Lions News

[whatever_gong82]

Paywall article from this morning's Freep.

A heartwarming moment at Lions camp: Barry Sanders 'a better human' than running back


Jeff Seidel
Detroit Free Press


Something beautiful happened at Detroit Lions training camp on Monday night.

Nathan Burke met his hero.

“Can I give you a hug?” Nathan asked Barry Sanders in the Hall of Famer’s first appearance at the Allen Park facility since his recent health scare.

Sanders laughed.


“Yes,” he replied.


So, Nathan gave him a big hug.

“Thank you,” Nathan said.

It’s almost impossible to capture everything inside that “thank you” – all the layers and profound meaning. But let’s start here: Nathan, 32, grew up with cerebral palsy. He was teased and treated like a freak. But Sanders gave him hope. Sanders gave him something powerful.


“He was my life when I didn't have one,” Nathan said. “I didn't have friends. People thought I was weird. They looked at me and all they saw was my disability.”

Sanders was more than his hero. He became his outlet. His escape. His alter ego.

“He ran the way I wished I could run,” Nathan said. “It got bad in high school, and I used to go home and watch his old videos to make myself feel better.”


Barry Sanders scores another TD


A few weeks ago, the Lions got word that Sanders was going to be at the Allen Park facility on Monday night.

Somebody knew somebody who knew somebody, who invited Nathan and his parents to the Lions practice and set up a meeting with Sanders.


But here’s the amazing part.

This wasn’t a simple meet and greet.


Sanders spent 15 or 20 minutes with Nathan and his parents, as the Lions were busy on the field.

At first, they stood by some aluminum bleachers at one end of the field.

Sanders noticed Nathan hunched over forearm crutches.



“Come on – have a seat,” Sanders said.

So, they sat down and started to talk football.

“I love Brad,” Nathan said. “I love Dan."



At this point, yes, we all know he was talking about Brad Holmes, the Lions executive vice president and general manager, as well as Lions coach Dan Campbell.

“Absolutely!” Sanders said.

It was such a sweet conversation.

So genuine.

Dan Campbell shakes Barry Sanders' hand.jpg

“Barry was incredible,” Tom Burke, Nathan’s father, said. “He was very kind and engaged. And him and Nathan traded a few stats, because Nathan's pretty good with stats.”

When the practice ended, former Lion Golden Tate stopped by; and Sanders and Tate posed for pictures with Nathan and his parents.

Nathan walked away beaming with joy after meeting Sanders. “It means everything” he said. “He’s been my hero since I was 5. It’s hard to put into words. It’s like I’m on another planet.”


More than anything, Nathan was happy just to thank him.

“He was just such a wonderful runner and a good human being," Nathan said. "I just never got to say goodbye to him, because he retired and nobody expected it. It was nice to see him, and he's doing good, he's healthy. He's recovered from his heart (issue). That's what matters to me.”


Ah yes, the health issue.

On June 21, Sanders revealed on social media that he had suffered a “health scare related to my heart.”

Nathan didn’t ask him about it.

Because it scared him so much.

“I thought I was gonna lose him,” Nathan said. “But he looked really good – he looks great.”


As Sanders met with Nathan, a Lions official stood nearby.

“Barry does a lot of things people don’t hear about,” the official said.


This is why it is so important for Sanders to be on great terms with the Lions, as well as Calvin Johnson.

They mean so much to so many.

For so many different reasons.




When your hero is better in real life


After posing for pictures with Nathan and his family, Sanders walked across the field.

He stood in front of a microphone and did a group interview (we were not allowed to ask him about his current health condition).


“It's that time of year, football fans, Lions fans in particular, ready to go, so great to be here,” Sanders said.

As he talked, he started to sound like a coach, harping on the importance of the dog days of camp.

“These are the most important days,” he said. “Because they’re just the mundane days of summer camp. But you’re really taking strides on, literally, who you're going to be this season, how you're going to compete. So it's just, it's too important.”


“For Jahmyr Gibbs, what's the biggest key for him in order for him to take the second-year leap?” a reporter asked.

It was such an interesting question – getting Sanders' take on Gibbs.


“He can enjoy what he did last year, but now there's film on him," Sanders said. "It's not going to get any easier. So I think just understanding that, it's only going to be more challenging, more difficult. But I'm sure he's up for it."

