to be carted off with a knee injury, while cornerback DiCaprio Bootle left early to be evaluated for a lower leg issue.
Wide receiver Kalif Raymond didn’t leave early. Still, he did head into the locker room with a trainer after practice with an almost bow-legged limp. However, it could have been something as simple as cramping.
● OK, what you need to understand about joint practices is there’s so much going on that you need to narrow your focus. Heading into the day, I decided I would focus on Detroit’s defense. But to round out the picture of practice, I was able to work out an agreement with trusted colleague and friend of the program, Will Burchfield, to exchange notes. So all the offensive insights provided in this post, outside the two-minute drive stuff from the end of the day, are courtesy of Will.
● Let’s start with my first-hand observations of the defense, starting with one-on-one work between the receivers and defensive backs.
Cornerback DJ Reed split his reps, forcing an incompletion with tight coverage against Tarik Black on a corner pattern before losing on a slant to Andrew Armstrong.
Safety Branch won both of his reps, although he benefited from receiver Erik Ezukanma stumbling on a post.
It was a great set of reps for Nick Whiteside, who continues to impress. He essentially ran the post route for Armstrong, earning a pass breakup that could have been intercepted. Whiteside also stayed tight on Nick Westerbrook-Ikhine on a corner pattern, forcing an incompletion.
Like Reed, Rock Ya-Sin split his reps. He leaned on his trademark physicality to disrupt a hitch route to Erik Ezukanma. But the receiver got revenge to end the drill, getting a step on Ya-Sin for a touchdown on a go ball.
● Transitioning to seven-on-seven, the Dolphins got off to a strong start with a long throw to speedy running back De’Von Achane, who got a step on linebacker Alex Anzalone, who was sitting on an underneath route to open the drill.
Regardless, the top unit settled down quickly, keeping everything in front of them after the throw to Achane and netting a pass breakup for Reed.
Miami flipped to backup quarterback Zach Wilson, and Detroit’s second-string defense feasted with two interceptions and a breakup on his first three throws. Bootle tipped the first in the air, with the deflection corralled by rookie safety Ian Kennelly. Two snaps later, Whiteside undercut an out-breaking route intended for Black.
Probably few reading this care about the Dolphins’ backup QB situation. Still, it highlighted how Detroit’s setup might not be so bad. Wilson was awful, including one of the worst misses you’ll see on an NFL practice field, when he sailed a short throw over an open target on a designed play-action rollout.
Rookie Quinn Ewers was unquestionably more promising for Miami. He processed better, got the ball out quickly, and was largely accurate. He clearly had his favorite targets working with the team’s third-string offense and had some success picking on recently signed Lions cornerback DJ Miller.
● The trench players were added to the mix and Detroit continued to control the day. Branch and Derrick Barnes combined for a sack on a blitz on the first snap, setting the tone for full-team work.
Grant Stuard, who was quoted as saying the Dolphins might not be ready for Detroit’s physicality, made sure the opposition felt him all day. He had a couple of authoritative stops in the first team period, coming forward to deliver big hits on running backs Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II.
Detroit’s run defense was solid, although it did let one perimeter run leak when cornerback Amik Robertson was pancaked by a pulling blocker. Anything up the middle was swallowed up, with Branch, Ya-Sin and Reed doing a nice job working with the linebackers to stretch out wide runs and pitches. Branch also sniffed out a reverse, stopping it after just 2 or 3 yards.
Anchane did add another big gain in the passing game, beating Barnes to the flat for a quick grab that the back turned up the sidelines for a bunch of YAC.
There was a stretch in 11-on-11 where the Dolphins were flagged three consecutive plays, including two holds.
● In red zone work, the Lions turned up the heat even more. The first-team defense didn’t allow the Dolphins into the red zone in nine snaps, in large part due to stellar coverage from the back seven, smothering the Dolphins’ pass-catching options, which were notably without Tyreek Hill.
Myles Adams and Isaac Ukwu got some work with the first-team defense, with Adams netting a sack on the final play, a third-and-goal from the 3. Hutchinson also drew a hold on that snap.
The second team was also solid, but aided by multiple drops by the Dolphins receivers. Miami finally found the end zone on the final snap when Black got a step on cornerback Tyson Russell along the back line.
● Returning to full-team work, the Lions’ top defensive group didn’t allow a first down during the two series. Hutchinson blew up the first with sacks on both first and third down.
The Dolphins went for it on fourth down on the second series, taking a corner route shot to Ezukanma. However, slot corner Maddox was tight in coverage. Furthermore, he benefited from well-positioned help over the top from Ya-Sin, who was back at safety for Wednesday’s practice.
● Practice closed with a two-minute, end-of-half situation. The offense got the ball at their own 30-yard line with 54 seconds and two timeouts. Again, Detroit’s defense didn’t allow a first down.
After two quick throws set up third-and-4, the Dolphins committed a false start, and Robertson broke up a third-and-9 throw. Going for it on fourth down, Marcus Davenport generated pressure up the middle, and Hallett was tight in coverage, resulting in an incompletion.
● Quickly, on the injury front. Running back Sione Vaki returned to practice. So did cornerback Terrion Arnold (hamstring), but only working through individual drills. As for defensive end Ahmed Hassanein, who exited Monday's practice early after getting rolled up, he was back on the field Wednesday, but limited to individuals.
Not practicing — wide receivers Tim Patrick (quad) and Dominic Lovett (abdomen), safety Morice Norris (concussion), defensive lineman Pat O’Connor (lower leg) and safety Kerby Joseph (unknown).
Two players left practice with injuries on Wednesday. Recently signed offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland had to be carted off with a knee injury, while cornerback DiCaprio Bootle left early to be evaluated for a lower leg issue.
Wide receiver Kalif Raymond didn’t leave early. Still, he did head into the locker room with a trainer after practice with an almost bow-legged limp. However, it could have been something as simple as cramping.
● OK, what you need to understand about joint practices is there’s so much going on that you need to narrow your focus. Heading into the day, I decided I would focus on Detroit’s defense. But to round out the picture of practice, I was able to work out an agreement with trusted colleague and friend of the program, Will Burchfield, to exchange notes. So all the offensive insights provided in this post, outside the two-minute drive stuff from the end of the day, are courtesy of Will.
● Let’s start with my first-hand observations of the defense, starting with one-on-one work between the receivers and defensive backs.
Cornerback DJ Reed split his reps, forcing an incompletion with tight coverage against Tarik Black on a corner pattern before losing on a slant to Andrew Armstrong.
Safety Branch won both of his reps, although he benefited from receiver Erik Ezukanma stumbling on a post.
It was a great set of reps for Nick Whiteside, who continues to impress. He essentially ran the post route for Armstrong, earning a pass breakup that could have been intercepted. Whiteside also stayed tight on Nick Westerbrook-Ikhine on a corner pattern, forcing an incompletion.
Like Reed, Rock Ya-Sin split his reps. He leaned on his trademark physicality to disrupt a hitch route to Erik Ezukanma. But the receiver got revenge to end the drill, getting a step on Ya-Sin for a touchdown on a go ball.
● Transitioning to seven-on-seven, the Dolphins got off to a strong start with a long throw to speedy running back De’Von Achane, who got a step on linebacker Alex Anzalone, who was sitting on an underneath route to open the drill.
Regardless, the top unit settled down quickly, keeping everything in front of them after the throw to Achane and netting a pass breakup for Reed.
Miami flipped to backup quarterback Zach Wilson, and Detroit’s second-string defense feasted with two interceptions and a breakup on his first three throws. Bootle tipped the first in the air, with the deflection corralled by rookie safety Ian Kennelly. Two snaps later, Whiteside undercut an out-breaking route intended for Black.
Probably few reading this care about the Dolphins’ backup QB situation. Still, it highlighted how Detroit’s setup might not be so bad. Wilson was awful, including one of the worst misses you’ll see on an NFL practice field, when he sailed a short throw over an open target on a designed play-action rollout.
