The Lions’ roster battles are heating up, and Sunday’s practice provided plenty of clues. From Keith Abney earning first-team reps to Aidan Hutchinson dominating, several players are separating themselves.
The Detroit Lions returned to practice this past weekend after finishing their first preseason game of the year with a 14-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite the loss, Sunday’s practice provided plenty of intriguing developments as several young players received opportunities with the first-team defense and multiple position battles continued to take shape.
Rookie cornerback Keith Abney worked with the first-team defense at nickel, while third-year safety Thomas Harper also earned first-team reps at safety. Christian Izien was also seen running with the starters at nickel, keeping the competition for the position wide open.
Jameson Williams was absent from Sunday’s practice while dealing with a shoulder injury. The injury appears to be minor, and there is currently no indication that it will keep Williams sidelined for an extended period.
Lions Put Defense in Unscripted Situations
Dan Campbell opened practice with what he calls “call-it” periods. These non-scripted drives force the coaching staff to call out different situations on the fly, putting both the offense and defense in unfamiliar scenarios.
The defense responded well, generating consistent pressure on the quarterbacks.
Aidan Hutchinson was particularly impressive, continuing what has been a strong training camp for the star defensive end. As camp progresses, several players are beginning to separate themselves from the pack.
Devin White continued to earn first-team reps, while Thomas Harper received opportunities with the starters as well.
Offensive Line Sees New Combinations
The Lions also continued experimenting with different combinations along the interior offensive line.
Juice Scruggs returned to practice in pads for the first time since suffering a minor injury. Scruggs and Tate Ratledge rotated reps at center, while Ratledge also received work at right guard.
Ben Bartch and Christian Mahogany continued to rotate between the left and right guard positions as Detroit evaluates its options along the interior.
Greg Dortch appears to be taking control of the competition for the returner role. The veteran wide receiver has continued to make plays in the return game and is giving Detroit another reason to consider him for the final roster.
Isaac TeSlaa also made his presence felt, coming down with an excellent touchdown grab during team drills.
Injured Players Return
Several players returned to practice Sunday after dealing with minor injuries.
DJ Reed, Derrick Moore and Sione Vaki were all back on the field, providing a positive development for the Lions as they continue preparing for the regular season.
Moore looked particularly impressive, consistently finding ways to get to the quarterback. At one point, his helmet was ripped off during a rep, a play that likely would have resulted in a penalty during live action.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Pacheco continued his recovery from an MCL sprain. The running back worked off to the side with trainers as he slowly progresses toward a return.
Wide Receiver Competition Heating Up
The battle for the remaining wide receiver spots is also beginning to heat up.
Tarik Black, Lucky Jackson, Tay Martin, Cedrick Wilson, Greg Dortch and Dominic Lovett each won at least one one-on-one rep Sunday, giving the coaching staff plenty to evaluate.
Campbell also praised Martin for his performance in the Lions’ preseason opener against Cincinnati, adding another name to an increasingly competitive group fighting for roster spots.
Touchdowns Highlight Team Period
Several touchdowns stood out during the team periods.
Jared Goff connected with Amon-Ra St. Brown for a score, while Luke Altmyer found Raheem Blackshear for another touchdown.
Goff also connected with Jahmyr Gibbs on a wheel route, with Gibbs beating linebacker Derrick Barnes for the score.
Sione Vaki added a touchdown on a handoff, while Goff later connected with TeSlaa for an impressive touchdown grab.
With the Lions continuing to evaluate their roster, Sunday’s practice provided another glimpse at which players are beginning to separate themselves as Detroit moves closer to the regular season.