Sanders talked about how much he respects this front office and this coaching staff, and how pleased he is that Calvin Johnson will be inducted into the Pride of the Lions – the highest honor from the team on Sept. 30 when the Lions play the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football.


“I think it was essential,” said Sanders, who is also in the ring of honor. “I think it was something we all hoped for and glad to see the fences get mended. Time tends to do that in a lot of ways. So obviously, you never have to wonder what Calvin means to Lions fans and this organization.”

“It's only, only right, you know, for him to get that recognition. He deserved it," Sanders continued. "A lot of us felt like there was something missing."


Sanders finished and slipped away.

Like one of his runs in the Silverdome.


A short time later, I called Nathan and his parents, who were on their way home to Fenton.

“It was like a dream come true,” Eileen Burke, Nathan’s mother, said. “Nathan has idolized him for 30 years. This was a big deal, a really big deal. We know that Barry is shy and we really appreciate the effort. I think we'll remember it always.”

Nathan added something important.


“He's a great running back,” Nathan said, “but he's a better human.”

How freakin’ beautiful.

How unbelievably cool.


Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.

Lions fans: Celebrate the team's epic 2023 season with a new book from the Free Press, "From Grit to Glory." Order now!


Next up: Chiefs


Matchup: Lions (12-5 in 2023) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-6 in 2023), exhibition.

Kickoff: 4 p.m., Saturday; GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

TV/radio: WJBK-TV (Fox 2 in Detroit); WXYT-FM (97.1).

Regular-season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Rams, Ford Field, NBC.

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/08/14/lions-optimistic-hendon-hooker-can-play-vs-chiefs-its-trending-the-right-way/74793720007/

[whatever_gong82]

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/08/14/detroit-lions-dan-campbell-gibbs-arnold-injuries/74793569007/

[whatever_gong82]

After grueling rookie season, Lions' Jack Campbell looks primed to take next step

Justin Rogers
Aug 15


Detroit Lion Jack Campbell pose.jpg

Allen Park — During a 13-month stretch from New Year’s Eve, 2022, until the Detroit Lions’ loss in the NFC Championship game late last January, linebacker Jack Campbell laced up the cleats, strapped on the pads and played in a game 24 times.

That’s a staggering amount of football.


There’s a love-hate component to seeing the field that often in such a short period of time. There’s no secret about the love. Campbell is as passionate about the game as anyone in Detroit’s locker room. He eats, sleeps and drinks his profession, so any time there’s an opportunity to play, you can count on him being first in line.

The hate, he buries, but you can imagine the physical toll that many games takes on the body. It’s like running your first marathon, only with sparring sessions replacing the people handing out cups of water along the route.


“That's like two full seasons of college, so that was awesome,” Campbell said. “At the end of the year, obviously, I didn't think it was that awesome. My body didn't think it was that awesome. But it was awesome to be able to get all that experience, but also to be able to push through little stuff. You just learn a lot about yourself and I feel playing all those games last year was amazing.”

Epitomizing the spirit we like to project on linebackers, Campbell takes obvious pride in his ability to push through that “little stuff” — the perpetual soreness, the bruises and muscle aches you ignore to be there for your teammates. But entering his second season with the Lions, that attitude, that ability to be available week after week, isn’t just for him; it’s Campbell leading by example.


“Even when the body doesn't feel good, the mind is fine,” Campbell said. “That's the big thing. …When things don't feel right, you've got to push yourself a little bit and callous your body. When the season comes, and it's Week 16, I don't care who you are, you're not going to feel good. That's just part of football. We chose to play it and deal with it and go get ready to make a play.”

For a young player like Campbell, nothing is more valuable than experience. If you include last preseason, his ability to be available allowed him to log more than 1,000 snaps as a rookie in 2023. Those banked reps are expected to lead to notable improvement his second year.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is already seeing early results.

“Listen, I’m putting a lot on Jack this year just because I know he can handle it,” Glenn said. “I told him once he came back, ‘The rookie tag is off of you right now, bro. It’s time to go.’ And I’m not saying that because he had a bad season last year at all — I thought he had a really good season, to be honest with you — but just the taking over the huddle and starting to take that jump to be that guy.