Rookie Quinn Ewers was unquestionably more promising for Miami. He processed better, got the ball out quickly, and was largely accurate. He clearly had his favorite targets working with the team’s third-string offense and had some success picking on recently signed Lions cornerback DJ Miller.
● The trench players were added to the mix and Detroit continued to control the day. Branch and Derrick Barnes combined for a sack on a blitz on the first snap, setting the tone for full-team work.
Grant Stuard, who was quoted as saying the Dolphins might not be ready for Detroit’s physicality, made sure the opposition felt him all day. He had a couple of authoritative stops in the first team period, coming forward to deliver big hits on running backs Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II.
Detroit’s run defense was solid, although it did let one perimeter run leak when cornerback Amik Robertson was pancaked by a pulling blocker. Anything up the middle was swallowed up, with Branch, Ya-Sin and Reed doing a nice job working with the linebackers to stretch out wide runs and pitches. Branch also sniffed out a reverse, stopping it after just 2 or 3 yards.
Anchane did add another big gain in the passing game, beating Barnes to the flat for a quick grab that the back turned up the sidelines for a bunch of YAC.
There was a stretch in 11-on-11 where the Dolphins were flagged three consecutive plays, including two holds.
● In red zone work, the Lions turned up the heat even more. The first-team defense didn’t allow the Dolphins into the red zone in nine snaps, in large part due to stellar coverage from the back seven, smothering the Dolphins’ pass-catching options, which were notably without Tyreek Hill.
Myles Adams and Isaac Ukwu got some work with the first-team defense, with Adams netting a sack on the final play, a third-and-goal from the 3. Hutchinson also drew a hold on that snap.
The second team was also solid, but aided by multiple drops by the Dolphins receivers. Miami finally found the end zone on the final snap when Black got a step on cornerback Tyson Russell along the back line.
● Returning to full-team work, the Lions’ top defensive group didn’t allow a first down during the two series. Hutchinson blew up the first with sacks on both first and third down.
The Dolphins went for it on fourth down on the second series, taking a corner route shot to Ezukanma. However, slot corner Maddox was tight in coverage. Furthermore, he benefited from well-positioned help over the top from Ya-Sin, who was back at safety for Wednesday’s practice.
● Practice closed with a two-minute, end-of-half situation. The offense got the ball at their own 30-yard line with 54 seconds and two timeouts. Again, Detroit’s defense didn’t allow a first down.
After two quick throws set up third-and-4, the Dolphins committed a false start, and Robertson broke up a third-and-9 throw. Going for it on fourth down, Marcus Davenport generated pressure up the middle, and Hallett was tight in coverage, resulting in an incompletion.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
● Working backwards with the offense, since I was able to watch their series in the same two-minute scenario, quarterback Jared Goff connected on a 25-yard post pattern to Amon-Ra St. Brown to open the drive.
Goff completed three more short throws to tight end Brock Wright, wide receiver Ronnie Bell (presumably filling in for Patrick/Raymond) and Shane Zylstra to push the offense well into field-goal range, although no kick was attempted.
On the throw to Zylstra, rookie guard Tate Ratledge had an impressive block, switching late to a second, stunting lineman and pushing them wide of the pocket to prevent a sack and allow Goff to get off the pass.
● While I didn’t see much of the offense, it was clear from the fan reaction what was happening. Burchfield delivers, starting with St. Brown repeatedly toasting the coverage of cornerback Jack Jones in one-on-one work, making easy work of all four of his targets.
Jameson Williams was also cooking the Dolphins’ coverage, but couldn’t finish. He dropped two would-be touchdowns. I think Williams has a tendency to let bad plays linger, affecting the next one.
Raymond had no such issues with his hands, easily winning all three of his reps. That’s carryover for how difficult the speedy receiver is to cover for Detroit’s cornerbacks in the same drill.
● Instead of seven-on-seven, Burchfield caught a little bit of the one-on-one work between the offensive and defensive linemen. Penei Sewell housed Chop Robinson twice, while Giovani Manu had an impressive rep, stymying the bull rush of former first-round pick Bradley Chubb.
Struggling in the drill was center Kingsley Eguakun, who was overwhelmed by the power of 6-foot-6, 320-pound defensive tackle Zeek Biggers on multiple snaps.
● Detroit’s backs had a few ball security issues. David Montgomery and Vaki both fumbled, and Vaki dropped a screen pass. Otherwise, Detroit’s offensive line did a nice job opening holes for the runners, with Gibbs bursting through one lane for a massive gain.
● During 11-on-11, Goff had a streak of first-down completions, connecting with Raymond and St. Brown twice each.
● In the red zone period, Detroit’s top offense had a party. Goff opened the series with a pretty throw down the seam between defenders to Williams for a score.
Gibbs had an 8-yard touchdown running behind Sewell and Ratledge, with the latter providing a key second-level block. St. Brown pinned a fade to the back of cornerback Jason Marshall’s helmet from 6 yards out. St. Brown found paydirt again the next snap, beating Jones to the front pylon. And Montgomery put a bow on the set of plays with a 5-yard scoring run, powering through a linebacker at the goal line.
The second team wasn’t nearly as dynamic. However, Hendon Hooker did connect with Craig Reynolds for a 6-yard touchdown before the segment was cut short by Sutherland’s injury.
● Jameson Williams flashed his big-play ability on a “drive,” hauling in a play-action rollout on third down for an explosive gain.
● Practice ended with a minor scuffle between Williams and former Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. The two were bickering before some pushes and punches were thrown. Players and coaches from both sides quickly converged, and the sides were separated.
Goff completed three more short throws to tight end Brock Wright, wide receiver Ronnie Bell (presumably filling in for Patrick/Raymond) and Shane Zylstra to push the offense well into field-goal range, although no kick was attempted.
On the throw to Zylstra, rookie guard Tate Ratledge had an impressive block, switching late to a second, stunting lineman and pushing them wide of the pocket to prevent a sack and allow Goff to get off the pass.
● While I didn’t see much of the offense, it was clear from the fan reaction what was happening. Burchfield delivers, starting with St. Brown repeatedly toasting the coverage of cornerback Jack Jones in one-on-one work, making easy work of all four of his targets.
Jameson Williams was also cooking the Dolphins’ coverage, but couldn’t finish. He dropped two would-be touchdowns. I think Williams has a tendency to let bad plays linger, affecting the next one.
Raymond had no such issues with his hands, easily winning all three of his reps. That’s carryover for how difficult the speedy receiver is to cover for Detroit’s cornerbacks in the same drill.
● Instead of seven-on-seven, Burchfield caught a little bit of the one-on-one work between the offensive and defensive linemen. Penei Sewell housed Chop Robinson twice, while Giovani Manu had an impressive rep, stymying the bull rush of former first-round pick Bradley Chubb.
Struggling in the drill was center Kingsley Eguakun, who was overwhelmed by the power of 6-foot-6, 320-pound defensive tackle Zeek Biggers on multiple snaps.
● Detroit’s backs had a few ball security issues. David Montgomery and Vaki both fumbled, and Vaki dropped a screen pass. Otherwise, Detroit’s offensive line did a nice job opening holes for the runners, with Gibbs bursting through one lane for a massive gain.
● During 11-on-11, Goff had a streak of first-down completions, connecting with Raymond and St. Brown twice each.
● In the red zone period, Detroit’s top offense had a party. Goff opened the series with a pretty throw down the seam between defenders to Williams for a score.
Gibbs had an 8-yard touchdown running behind Sewell and Ratledge, with the latter providing a key second-level block. St. Brown pinned a fade to the back of cornerback Jason Marshall’s helmet from 6 yards out. St. Brown found paydirt again the next snap, beating Jones to the front pylon. And Montgomery put a bow on the set of plays with a 5-yard scoring run, powering through a linebacker at the goal line.
