The Emergence of Derrick Moore Has Begun

Today marked the Detroit Lions’ final training camp practice open to the public, and one player stole the show, rookie defensive lineman Derrick Moore.

Moore, a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has been a player Detroit appears to have high expectations for. On Wednesday, he gave Lions fans a glimpse of why.

Unfortunately, Moore missed most of training camp while dealing with a groin injury. He returned just five days ago, but you wouldn’t have known it by watching him practice Wednesday. Moore looked like a seasoned veteran, making an immediate impact against the first-team offense.

Moore began working into situational packages, primarily coming onto the field on third downs. The Lions moved him around the defensive front, giving him opportunities to attack from different positions.

And he took advantage.

Moore recorded multiple sacks, including one on third-and-12 when he slipped between two offensive linemen and quickly reached the quarterback.

Later, on third-and-8, Moore lined up against first-round pick Blake Miller and beat him off the edge for another sack.

But the sacks were only part of what made Moore’s performance so impressive.

He lined up at the 3-technique next to Alim McNeill, when he beat Miller for a sack, met Aidan Hutchinson in the middle of the pocket on another pressure and even generated an inside rush against Tate Ratledge.

The Lions weren’t simply putting four defensive linemen on the field and asking them to win one-on-one matchups. They were moving players around, running defensive line stunts and forcing the offensive line to communicate and adjust.

And, apparently, it worked.

Juice Scruggs reportedly had trouble sorting through some of those stunts, which helped create opportunities for Detroit’s pass rushers.

That could be an important development for a Lions defense that is looking to become more versatile up front.

After practice, Moore was asked about his role on third downs.

“I feel like Shep looks at me as a guy who can get to the ball,” Moore said.

You could even hear rookie defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard celebrating Moore’s performance in the background.

“Big 8 is back! Tell ’em you’re back, DMo! He had like 20 sacks today! My goodness! He’s fast!”

Moore is expected to make his preseason debut this Saturday, and he made it clear that he is more than ready for the opportunity.

“I can’t wait for it… Like, literally, I can’t wait for it,” Moore said.

Moore is currently listed behind Aidan Hutchinson on the depth chart, while competing with D.J. Wonnum afor the starting edge position opposite Hutchinson.

I believe Wonnum will ultimately be the Week 1 starter, but I don’t expect that to last for long.

If Moore can stay healthy and continue developing at this pace, I believe it’s only a matter of time before he forces his way into a starting role. In fact, I’m predicting Moore will take over as a starter by Week 7, following Detroit’s Week 6 bye.

For now, Lions fans will get their first real opportunity to see Moore in a game this Saturday.

After what he showed Wednesday, there’s plenty of reason to be excited about what the rookie could bring to Detroit’s defensive front.