“Jack has those leadership skills to be able to that guy at some point,” Glenn continued. “And I will tell you, his ability to drop in coverage has improved tremendously, and that was one thing we’re going to ask of him. His ability to match guys has improved tremendously, and that’s going to help us be a better defense. So every day he’s chopping wood and getting better and better at those skills.”

During his rookie season, the 6-foot-5, 243-pound Campbell proved to immediately be an excellent run defender and open-field tackler. The coverage ability lagged, which isn’t uncommon for a rookie, or the linebacker position on the whole. There are only a handful of truly great linebackers who can do both at a high level.


According to Pro Football Focus, Campbell gave up 29 catches for 337 yards the 36 times he was targeted in coverage. He was only credited with breaking up one of those seven incompletions. Combined, it resulted in a passer rating against of 124.2. For context, future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers holds the NFL single-season passer rating record at 122.5.

But Campbell’s incremental improvements in that department have been showing up this offseason, and not more than two hours after Glenn’s comments, Campbell dropped into coverage and snagged a rare interception off the arm of starting quarterback Jared Goff during Wednesday’s practice.


True to his low-key character, Campbell didn’t care to make much of the takeaway after practice. Maybe he knew the play could easily be contrasted against another later in the day, when Goff connected on a timing route just beyond Campbell’s reach, resulting in a touchdown for Amon-Ra St. Brown.

“It just humbles you,” Campbell said. “It tells you how close you are from making a good play and how close it is to being a terrible play. It definitely gives you the sense of how little details in this league are so vital.

“…I feel like we're taking slow steps,” Campbell said. “You're not going to make big jumps overnight, but continuing to get better every single day is what everyone has been preaching in the building. That's been the main focus right now.”



Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

[El Axe]

From the Athletic

Ten questions that will impact the Detroit Lions’ roster construction

By Colton Pouncy
Aug 14, 2024

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Training camp is winding down. The regular season is fast approaching. And the Detroit Lions have questions to answer as they look to round out their roster and make the math work.

Let’s try to answer for them.

On paper, this roster feels stronger than it was a year ago. But no team is perfect, and that’s certainly true of the Lions. Here are 10 questions that will help the team finalize its initial 2024 roster.

Will the Lions carry two QBs or three?
There are four quarterbacks in training camp. That number will soon be three, and there’s a chance it could come down to two if the Lions believe that’s the best path to make the roster math work. Hendon Hooker is still very much in the “needs reps” phase of his development. His performance in the preseason game — albeit, a short one — was a good step. He looked much better than Nate Sudfeld. But Sudfeld is more equipped to handle the role of a backup, which, outside of playing, is helping the starter prepare week in and week out. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but it’s something the Lions clearly value.

Best guess: Three.

Is Detroit’s WR3 on the roster?
Detroit’s WR3 has been a revolving door in training camp. At first, 2023 seventh-round pick Antoine Green got the nod before falling to second-team. For a while, Daurice Fountain was making noise and had emerged as a potential option, but he’s been quiet for two weeks now. Kaden Davis has made some plays of late, and Donovan Peoples-Jones is finally getting some love after failing to impress the first three weeks. That’s the current state of the room.

Campbell provided an update on Monday when asked about the depth. If you can read between the lines, it’s obvious the Lions are looking for more.

“Yeah, it’s still the same as where it’s at,” Campbell said. “We’re waiting for somebody to step forward. We’re waiting for any one of those guys to step forward. (Lions WR Donovan Peoples-Jones) DPJ I felt like has been, since the game, much better. He’s playing faster and I notice it, we all notice it. So that’s encouraging. Fountain and Tre’Quan and Kaden Davis, we’re dying for somebody to step up and say, ‘Hey man, I’m the guy. I’m the guy you can depend on. I’ll be the same consistent player every day and find a way to make the plays that come my way.’”

Best guess: At this point, if Detroit’s WR3 is on the roster, it’s Kalif Raymond. He’s the third-best receiver on this team, even if the Lions would prefer more length. Regardless, the Lions will need more than Raymond, St. Brown and Jameson Williams. It sounds like DPJ is making a late push. Fountain might’ve done enough to stick around. But cut day and the trade market are very much worth monitoring.