The second team wasn’t nearly as dynamic. However, Hendon Hooker did connect with Craig Reynolds for a 6-yard touchdown before the segment was cut short by Sutherland’s injury.
● Jameson Williams flashed his big-play ability on a “drive,” hauling in a play-action rollout on third down for an explosive gain.
● Practice ended with a minor scuffle between Williams and former Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. The two were bickering before some pushes and punches were thrown. Players and coaches from both sides quickly converged, and the sides were separated.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions announce roster moves:
Waived/injured and IR:
The other teams have 24 hours to claim a player waived with an injury. If he clears he goes on IR. But for fringe guys they usually negotiate an injury settlement and get released so they’re free to go wherever they want once they’re healthy.
LaPorta has a minor (unspecified) injury that will keep him out a few days. Doesn’t sound serious but Campbell was vague.
- Signed OL Zack Johnson and CB Allan George.
- Placed CB Dicaprio Bootle and OL Keaton Sutherland on Reserve/Injured.
Waived/injured and IR:
The other teams have 24 hours to claim a player waived with an injury. If he clears he goes on IR. But for fringe guys they usually negotiate an injury settlement and get released so they’re free to go wherever they want once they’re healthy.
LaPorta has a minor (unspecified) injury that will keep him out a few days. Doesn’t sound serious but Campbell was vague.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
This one is semi interesting. Probably not a spot for him on the 53-man but I could see him on the 16 player Practice Squad. 7 teams in 5 years since he left North Dakota State, can play all 5 OL spots - was a C with the 49ers last year. Made All-UFL as a Guard this year.
Holmes’ staff is doing a stellar job plucking UFL guys up to plug the 91-man TC roster; think that’s 10 ex-UFLers on the team rn. Don’t know that any have a job other than Jake Bates, but I kind of like the way they’re keeping tabs on dudes showing out in the spring league.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions joint practice observations: Offense stays hot, defense starts slow, finishes strong on Day 2 vs. Dolphins
Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from the Detroit Lions’ Thursday morning training camp practice, the second joint session with the Miami Dolphins.
● Detroit got a few players back for Thursday’s practice, led by earlier-than-expected team reps for cornerback Terrion Arnold. Also back in uniform were wide receivers Dominic Lovett and Tom Kennedy and defensive tackle Pat O’Connor, although they were all limited.
Not practicing were safeties Kerby Joseph and Morice Norris (concussion), wide receivers Tim Patrick (quad) and Malik Taylor, offensive tackle Giovanni Manu, center Tyrstan Colon (elbow) and tight end Sam LaPorta.
Lions coach Dan Campbell announced LaPorta would be down for a little bit before practice with a minor injury concern, but declined to offer specifics on the issue.
With LaPorta out, rookie Zach Horton received a temporary bump up to the depth chart, taking some first-team reps.
● Flipping from yesterday’s focus, I spent the morning watching Detroit’s offense, leaving most of the defensive observations to podcast partner Will Burchfield of 97.1 and Fox 2 fame. Having that backstop has been a lifesaver.
● Initial observations come from one-on-one pass-rush drills between Miami’s defensive linemen and linebackers against Detroit’s offensive line. It was a strong showing for the Lions’ projected starters.
Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker won all four of their reps, with Sewell dominating Chop Robinson and Decker besting Bradley Chubb twice.
With the interior linemen, Glasgow got the better of former Lions defensive tackle Benito Jones twice, and Christian Mahogany also won both of his, including an absolute deconstruction of rookie Kenneth Grant’s bull rush. Tate Ratledge nearly completed the clean sweep, but after initially stalling out Grant, the former Michigan standout was able to shed and slip by the guard late in the rep.
I noted that rep as a tie, so the Lions’ starters went 9-0-1.
Detroit’s backups were less consistent. Dan Skipper got run through by linebacker Derrick McLendon, and Kingsley Eguakun was bulled back into the pocket twice by different defenders.
Among the second-team winners for the Lions, newcomer Gunner Britton popped on his two reps, winning one at right tackle and another at left. There could be something to adding these guys from the UFL, who have far less rust to knock off after competing all through the spring.
● While those one-on-ones were running, the rest of the offense was competing in seven-on-sevens in the red zone. Most notably, Isaac TeSlaa hauled in a touchdown from veteran backup Kyle Allen on a scramble drill.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, picking up where he left off after packing the highlight reel a day earlier, added two scores on the second set of reps for the first-team offense.
Finally, there was a short throw to Dominic Lovett, where there was some confusion about whether the play had been blown dead. Regardless, a defender punched the ball free from the rookie’s grasp. That led to some hard coaching from position coach Scottie Montgomery, who was clearly emphasizing it’s never OK not to maintain security of the ball, even if you think the play might be over.
● Jake Bates attempted five field goals and made all of them from distances ranging between 34 and 53 yards. He didn’t hit a couple pure, knuckling through the uprights. Additionally, a 43-yard effort snuck just inside the left upright.
● Full-team work started with the offense pinned at their own 1-yard line. No problem. Working behind strong blocking from the interior, David Montgomery plowed forward for gains of 2 and 6 yards. Then, on third-and-2, Ratledge missed a blitzing linebacker. However, Montgomery was able to absorb the contact at the line of scrimmage and power forward for the first.
● Detroit got a few players back for Thursday’s practice, led by earlier-than-expected team reps for cornerback Terrion Arnold. Also back in uniform were wide receivers Dominic Lovett and Tom Kennedy and defensive tackle Pat O’Connor, although they were all limited.
Not practicing were safeties Kerby Joseph and Morice Norris (concussion), wide receivers Tim Patrick (quad) and Malik Taylor, offensive tackle Giovanni Manu, center Tyrstan Colon (elbow) and tight end Sam LaPorta.
Lions coach Dan Campbell announced LaPorta would be down for a little bit before practice with a minor injury concern, but declined to offer specifics on the issue.
With LaPorta out, rookie Zach Horton received a temporary bump up to the depth chart, taking some first-team reps.
● Flipping from yesterday’s focus, I spent the morning watching Detroit’s offense, leaving most of the defensive observations to podcast partner Will Burchfield of 97.1 and Fox 2 fame. Having that backstop has been a lifesaver.
● Initial observations come from one-on-one pass-rush drills between Miami’s defensive linemen and linebackers against Detroit’s offensive line. It was a strong showing for the Lions’ projected starters.
Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker won all four of their reps, with Sewell dominating Chop Robinson and Decker besting Bradley Chubb twice.
With the interior linemen, Glasgow got the better of former Lions defensive tackle Benito Jones twice, and Christian Mahogany also won both of his, including an absolute deconstruction of rookie Kenneth Grant’s bull rush. Tate Ratledge nearly completed the clean sweep, but after initially stalling out Grant, the former Michigan standout was able to shed and slip by the guard late in the rep.
I noted that rep as a tie, so the Lions’ starters went 9-0-1.
Detroit’s backups were less consistent. Dan Skipper got run through by linebacker Derrick McLendon, and Kingsley Eguakun was bulled back into the pocket twice by different defenders.
Among the second-team winners for the Lions, newcomer Gunner Britton popped on his two reps, winning one at right tackle and another at left. There could be something to adding these guys from the UFL, who have far less rust to knock off after competing all through the spring.
● While those one-on-ones were running, the rest of the offense was competing in seven-on-sevens in the red zone. Most notably, Isaac TeSlaa hauled in a touchdown from veteran backup Kyle Allen on a scramble drill.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, picking up where he left off after packing the highlight reel a day earlier, added two scores on the second set of reps for the first-team offense.
Finally, there was a short throw to Dominic Lovett, where there was some confusion about whether the play had been blown dead. Regardless, a defender punched the ball free from the rookie’s grasp. That led to some hard coaching from position coach Scottie Montgomery, who was clearly emphasizing it’s never OK not to maintain security of the ball, even if you think the play might be over.
● Jake Bates attempted five field goals and made all of them from distances ranging between 34 and 53 yards. He didn’t hit a couple pure, knuckling through the uprights. Additionally, a 43-yard effort snuck just inside the left upright.
● Full-team work started with the offense pinned at their own 1-yard line. No problem. Working behind strong blocking from the interior, David Montgomery plowed forward for gains of 2 and 6 yards. Then, on third-and-2, Ratledge missed a blitzing linebacker. However, Montgomery was able to absorb the contact at the line of scrimmage and power forward for the first.
Part I - scroll down for the continuation
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rockaction
Footballguy
What happened with Vaki?
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Minor hamstring early in camp - probably could have played last week v Falcons but no reason to rush him back as the hierarchy is pretty set. Reynolds is the RB3, they would like to get Vaki some more work in the passing game this year, but his true value in 2025 is on ST (I believe his PFF grade on special teams was 6th in the league last year.)
Good to hear he got some work in today, I know he's been anxious to get back on the field. He needs time on task, I believe at the end of last year they calculated between the last 6 g of college, the preseason, and 2024 (9 touches, 51 yards) he still had less than 150 offensive snaps in games since h.s.
Very talented kid but there is no path at the moment, but things change fast.
rockaction
Footballguy
Oh I knew that. What happened with the cut-off sentence?
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
IDK probably was rewriting the sentence in my head & didn’t notice the awkward phrasing.
Looks like a Vaki article just dropped a few minutes ago. Good read.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions' Sione Vaki ready to put frustrating offseason behind him and show coaches and teammates what he can do
Allen Park — A scream can mean a lot of things: Pain, excitement, even fear. For Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki, his two vocal eruptions during Thursday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins were celebratory and cathartic.
It’s been a frustrating offseason for the second-year player out of Utah. For starters, the injury bug won’t leave him alone. He missed time in OTAs, suffered a hamstring strain early in training camp that shelved him for a week, and had another issue last week that sidelined him for the team’s second preseason game.
The biggest developmental jump for young players often occurs between their first and second seasons. For someone like Vaki, who converted from a college safety who dabbled at running back to a full-time offense player after the Lions drafted him in the fourth round a year ago, he needs the reps even more to flatten his steep learning curve.
You can’t do that in street clothes. Mental reps are valuable, but they’re not the same as learning to follow your blocks between the tackles. The game moves more slowly in your mind’s eye, without the pads or 300-pound defenders eagerly trying to turn you into a pancake.
The deeply religious Vaki — a devout Mormon who served part of his two-year mission in Tonga — admitted he’d been looking at God with a furrowed brow as he struggled to stay on the field this summer.
"Yeah, it's been a lot of back and forth, a little bit of a love-hate relationship with my Father in Heaven,” Vaki said with a nervous chuckle. “I'm asking all these questions, just, 'Why?'“
Not surprisingly, through reflection, Vaki found purpose in these small adversities. Durability can often be out of a player’s control. Still, his downtime sharpened his focus on the little things he could do to improve his chances, like eating better and bettering his stretching routine.
Regardless, his development has stagnated a bit.
“Yeah, when you can’t practice, it’s always a setback,” coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. “Especially when he’s only had very few days to where he was in (uniform). But it is what it is. That’s behind you, and you’ve got to call this day one. What are you going to do about it? So it’s just good to get him back on this grass.”
Vaki returned for Wednesday’s practice with the Dolphins, only to suffer a setback of a different kind. He did one of the worst things you can do as a running back, failing to protect the football. He lost a fumble on one play and later put a screen pass on the ground. Not the triumphant return to action he wanted.
The team has high expectations for Vaki. Not in the sense that he’s going to jump the dynamic backfield tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, or even immediately unseat reliable veteran Craig Reynolds for the primary backup job. However, the Lions certainly would like more than the 26 snaps, six carries, and three receptions he had as a rookie in 2024.
“We were really high on him from an offensive standpoint,” Campbell said last month. “He really helped us in special teams and we feel like he could do that again. But offensively, just to see what we could do with him, see if we could expand his role. We feel like just athletically, size-wise, explosiveness, power, there’s versatility in what he could do. He might be able to play multiple roles, multiple positions.”
You don’t get those opportunities if you can’t execute your assignments, and especially if you can’t take care of the ball.
That’s why Thursday was so important. Vaki felt the need to atone for his sins — the ones on the field, not the fleeting questioning of God’s plan for him.
And he did. Vaki hardly looked like the developmental project he still admittedly is when he twice followed his blocks and powered into the end zone. Then came the cathartic shouts, the release of pent-up frustrations from the past couple of months, weeks and the day before.
“I think it's a mix of everything,” Vaki said. “Mainly, it was answering the call, coming back from the first day and putting the ball on the ground, not seeing the reads on the runs, not having my steps right. It's a culmination of things. I just want to come back from this injury and be able to show the coaches and my teammates that I'm trustworthy, that I can play on this team, and I'm willing to do anything for the team. That was really it.”
When I talked to Vaki during training camp last year, he conservatively estimated it would be three years before he was truly confident with the nuanced responsibilities of his position change. Checking in a year later, he feels he’s on a good path. It was the smallest of sample sizes, but those touchdown runs on Thursday validate his sentiments.
Now, as players love to say, it’s time to stack days. Next up is Saturday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. Gibbs and Montgomery aren’t playing. They’ll be in bubble wrap with the rest of Detroit's starters. Reynolds probably suits up, but the Lions don’t need to see a lot more after 16 carries through the first two exhibition games.
No, it’s time to see what Vaki can do. It doesn’t matter if it will be a bunch of backups out there for both teams; the Lions want to confirm how much he’s grown as a runner. And he can’t wait to show them.
“I’ve had to fight to get back,” Vaki said. “I've got to help out, too. I'm excited. I'm glad it's at home, finally getting under the lights and showing the coaches I can do this, not only in practice but in a game situation.”
It’s been a frustrating offseason for the second-year player out of Utah. For starters, the injury bug won’t leave him alone. He missed time in OTAs, suffered a hamstring strain early in training camp that shelved him for a week, and had another issue last week that sidelined him for the team’s second preseason game.
The biggest developmental jump for young players often occurs between their first and second seasons. For someone like Vaki, who converted from a college safety who dabbled at running back to a full-time offense player after the Lions drafted him in the fourth round a year ago, he needs the reps even more to flatten his steep learning curve.
You can’t do that in street clothes. Mental reps are valuable, but they’re not the same as learning to follow your blocks between the tackles. The game moves more slowly in your mind’s eye, without the pads or 300-pound defenders eagerly trying to turn you into a pancake.
The deeply religious Vaki — a devout Mormon who served part of his two-year mission in Tonga — admitted he’d been looking at God with a furrowed brow as he struggled to stay on the field this summer.
"Yeah, it's been a lot of back and forth, a little bit of a love-hate relationship with my Father in Heaven,” Vaki said with a nervous chuckle. “I'm asking all these questions, just, 'Why?'“
Not surprisingly, through reflection, Vaki found purpose in these small adversities. Durability can often be out of a player’s control. Still, his downtime sharpened his focus on the little things he could do to improve his chances, like eating better and bettering his stretching routine.
Regardless, his development has stagnated a bit.
“Yeah, when you can’t practice, it’s always a setback,” coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. “Especially when he’s only had very few days to where he was in (uniform). But it is what it is. That’s behind you, and you’ve got to call this day one. What are you going to do about it? So it’s just good to get him back on this grass.”
Vaki returned for Wednesday’s practice with the Dolphins, only to suffer a setback of a different kind. He did one of the worst things you can do as a running back, failing to protect the football. He lost a fumble on one play and later put a screen pass on the ground. Not the triumphant return to action he wanted.