Do the Lions have enough depth at edge?
One of Detroit’s biggest issues last year was its lack of a consistent pass-rush threat on the edge, opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Per Brett Kollman, Hutchinson accounted for a whopping 37.4 percent of the Lions’ pressures in 2023. The typical range for an elite edge rusher is 27-30 percent. It was clear from the numbers, the eye test, how ever you prefer to evaluate pass-rushing. But have the Lions solved those problems?

Marcus Davenport could help. He’s been a productive player in this league and can set an edge and get after the quarterback. He could also be unavailable for stretches, given his lengthy injury history. Other options include Josh Paschal and James Houston. Depth gets murky from there. You’d likely see Levi Onwuzurike playing the big end role in Detroit’s defense. DT Mekhi Wingo is flashing as a rusher and could also kick outside and play some edge. With John Cominsky set to miss several months, the Lions are getting a look at Mitchell Agude and UDFA Isaac Ukwu. There’s a chance one of them cracks the roster.

Best guess: Nowhere to go but up, right?

Will the Lions bring in competition for Jake Bates?
When Michael Badgley went down near the start of training camp, all eyes shifted to Bates. The strong-legged kicker was brought in to compete with Badgley, though a roster spot was far from guaranteed. He was going to have to win it with performance. Then he became the only guy.

The Lions have put a lot on his plate and it’s all by design. Special teams coordinator called Bates a “super talented guy,” and despite some early struggles, the Lions opted not to bring anyone else in so they could get a good, long look at Bates. At the end of the day, he’s a young player who needs reps and he’s getting them now. At this point, it sure seems like it’ll be Bates or bust.

Best guess: No.


How many tight ends will the Lions carry?
If the Lions are looking to cut from a position to make room elsewhere, it could very well be at tight end. As of right now, two players are roster locks — Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. Shane Zylstra is working his way into that territory. He’s been very impressive and has gotten a ton of work in with LaPorta sidelined with a hamstring injury. If the Lions go with four, it’ll come down to James Mitchell or Parker Hesse. I have Mitchell as No. 4 at the moment, but that’s mostly because the Lions tend to give their young guys as many opportunities to figure it out as possible.

Best guess: Four. But three wouldn’t be shocking.

Is Detroit’s reserve offensive line too young?
The Lions’ five starters are set. It’ll be Penei Sewell, Kevin Zeitler, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker — from right to left. After that? A lot of unproven youth.

There are two rookies, Giovanni Manu and Christian Mahogany, who will need roster spots despite not being ready. Manu is a project tackle who will need multiple years to develop. Mahogany has plenty of high-level CFB experience under his belt but has missed all of training camp with an illness. A couple of second-year linemen, Colby Sorsdal and Michael Niese, could provide depth. Sorsdal can play guard and tackle, but has spent the majority of his time at tackle. Niese can play guard or center. Those four players have a combined 253 offensive snaps — all via Sorsdal.

It’s certainly possible the Lions favor Kayode Awosika’s experience, despite Niese repping ahead of him in practice. And there’s still Dan Skipper, who should make the team and keep his role in Detroit’s jumbo package. Just because the depth is unproven doesn’t mean it’s bad — especially when inserted into an offensive line with three Pro Bowlers and two All-Pros. We’d just need to see it.

Best guess: The Lions brought these young guys in for a reason. They’ll look to develop them and hope they’re ready when called upon.

What should the Lions do with key injured players?
The Lions have had several injuries already, though only a couple have been long-term and to key players — DL John Cominsky and CB Emmanuel Moseley. Both are expected to be sidelined for much of the season, but the Lions haven’t ruled either out for the season. That coincides with a new rule this year.

In the past, if a team wanted to hold out hope for an injured player to return later in the year prior to cut day, they’d need to place him on the 53-man roster. But starting this year, NFL is now allowing teams to designate two players for a return — without needing to be on the initial 53-man roster. The two most likely candidates for such designation would be Cominsky and Moseley.

Additionally, there are players like Mahogany (on NFI) and DT DJ Reader (on PUP) currently sidelined who could return sooner rather than later. If both players begin the regular season on those lists, they’ll be sidelined at least four games to start the year. The Lions will need to make decisions with them.