The team has high expectations for Vaki. Not in the sense that he’s going to jump the dynamic backfield tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, or even immediately unseat reliable veteran Craig Reynolds for the primary backup job. However, the Lions certainly would like more than the 26 snaps, six carries, and three receptions he had as a rookie in 2024.
“We were really high on him from an offensive standpoint,” Campbell said last month. “He really helped us in special teams and we feel like he could do that again. But offensively, just to see what we could do with him, see if we could expand his role. We feel like just athletically, size-wise, explosiveness, power, there’s versatility in what he could do. He might be able to play multiple roles, multiple positions.”
You don’t get those opportunities if you can’t execute your assignments, and especially if you can’t take care of the ball.
That’s why Thursday was so important. Vaki felt the need to atone for his sins — the ones on the field, not the fleeting questioning of God’s plan for him.
And he did. Vaki hardly looked like the developmental project he still admittedly is when he twice followed his blocks and powered into the end zone. Then came the cathartic shouts, the release of pent-up frustrations from the past couple of months, weeks and the day before.
“I think it's a mix of everything,” Vaki said. “Mainly, it was answering the call, coming back from the first day and putting the ball on the ground, not seeing the reads on the runs, not having my steps right. It's a culmination of things. I just want to come back from this injury and be able to show the coaches and my teammates that I'm trustworthy, that I can play on this team, and I'm willing to do anything for the team. That was really it.”
When I talked to Vaki during training camp last year, he conservatively estimated it would be three years before he was truly confident with the nuanced responsibilities of his position change. Checking in a year later, he feels he’s on a good path. It was the smallest of sample sizes, but those touchdown runs on Thursday validate his sentiments.
Now, as players love to say, it’s time to stack days. Next up is Saturday’s preseason game against the Dolphins. Gibbs and Montgomery aren’t playing. They’ll be in bubble wrap with the rest of Detroit's starters. Reynolds probably suits up, but the Lions don’t need to see a lot more after 16 carries through the first two exhibition games.
No, it’s time to see what Vaki can do. It doesn’t matter if it will be a bunch of backups out there for both teams; the Lions want to confirm how much he’s grown as a runner. And he can’t wait to show them.
“I’ve had to fight to get back,” Vaki said. “I've got to help out, too. I'm excited. I'm glad it's at home, finally getting under the lights and showing the coaches I can do this, not only in practice but in a game situation.”
rockaction
Footballguy
Thank you, BL. Much obliged.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
@rockaction
OK, I see what happened - here’s the rest of the article.
Sometimes when I try to post long articles my iPhone 16 seizes up & I have to refresh. Usually nothing changes but sometimes, if there were multiple copy/pastes, not everything gets saved. Thanks for picking up on that.
OK, I see what happened - here’s the rest of the article.
● Flipping to red zone work, the second team found paydirt with a short Sione Vaki touchdown between the tackles. The second-year back, who has had a stop-start offseason due to injury, let out a primal scream after powering through traffic into the end zone.
Vaki had another touchdown run later, sticking his foot in the ground and sharply cutting upfield behind his blocking. That one got another scream out of the back.
The unit went for two after Vaki's first score, but running back Jacob Saylors was dropped in the backfield after Eguakun was driven back at the point of attack.
The first team subbed in after that snap, starting with first-and-goal at the 10. It was a dominant stretch of plays with St. Brown cooking cornerback Cornell Armstrong on an out route for a 6-yard score.
A short scoring toss to David Montgomery and a 2-yard crossing route in the back of the end zone to Jameson Williams followed St. Brown’s catch. It’s worth noting that Williams also set a pick on Montgomery’s catch.
It was a great day for Williams, overall. He also had a 50-yard touchdown catch, blowing past the coverage of cornerback Kendall Sheffield and getting behind safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, who got an earful from Williams after he crossed the goal line. Remember, there was a brief altercation between the two after practice the day before.
To round out his day, Williams also had a big downfield block to help spring a long run by Montgomery. It was a complete performance for the fourth-year receiver.
● St. Brown was probably feeling himself a bit after torching the Dolphins defenders for a day and a half. For no reason whatsoever, he tried to haul in a long pass over his shoulder with one hand. It might have been the only thing that didn’t work for the All-Pro receiver during the two days of practice.
The receiver bounced back from the miscue with a slick spin move to get past safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after hauling in a short throw to the flat out from a backfield alignment. St. Brown followed that up by snagging a third-and-7 slant in the red zone and fighting for the last couple of yards to get the first down. It's more impressive when you learn the defender was flagged for pass interference on the play.
● Reporting rules prohibit me from directly quoting what coaches say during practice. That's unfortunate because Lions running backs coach Tashard Choice had us laughing while giving some Dolphins defenders the business. Choice is probably the biggest trash talker on the field most days, outside maybe Arnold.
● Ratledge delivered some huge blocks in the ground game, and the Lions had a lot of success running to the right side, behind him and Sewell, including a fourth-and-2 conversion. Ratledge did have a whiff in space on a short throw to Gibbs, but the rookie lineman is coming along quickly.
● Glasgow’s right arm was briefly tended to by the training staff, but the center didn’t miss a snap.
● Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson were both in attendance on Thursday.
● TeSlaa was one of the notable names on the first-team kickoff coverage group. Also in that mix were Rock Ya-Sin, Trevor Nowaske, Grant Stuard, Craig Reynolds, Vaki, Derrick Barnes, O’Connor, Avonte Maddox and Zach Cunningham. It’s a safe bet that those players are all on the Week 1 roster.
● Practice ended with a situational drill. Both first-team offenses were given the ball at their own 48 with 59 seconds remaining and one timeout, needing a touchdown.
Neither scored.
The Lions labored during their drive, with Goff twice extending the series, first with a scrambling shovel pass to Shane Zylstra, then a 20-yard post to St. Brown on third-and-16. But with one final snap from the 19, Goff’s end zone shot to St. Brown was knocked away by Melifonwu.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, went four-and-out. It helped that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa misfired to an open receiver on third down. On fourth, the QB’s pass was broken up by safety Brian Branch.
● Via Burchfield, Miami had some more offensive success early in practice, particularly during seven-on-sevens in the red zone, where Tagovailoa connected for multiple touchdown tosses.
The QB found Jaylen Waddle on a corner pattern to beat Barnes, Erik Ezukanma on a crosser along the back line with Ya-Sin in coverage, and Malik Washington in the back corner, also against Ya-Sin.
Detroit did get some breakups from linebackers Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone, with Campbell making a leaping deflection to prevent a sure touchdown to Waddle.
With Miami’s second team, backup QB Zach Wilson also rebounded from a rough day, completing three throws, two for touchdowns, and also picking up a defensive pass interference call against Lions corner Tyson Russell on four snaps.
● The Dolphins’ success extended to the first wave of full-team red zone work, buoyed by running back Jaylen Wright hauling in a third-down pass after it was deflected at the line of scrimmage. Branch went for an interception on the tip, arriving a tick late and leaving a clear path for the back to scoot the final 10 yards into the end zone.
Running it back between the top groups, the Dolphins scored again when Western Michigan alum Dee Eskridge impressively pulled down a 50/50 ball over DJ Reed, sending the Miami sideline into a rare frenzy.
Arnold, who comically had no angle to see the play, argued that Eskridge didn’t get both feet down in bounds. Will, who set up behind the end zone, said it was debatable, but the Dolphins had a rough week, so I’m giving it to them.
● Detroit’s defense tightened up as practice hit the stretch run. On one series, Marcus Davenport got pressure, and Anzalone delivered a breakup, leading to a drive-end sack for Aidan Hutchinson on third down.
Later in the segment, Hutchinson added another sack, maybe two depending on the assessment, Anzalone picked up one as a blitzer, and rookie Tyleik Williams also found his way into the backfield for a potential sack.
● There were two brief fights, one on each field. Not surprisingly, noted agitator Skipper was at the center of one. The backup offensive tackle had a great block on K.J. Britt, driving the blitzing linebacker to the ground and landing on top of the defender. Skipper definitely added an extra shove on the ground and straddled Britt while trying to stand up, leading to the linebacker hopping to his feet and delivering three or four ground-and-pound punches to a downed Skipper.
On the other field, it was a Lions player throwing the punches as Ya-Sin swung on offensive lineman Aaron Brewer after he had pushed both Ya-Sin and Barnes in the back after a run play.
Vaki had another touchdown run later, sticking his foot in the ground and sharply cutting upfield behind his blocking. That one got another scream out of the back.
The unit went for two after Vaki's first score, but running back Jacob Saylors was dropped in the backfield after Eguakun was driven back at the point of attack.
The first team subbed in after that snap, starting with first-and-goal at the 10. It was a dominant stretch of plays with St. Brown cooking cornerback Cornell Armstrong on an out route for a 6-yard score.
A short scoring toss to David Montgomery and a 2-yard crossing route in the back of the end zone to Jameson Williams followed St. Brown’s catch. It’s worth noting that Williams also set a pick on Montgomery’s catch.
It was a great day for Williams, overall. He also had a 50-yard touchdown catch, blowing past the coverage of cornerback Kendall Sheffield and getting behind safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, who got an earful from Williams after he crossed the goal line. Remember, there was a brief altercation between the two after practice the day before.
To round out his day, Williams also had a big downfield block to help spring a long run by Montgomery. It was a complete performance for the fourth-year receiver.
● St. Brown was probably feeling himself a bit after torching the Dolphins defenders for a day and a half. For no reason whatsoever, he tried to haul in a long pass over his shoulder with one hand. It might have been the only thing that didn’t work for the All-Pro receiver during the two days of practice.
The receiver bounced back from the miscue with a slick spin move to get past safety Minkah Fitzpatrick after hauling in a short throw to the flat out from a backfield alignment. St. Brown followed that up by snagging a third-and-7 slant in the red zone and fighting for the last couple of yards to get the first down. It's more impressive when you learn the defender was flagged for pass interference on the play.
● Reporting rules prohibit me from directly quoting what coaches say during practice. That's unfortunate because Lions running backs coach Tashard Choice had us laughing while giving some Dolphins defenders the business. Choice is probably the biggest trash talker on the field most days, outside maybe Arnold.
● Ratledge delivered some huge blocks in the ground game, and the Lions had a lot of success running to the right side, behind him and Sewell, including a fourth-and-2 conversion. Ratledge did have a whiff in space on a short throw to Gibbs, but the rookie lineman is coming along quickly.
● Glasgow’s right arm was briefly tended to by the training staff, but the center didn’t miss a snap.
● Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson were both in attendance on Thursday.
● TeSlaa was one of the notable names on the first-team kickoff coverage group. Also in that mix were Rock Ya-Sin, Trevor Nowaske, Grant Stuard, Craig Reynolds, Vaki, Derrick Barnes, O’Connor, Avonte Maddox and Zach Cunningham. It’s a safe bet that those players are all on the Week 1 roster.
● Practice ended with a situational drill. Both first-team offenses were given the ball at their own 48 with 59 seconds remaining and one timeout, needing a touchdown.
Neither scored.
The Lions labored during their drive, with Goff twice extending the series, first with a scrambling shovel pass to Shane Zylstra, then a 20-yard post to St. Brown on third-and-16. But with one final snap from the 19, Goff’s end zone shot to St. Brown was knocked away by Melifonwu.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, went four-and-out. It helped that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa misfired to an open receiver on third down. On fourth, the QB’s pass was broken up by safety Brian Branch.
● Via Burchfield, Miami had some more offensive success early in practice, particularly during seven-on-sevens in the red zone, where Tagovailoa connected for multiple touchdown tosses.
The QB found Jaylen Waddle on a corner pattern to beat Barnes, Erik Ezukanma on a crosser along the back line with Ya-Sin in coverage, and Malik Washington in the back corner, also against Ya-Sin.
Detroit did get some breakups from linebackers Jack Campbell and Alex Anzalone, with Campbell making a leaping deflection to prevent a sure touchdown to Waddle.
With Miami’s second team, backup QB Zach Wilson also rebounded from a rough day, completing three throws, two for touchdowns, and also picking up a defensive pass interference call against Lions corner Tyson Russell on four snaps.
● The Dolphins’ success extended to the first wave of full-team red zone work, buoyed by running back Jaylen Wright hauling in a third-down pass after it was deflected at the line of scrimmage. Branch went for an interception on the tip, arriving a tick late and leaving a clear path for the back to scoot the final 10 yards into the end zone.
Running it back between the top groups, the Dolphins scored again when Western Michigan alum Dee Eskridge impressively pulled down a 50/50 ball over DJ Reed, sending the Miami sideline into a rare frenzy.
Arnold, who comically had no angle to see the play, argued that Eskridge didn’t get both feet down in bounds. Will, who set up behind the end zone, said it was debatable, but the Dolphins had a rough week, so I’m giving it to them.
● Detroit’s defense tightened up as practice hit the stretch run. On one series, Marcus Davenport got pressure, and Anzalone delivered a breakup, leading to a drive-end sack for Aidan Hutchinson on third down.
Later in the segment, Hutchinson added another sack, maybe two depending on the assessment, Anzalone picked up one as a blitzer, and rookie Tyleik Williams also found his way into the backfield for a potential sack.
● There were two brief fights, one on each field. Not surprisingly, noted agitator Skipper was at the center of one. The backup offensive tackle had a great block on K.J. Britt, driving the blitzing linebacker to the ground and landing on top of the defender. Skipper definitely added an extra shove on the ground and straddled Britt while trying to stand up, leading to the linebacker hopping to his feet and delivering three or four ground-and-pound punches to a downed Skipper.
On the other field, it was a Lions player throwing the punches as Ya-Sin swung on offensive lineman Aaron Brewer after he had pushed both Ya-Sin and Barnes in the back after a run play.
Sometimes when I try to post long articles my iPhone 16 seizes up & I have to refresh. Usually nothing changes but sometimes, if there were multiple copy/pastes, not everything gets saved. Thanks for picking up on that.
rockaction
Footballguy
Bobby, you the man when it comes to Detroit. I’m on my phone otherwise I would have sounded more polite. Thanks
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
It's because of him this is the most informative team thread on FBG.
rockaction
Footballguy
Yes. If you want the deep dive then BL gives it to you. It’s really up to the reader. That’s a good thing.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Thanks for the kind words. 
Well that was a couple of confidence boosting days. Both sides were missing a couple guys, Hill out and Waddle limited being the most significant. Regardless, Detroit’s defense looked dominant and the offense was cooking.
All the starters will be in bubble wrap tomorrow but personally I feel pretty good where they are at as a team right now. Mahogany & Ratledge appear super solid at LG & RG. The camp reports are the 2nd round pick has been excellent working with Sewell to seal off the right side, while last years 6th rounder has shown his stellar spot starts last year were legit. The OL has leveled up with Decker practicing again. No doubt there is a significant drop off from Ragnow to Glasgow but when your weak link is merely adequate you’re likely gonna be just fine.
Hassanein has a phenomenal motor, AQ Mohammed + Davenport are looking really useful, Hutch is as disruptive as ever. The DI group behind Reader & Tyleik seems meh.
We might well see something of the reverse of last year health wise. If we get to the bye (Week 8) with a relatively injury free defense, in the second half they’ll be adding Alim and Malcolm to the mix for the stretch run.