Best guess: Cominsky and Moseley get the injury designation. Reader avoids PUP and returns within the first month. Mahogany begins on NFI.

Is there room for a sixth linebacker?
Last year, the Lions carried six linebackers for much of the season. You know the names. Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez and Jalen Reeves-Maybin. There was also Anthony Pittman, who’s now with Washington. He was a major special teams contributor. That’s the value of a sixth guy in that room. If special teams coordinator Dave Fipp is looking for a replacement, it could be Ben Niemann. He’s got more than 1,300 career special teams snaps under his belt and has looked solid on defense during camp.

Best guess: Depends on the numbers elsewhere, but if they have space to make it work, wouldn’t be surprising.

Will the final safety spot come down to Brandon Joseph or C.J. Moore?
This is quickly becoming one of the hottest debates in Lions camp, which should tell you how undramatic things have been. Brandon Joseph is playing some really good football right now. Lions coaches challenged him to be more physical in the box in the preseason opener vs. the Giants, and he did just that. He also had an interception in that game and picked off Lions QBs on Sunday and Monday. He’s got more upside as a defensive player than C.J. Moore, who’s known for his special teams contributions. That shouldn’t be overlooked, by the way. He’s one of Fipp’s guys, and the fact that the Lions brought him back after his year-long gambling suspension speaks volumes about how they feel about him. It’s a tough conversation.

Best guess: I think the Lions find a way to get both Joseph and Moore on the roster.

Experience or youth at long snapper?
This is the second year the Lions have had a long-snapper battle. After bringing in former Pro Bowler Jake McQuaide last year, the Lions added UDFA long-snapper Hogan Hatten this time to compete with the incumbent Scott Daly. He’s a very athletic player, and could even provide more punt coverage assistance as a former linebacker. It could very well be Daly again, but Hatten is intriguing.

Best guess: Hatten.

[El Axe]

It seems like Brandon Joseph is going to make the roster, I keep reading really good things about him. CJ Moore might be competing with Niemann for a special teams role.

[CGVT]

I hate to be a downer. but I am not sold on the Lions getting much out of Reader this year. Torn quads in both legs sends up some red flags for me.

I know that I don't know shit about fuck and I hope I'm wrong, but it sure seems that we are pinning high hopes on a guy with a pretty serious injury history.

[chemiclord]

I don't the Lions are that sold either. They've been throwing a lot of people in that slot, no doubt to see who can carry that spot until Reader can prove he's up to it

[Iron Lion]

If Sudfeld is great in the QB room, just have him as the practice squad guy, or hell, cut him and hire him as an assistant to Brunell.

[El Axe]

I hate to be a downer. but I am not sold on the Lions getting much out of Reader this year. Torn quads in both legs sends up some red flags for me.

I know that I don't know shit about fuck and I hope I'm wrong, but it sure seems that we are pinning high hopes on a guy with a pretty serious injury history.

FWIW, he already rehabbed and came back from his first torn quad and was pretty close to the beast he always was. It's not any sort of guarantee, but it's probably the reason the Lions were willing to sign him in the first place.

I'll remain hopeful because he really is a monster when healthy.

[Cody_Russell]

Take it as slow as possible and try to get Reader primed for the playoff race in the 2nd half of the season. Definitely heading to the PUP and out the first 4 weeks of the season at minimum IMO. Though I thought Moseley was going to be on PUP in 2023 and he made the initial 53 man roster… that was a miscalculation by the Lions.

The Nate Sudfeld situation is reminiscent of Tim Boyle. Sure, the coaching staff trusts him to know the playbook and how to run the offense. Trusted behind the scenes. At the same time, it would be a disaster if Sudfeld actually started for the Lions. We were right about Boyle… just sayin. As for 90%+ of other NFL teams, the season would be over if the starter goes down. Such as shitty Sean Clifford being the Packers backup.

I’m losing confidence fast, but hopefully Hooker can bounce back in the final two weeks. Keeping Sudfeld on the initial 53 means the Lions will cut someone that another team will roster.

[maxw3ll]

If reader can clog the middle at DT the lions defense could be really good. They stopped the run last year but could not stop the pass. Reader would free up the others to make plays.