There weren’t many questions to answer in the defensive backfield. Reed is a good replacement for CD3, Terrion should be making a Y2 jump, the S duo of Branch & Joseph are elite. Rock Ya-Sin has been thriving since switching to S. On a defense with very few holes, CB & S look especially pretty stout. Kelvin Sheppard seems to have command of his unit. They’re going to be even more aggressive than they were under AG.
Johnny Mo is more vocal than Johnson but overall it feels like he and passing game coordinator David Shaw are hand n glove. Goff seems comfortable and confident in the new offensive leadership. IDK, maybe I’m just being pollyanna but I think too much is made of losing Johnson. The NFL is a players league, and Detroit’s offense has some top shelf playmakers.
Rough schedule on the road this year, definitely going to have some tough assignments. They’re not winning 15 games. But if I were a gambler, the top line looks attractive:
edit typo
Well that was a couple of confidence boosting days. Both sides were missing a couple guys, Hill out and Waddle limited being the most significant. Regardless, Detroit’s defense looked dominant and the offense was cooking.
All the starters will be in bubble wrap tomorrow but personally I feel pretty good where they are at as a team right now. Mahogany & Ratledge appear super solid at LG & RG. The camp reports are the 2nd round pick has been excellent working with Sewell to seal off the right side, while last years 6th rounder has shown his stellar spot starts last year were legit. The OL has leveled up with Decker practicing again. No doubt there is a significant drop off from Ragnow to Glasgow but when your weak link is merely adequate you’re likely gonna be just fine.
Hassanein has a phenomenal motor, AQ Mohammed + Davenport are looking really useful, Hutch is as disruptive as ever. The DI group behind Reader & Tyleik seems meh.
We might well see something of the reverse of last year health wise. If we get to the bye (Week 8) with a relatively injury free defense, in the second half they’ll be adding Alim and Malcolm to the mix for the stretch run.
There weren’t many questions to answer in the defensive backfield. Reed is a good replacement for CD3, Terrion should be making a Y2 jump, the S duo of Branch & Joseph are elite. Rock Ya-Sin has been thriving since switching to S. On a defense with very few holes, CB & S look especially pretty stout. Kelvin Sheppard seems to have command of his unit. They’re going to be even more aggressive than they were under AG.
Johnny Mo is more vocal than Johnson but overall it feels like he and passing game coordinator David Shaw are hand n glove. Goff seems comfortable and confident in the new offensive leadership. IDK, maybe I’m just being pollyanna but I think too much is made of losing Johnson. The NFL is a players league, and Detroit’s offense has some top shelf playmakers.
Rough schedule on the road this year, definitely going to have some tough assignments. They’re not winning 15 games. But if I were a gambler, the top line looks attractive:
| Outcome | Odds |
| Over 10.5 wins | +110 |
| Under 10.5 wins | -135 |
edit typo
Last edited:
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
'Onward:' Lions' Ronnie Bell taps into Harbaugh mantra, underdog mentality while competing for job in deep WR room
Allen Park — If you missed Ronnie Bell signing with the Detroit Lions, no one could really blame you.
Following the team’s premature playoff exit at the hands of Washington in January, most fans were still working their way through the five stages of grief. And those who rapidly made it to acceptance were still affected by varying degrees of apathy, requiring a break from team news, at least until both coordinators needed to be replaced.
Bell, the former University of Michigan standout, inked a futures deal with the Lions early into that hangover period, a mere three days after the loss. Who could have reasonably noticed?
Maybe, in a different timeline, the addition generates more interest. If the Lions were coming off a five-win season, those same fans would have been looking for any morsel of offseason optimism. Without question, it’s easier to imagine unearthing a gem when a former Wolverine or Spartan star benefits from nostalgia clouding the evaluation.
But in this timeline, where the Lions are expected to win the division and contend for Super Bowls, a timeline where they have a two-time All-Pro and blazing fast former first-round pick coming off his first 1,000-yard season, who is thinking about what Bell could bring to the table?
Then, before the newcomer could even slip on his Honolulu blue jersey for the first time, the Lions selected two receivers in the draft, including an uber athlete with local ties that they aggressively traded up to land in the third round.
Wait, who did we say the Lions signed in January?
Don’t worry, Bell is used to being an afterthought. Of course, he’s also used to overcoming long odds.
In case you forgot, or maybe never knew, Bell wasn’t even going to play football in college. Despite being one of the most productive pass catchers in Missouri high school history, he initially committed to Missouri State to play basketball before Jim Harbaugh swooped in and extended Bell his lone D-I offer.
With a loaded receiver recruiting crop the year before, led by Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins, few expected much from the late addition to the Wolverines' 2018 class. Yet in his second season at Michigan, Bell led the team in receiving. He’d end up doing that three times in four years, the exception being the 2021 campaign, when he suffered a torn ACL in the opener.
Bell also defied the odds as a seventh-round draft pick for the San Francisco 49ers, making their Super Bowl-caliber roster twice out of training camp and appearing in 17 games as a rookie in 2023.
Needless to say, he’s pretty comfortable in the underdog role.
“It's a part of me and I feel like it's who I am,” Bell said. “When I went to Michigan, I went in as the basketball guy, and nobody really thought much of me. I use that every day as fuel to make something of myself, make something happen.
“Same thing in San Fran,” Bell said. “When I first got out there as a seventh-rounder, people didn't think I would even make the squad. That was crazy. Now, same thing here. The depth in the room is kind of, 'Oh, what are you going to be able to do?' No, that's fuel. You have to make something of yourself, make yourself valuable, make it happen.”
There’s no confusing Detroit’s situation. Three weeks into camp, Bell remains a long shot to make the roster. The depth chart as his position is stacked, and the Lions are already on track to carry six receivers into Week 1 with rookies Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett both showing long-term promise. Hell, undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks has flashed enough on offense and special teams to merit a spot most years. Still, it will be tricky to justify a seventh.
Bell, he might be eighth on the depth chart. Might be. That depends on where you think the team stands on Tom Kennedy. They certainly have liked him enough to keep him around for the past seven years.
Bell isn’t concerned about the numbers game, pulling inspiration from his former Michigan coach.
“You can't look at it that way,” Bell said. “Like coach Harbaugh used to always say, 'Onward!' You just have to keep your head down and push through. Especially in a setting like camp, man. Every day is a new day to continue to better yourself, make yourself valuable and show what you can do. What you did the day before, it doesn't really count. It doesn't mean anything. Today is a new day and you have to do it all over again.”
It’s a good thing because the first day of training camp is one Bell is happy to forget. He stood out for the wrong reasons, getting barked at by position coach Scottie Montgomery multiple times for missed assignments.
Bell admits he felt like he was in a washing machine that day, swaying in a circular motion as he attempted to convey the overwhelming amount of information he was trying to process and take to the field as he was learning Detroit's scheme.
Regardless of those initial lumps, his acclimation has been steady. Bell logged just five snaps in the preseason opener, a damning workload for a guy scrapping for a job. However, that jumped to 16 in last week’s game against Atlanta, which was cut short due to teammate Morice Norris' injury. Bell caught both of his targets for 26 yards in the exhibition contest, including a chain-mover on third-and-9. He also showed up repeatedly in the run game as a blocker.
He’s forcing people to notice him, like he always has. And when injuries depleted Detroit’s receiving depth chart during the team’s first joint practice with Miami this week, Bell was asked to step in with the first-team offense during a two-minute drill. He even managed to catch a pass from starting quarterback Jared Goff on the successful series.
“Yeah, he’s pretty steady,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “He is a pretty smart guy, and because of that, he mentally knows the positions, and we got down there, we had lost a few guys, and so we needed him, and I thought he stepped in there and knew what to do.
“Look he puts the work in,” Campbell continued. “You see his blocking. He’ll block on the perimeter, and he’s another guy that’s kind of a crafty receiver. So, he’s been pretty dependable for us in the preseason here and training camp.”
Bell is doing the little things right to get recognized by the team’s decision-makers. There’s a reason he’s here, after all. He’s the archetype of guys the Lions target at the position. He offers a modest frame, but he’s smart and an above-average athlete. He also plays with a chip on his shoulder — a.k.a grit — and with the physicality the team demands in the run game.
A slot on the 53-man roster is probably a bridge too far, barring some unforeseen injuries. However, a spot on the practice squad isn’t out of the question. The Lions carried three receivers on that 16-man unit most of last season, with Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson eventually earning main roster spots, and Kennedy and Maurice Alexander seeing some regular-season action.
“Hopefully, that's what I can do, keep showing them when they need (No.) 10, I can be the guy that they need, however they need me,” Bell said. “I just want to be part of this team. I just want to make this team better. I want to help win games for this team.”
In the meantime, Bell will keep grinding, trying to stack days, with Saturday’s preseason game against Miami his next opportunity. Plus, as an added bonus with his return to his second home, he gets to be closer to his brother, Kendrick Bell, who followed in Ronnie’s footsteps and is preparing for his third season at Michigan after offseason knee surgery.
“It's been kind of a grueling process for him to get back,” Ronnie said. “But, man, he's healthy and he looks good. I'm excited for him. He's been flying around in camp. I'm so excited for him.
“Yeah, definitely, (it’s been great coming back to) something familiar, but also to be close to him, just knowing I can be there for him as much as possible.”
Following the team’s premature playoff exit at the hands of Washington in January, most fans were still working their way through the five stages of grief. And those who rapidly made it to acceptance were still affected by varying degrees of apathy, requiring a break from team news, at least until both coordinators needed to be replaced.
Bell, the former University of Michigan standout, inked a futures deal with the Lions early into that hangover period, a mere three days after the loss. Who could have reasonably noticed?
Maybe, in a different timeline, the addition generates more interest. If the Lions were coming off a five-win season, those same fans would have been looking for any morsel of offseason optimism. Without question, it’s easier to imagine unearthing a gem when a former Wolverine or Spartan star benefits from nostalgia clouding the evaluation.
But in this timeline, where the Lions are expected to win the division and contend for Super Bowls, a timeline where they have a two-time All-Pro and blazing fast former first-round pick coming off his first 1,000-yard season, who is thinking about what Bell could bring to the table?
Then, before the newcomer could even slip on his Honolulu blue jersey for the first time, the Lions selected two receivers in the draft, including an uber athlete with local ties that they aggressively traded up to land in the third round.
Wait, who did we say the Lions signed in January?
Don’t worry, Bell is used to being an afterthought. Of course, he’s also used to overcoming long odds.
In case you forgot, or maybe never knew, Bell wasn’t even going to play football in college. Despite being one of the most productive pass catchers in Missouri high school history, he initially committed to Missouri State to play basketball before Jim Harbaugh swooped in and extended Bell his lone D-I offer.
With a loaded receiver recruiting crop the year before, led by Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins, few expected much from the late addition to the Wolverines' 2018 class. Yet in his second season at Michigan, Bell led the team in receiving. He’d end up doing that three times in four years, the exception being the 2021 campaign, when he suffered a torn ACL in the opener.
Bell also defied the odds as a seventh-round draft pick for the San Francisco 49ers, making their Super Bowl-caliber roster twice out of training camp and appearing in 17 games as a rookie in 2023.
Needless to say, he’s pretty comfortable in the underdog role.
“It's a part of me and I feel like it's who I am,” Bell said. “When I went to Michigan, I went in as the basketball guy, and nobody really thought much of me. I use that every day as fuel to make something of myself, make something happen.
“Same thing in San Fran,” Bell said. “When I first got out there as a seventh-rounder, people didn't think I would even make the squad. That was crazy. Now, same thing here. The depth in the room is kind of, 'Oh, what are you going to be able to do?' No, that's fuel. You have to make something of yourself, make yourself valuable, make it happen.”
There’s no confusing Detroit’s situation. Three weeks into camp, Bell remains a long shot to make the roster. The depth chart as his position is stacked, and the Lions are already on track to carry six receivers into Week 1 with rookies Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett both showing long-term promise. Hell, undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks has flashed enough on offense and special teams to merit a spot most years. Still, it will be tricky to justify a seventh.
Bell, he might be eighth on the depth chart. Might be. That depends on where you think the team stands on Tom Kennedy. They certainly have liked him enough to keep him around for the past seven years.
Bell isn’t concerned about the numbers game, pulling inspiration from his former Michigan coach.
“You can't look at it that way,” Bell said. “Like coach Harbaugh used to always say, 'Onward!' You just have to keep your head down and push through. Especially in a setting like camp, man. Every day is a new day to continue to better yourself, make yourself valuable and show what you can do. What you did the day before, it doesn't really count. It doesn't mean anything. Today is a new day and you have to do it all over again.”
It’s a good thing because the first day of training camp is one Bell is happy to forget. He stood out for the wrong reasons, getting barked at by position coach Scottie Montgomery multiple times for missed assignments.
Bell admits he felt like he was in a washing machine that day, swaying in a circular motion as he attempted to convey the overwhelming amount of information he was trying to process and take to the field as he was learning Detroit's scheme.
Regardless of those initial lumps, his acclimation has been steady. Bell logged just five snaps in the preseason opener, a damning workload for a guy scrapping for a job. However, that jumped to 16 in last week’s game against Atlanta, which was cut short due to teammate Morice Norris' injury. Bell caught both of his targets for 26 yards in the exhibition contest, including a chain-mover on third-and-9. He also showed up repeatedly in the run game as a blocker.
He’s forcing people to notice him, like he always has. And when injuries depleted Detroit’s receiving depth chart during the team’s first joint practice with Miami this week, Bell was asked to step in with the first-team offense during a two-minute drill. He even managed to catch a pass from starting quarterback Jared Goff on the successful series.
“Yeah, he’s pretty steady,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. “He is a pretty smart guy, and because of that, he mentally knows the positions, and we got down there, we had lost a few guys, and so we needed him, and I thought he stepped in there and knew what to do.
“Look he puts the work in,” Campbell continued. “You see his blocking. He’ll block on the perimeter, and he’s another guy that’s kind of a crafty receiver. So, he’s been pretty dependable for us in the preseason here and training camp.”
Bell is doing the little things right to get recognized by the team’s decision-makers. There’s a reason he’s here, after all. He’s the archetype of guys the Lions target at the position. He offers a modest frame, but he’s smart and an above-average athlete. He also plays with a chip on his shoulder — a.k.a grit — and with the physicality the team demands in the run game.
A slot on the 53-man roster is probably a bridge too far, barring some unforeseen injuries. However, a spot on the practice squad isn’t out of the question. The Lions carried three receivers on that 16-man unit most of last season, with Tim Patrick and Allen Robinson eventually earning main roster spots, and Kennedy and Maurice Alexander seeing some regular-season action.
“Hopefully, that's what I can do, keep showing them when they need (No.) 10, I can be the guy that they need, however they need me,” Bell said. “I just want to be part of this team. I just want to make this team better. I want to help win games for this team.”
In the meantime, Bell will keep grinding, trying to stack days, with Saturday’s preseason game against Miami his next opportunity. Plus, as an added bonus with his return to his second home, he gets to be closer to his brother, Kendrick Bell, who followed in Ronnie’s footsteps and is preparing for his third season at Michigan after offseason knee surgery.
“It's been kind of a grueling process for him to get back,” Ronnie said. “But, man, he's healthy and he looks good. I'm excited for him. He's been flying around in camp. I'm so excited for him.
“Yeah, definitely, (it’s been great coming back to) something familiar, but also to be close to him, just knowing I can be there for him as much as possible.”
rockaction
Footballguy
Love the way the Lions are run now. Every single spot everywhere is competed for and taken seriously. And the coaches seem to treat the players and their hopes with decency and the recognition that these are human beings.