Even if he is late to the party Mcneill, Levi, and Martin are all improving.

DL coach seems to motivate as well. Even with loss of commish (who could come back late) I see improvement as likely.

[whatever_gong82]

Pride Of Detroit Direct
By Jeremy Reisman


The Detroit Lions enter preseason Week 2 with a pretty big challenge on their end. Obviously, winning Saturday’s game against the Chiefs is very low on the priority list, but with coach Andy Reid planning to play his starters for the first half, while the Lions are intending to rest theirs, Detroit’s reserves are going to be in a precarious spot. If they want to prove they can cut it in this league, they’re going to have to show up against the two-time defending champions.

So today’s newsletter is focused on those reserve players who have a difficult but incredibly important opportunity on Saturday. I also wanted to highlight five players new to the roster that have been buried in a saturated news cycle. And, of course, don’t forget a brand-new episode of our First Byte preview podcast.


These 5 players have the most on the line vs. the Chiefs


RB Zonovan Knight

The Lions’ top four running backs are likely set with Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds, and Sione Vaki, and that could be all the Lions decide to keep. However, I can’t shake what coach Dan Campbell told 97.1 this week when talking about the reserve wide receiver battle.

"We don't want to keep a guy just because he's receiver three, four, five. We want to keep the best players we have on the roster and that could come in the running back room,” Campbell said.

Campbell doesn’t just say things to say them. An RB5 could very realistically happen, and while I have Jermar Jefferson in that spot right now, he missed practice on Wednesday, which means Knight should have a prime opportunity to get plenty of playing time on Saturday. Knight’s physical running style is effective in the backfield, but it also serves as a plus on special teams, where he’ll have to make an impact to win a job.


WR Donovan Peoples-Jones

With Antoine Green on injured reserve, the Lions’ WR4 job is more or less Peoples-Jones’ to lose. Unfortunately, he’s done just about everything he can to lose it, including another key drop during Wednesday's practice. Campbell is dying to find someone amongst the receiver depth, and Peoples-Jones has been getting the most run with the first team outside of Detroit’s top three. But until he starts actually producing, I’m not going to write his name in pen on the roster.


iOL Michael Niese

Niese has long been penciled in as the team’s third-string center behind Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow. But after the Lions invested in three undrafted rookie centers and some offensive line injuries, Niese has shifted to guard, working with the first-team offense in place of Kevin Zeitler. I had long believed that Kayode Awosika was the top reserve guard, but if Niese can prove himself worthy of the job while also providing another body to play center, he could be one of the bigger surprises to make the 53-man roster.


EDGE Isaac Ukwu

Ukwu had a strong preseason debut, and it has apparently earned him a shot at the backup SAM linebacker position, where two players before him have failed (James Houston and Mathieu Betts). It’s an incredibly tough position, and Ukwu doesn’t exactly have the prototypical athletic traits for the coverage duties required, but the more he can do, the more likely chance he makes the roster. I still view him as a pretty long shot to crack the 53, but if he can continue to produce in a game environment, he may not give the Lions a choice.


CB Steven Gilmore

Given Detroit’s injury situation at cornerback, the healthy players could play for a long time on Saturday. No one needs that extra action more than Gilmore, who has seemingly fallen down Detroit’s depth chart behind Terrion Arnold, Carlton Davis, Ennis Rakestraw, Kindle Vildor, and Khalil Dorsey. That’s not including nickel Amik Robertson, who would almost assuredly play the outside ahead of Gilmore right now. So we’re talking about Gilmore as outside cornerback seven right now. Gilmore’s main priority needs to be special teams right now, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt if he showed that he developed on defense after a year on the 53-man roster last season.

 

Get to know the newest Lions players

With all of Detroit’s recent injuries, you may not even recognize some of the players the team recently added. Admittedly, these guys are relatively dark horses to make the roster, but they’re also real people chasing their dreams. It seems callous to dismiss these people as “camp bodies.” And you never know. Brad Holmes picked these specific players for a reason, and if they have the Detroit Lions mentality that is required to get in the building, we know they’re going to fight like hell to make the most of this opportunity.

So let’s get to know a few of these players. (Note: I am not including QB Jake Fromm for two reasons. One, with Hendon Hooker’s return, he isn’t likely to be around much longer. Two, as a QB and a fifth-round pick, he’s not exactly an unknown.)


LB Abraham Beauplan

Beauplan went undrafted last year but quickly signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury after two preseason games and was eventually placed on injured reserve and cut with an injury settlement. But the Vikings didn’t want to miss out on a chance to bring him back in 2024, so they added him to the practice squad late in the season, giving themselves first crack at him as a futures signing. But when the Vikings got needy in the secondary, they cut Beauplan on July 31, just a few days into their 2024 training camp.

At 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, Beauplan was primarily an outside linebacker at Marshall. He was a terror in the run game, tallying 17.5 tackles for loss in his last two college years, including a 2021 season in which he earned an 82.3 PFF run defense grade, good enough for 14th in the country among linebackers. He also grew as a coverage linebacker, producing four pass breakups, one interception, and allowing just a 70.3 passer rating when targeted his final year at Marshall.

I wonder about his potential as a possible SAM linebacker backup. He doesn’t have a ton of college experience as a pass rusher (121 total snaps in that role) and he only has 2.5 sacks to his name, but don’t be surprised if Detroit gives him a shot at the position in the second half.


OT Jamarco Jones

The most veteran player of the group – he’s 28 years old – Jones may also be one of the better players Detroit has recently added. He was in line for a starting job last year with the Titans before he got caught up in a few training camp practice fights and was released. That may not seem like a “Dan Campbell” type of guy, and you may be right, but at the same time, a guy like Dan Skipper has been involved in plenty of skirmishes, and the staff loves him. A little fight in the dog is almost a prerequisite for offensive linemen.

Jones’ NFL career has been completely derailed by injury.

2018 (rookie year): IR on September 1 (ankle)
2020: IR on December 19 (groin)
2021: IR on November 21 (back)
2022: IR on September 22 (missed entire season with undisclosed injury)

In total, Jones has played in just 36 games since 2018, starting seven. He’s likely best served as a tackle, but he’s gotten play at both guard spots during his time in the NFL.

At Ohio State, he started at left tackle for two years and earned first-team all-Big Ten his final season. He was subsequently drafted in the fifth round. I’m not sure how he’d fit on the Lions’ roster, but if he makes a good enough impression over the next few months, he could find a spot on their practice squad and be an emergency replacement.


LB Ty Summers

Also 28 and a former Day 3 pick (seventh round in 2019), Summers has bounced around from the Packers, Jaguars, Saints and back to the Jaguars. Detroit scooped him up just a day after the Jaguars released him, so he’s been active and competing for a spot on a roster all offseason.

The Lions are pretty stacked at the linebacker position, but it’s entirely possible they’re still looking for the special teams role left by Anthony Pittman’s departure in free agency. And that is a role Summers is more than familiar with. Over five seasons, Summers has logged 1,316 special teams snaps, including three seasons in which he logged over 300 snaps.

Summers is a fascinating player: a high school quarterback who switched to linebacker at TCU. He’s got a crazy amount of athleticism, certainly passes the GRIT profile, and knows how to make it in this league, so don’t completely count him out.


CB Essang Bassey

You could see a lot of Bassey on Saturday due to Detroit's extensive injuries at the nickel cornerback position. Detroit likely doesn’t want to put starter Amik Robertson out there for too long, and his only backup may be safety Loren Strickland. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bassey potentially play an entire quarter or even a half.

Basssy is not a complete unknown, either. Since joining the league in 2020, he’s made defensive appearances in 33 different games, primarily at nickel. That said, he’s only managed seven pass breakups and one interception over that time.

That said, he made quite an impression during the 2023 preseason. He produced three interceptions, a pass breakup, and a solid 72.3 PFF coverage grade. That helped him make the Broncos’ 53-man roster, but he was eventually waived and subsequently claimed by the Chargers, where he made 11 game appearances with a start.

For a team currently lacking nickel depth, you could certainly do a lot worse than Bassey, who has experience and some production at the position.


CB Javelin Guidry

Undoubtedly a first-seed in the Name Bracket, Javelin Guidry is a prototypical NFL journeyman. Since going undrafted in 2020, he’s been on five other teams, mostly on training camp or practice squad rosters. That said, early in his career, he got a chance at a defensive role with the Jets, logging 171 snaps his rookie season and 486 the following year. But since 2022, he’s only played 18 on defense and 39 on special teams.

Like Bassey, Guidry may be more fit to be a nickel in this league. He’s 5-foot-9, but at 191 pounds, he has the physical build to survive on the outside, as well. In college at Utah, he was best in the slot.

Guidry's most intriguing quality is his speed. He was a track star both in high school and college. He ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. It almost makes me want to see him return kicks, but he hasn’t done that since high school.


VIDEO: First Byte: Lions vs. Chiefs

On this week’s First Byte, we ditch the guest format, so that Ryan Mathews and I can break down what we’re looking for at every single Lions position. For example, do we want to see Hendon Hooker against the Chiefs’ first-team defense, or is that setting him up for failure? Additionally, how will the Lions’ reserve defensive backs hold up against Patrick Mahomes–and who the heck is going to play the nickel position?

We break down it all in this week’s First Byte podcast–now exclusively on Pride of Detroit Direct:

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One Lions player at every position to watch in preseason matchup vs. Chiefs

Justin Rogers
Aug 16


When the Detroit Lions travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs in the second preseason game for both squads, most, if not all of Detroit’s starters won’t suit up for the contest.

But there are still plenty of battles being waged for roster spots and roles. Below is one player worth watching at each position with these ongoing competitions.


Quarterback: Hendon Hooker

Look, I could make a reasonably compelling case for keeping close tabs on Nate Sudfeld, but I get the feeling most of you would close your eyes, plug your ears and start singing, “La, la, la, la, la.”

After a lackluster performance in soupy conditions against the Giants last week, you’ve made it abundancy clear you’re not interested in Sudfeld’s floor, preferring to discuss Hooker’s ceiling. Who am I to deny you what you want to read?

I was as interested as anyone in Hooker’s debut last week, particularly after watching the daily inconsistency on the practice field, wrapped around some of camp’s most brilliant throws. The talent is unbelievable, he just needs to be developed to the point where he can be trusted with the keys to the offense if starter Jared Goff were to suffer an injury.

Unfortunately, we only got to see two drives with Hooker at the helm before he was forced to the sideline by a concussion. In those 20 snaps, he flashed his promise as a dual-threat option, and even with the inconsistencies as a passer, brought a juice to the offense that was absent under Sudfeld during the first half.

Whether it’s getting the start or taking over to begin the third quarter, Hooker’s development continues to be one of the most interesting stories of the 2024 offseason, proving "Backup Intrigue Syndrome exists even when Super Bowl aspirations are present.


Running back: Sione Vaki

Vaki, a fourth-round draft pick out of Utah, evenly split 26 snaps during his preseason debut between the offense and special teams. But for as important as special teams can be, it’s difficult to get fans interested in covering kicks and protecting against punt blocks.

No, what everyone wants to talk about is Vaki’s electric playmaking potential. The converted safety needed just four touches against the Giants to get you wondering how quickly he’ll be able to carve out a regular backfield role, as well as his long-term potential.

Vaki gained 29 yards with those four carries, including a productive run around the left side of the formation and an electric second-level cut that resulted in a 15-yard gain.

What adds to Vaki’s potential value is his most advanced offensive skills might be his route running and pass catching. He didn’t get a chance to display those against the Giants, but he’s been regularly featured coming out of the backfield during camp practices and should get an opportunity to showcase those abilities against the Chiefs.


Wide receiver: Kaden Davis

With none of the favored options emerging as the cut-and-dry choice for WR3, the door remains open for a dark horse to emerge. Davis first caught our eye during the early stages of the offseason program, when he was routinely getting open deep.

That longball production hasn’t continued to the same degree into training camp, but a more complete route tree has been revealed. Plus, he’s entering the matchup against the Chiefs with some positive momentum after some nice grabs and a long touchdown during Wednesday’s practice.

Davis has been hanging around roster fringes since going undrafted out of Northwest Missouri State in 2022, spending time in Denver and Arizona before joining the Lions. He also had a stint with the Michigan Panthers in 2023.

He’s not the biggest option, at 6-foot, 193 pounds, but Davis is an above-average athlete with excellent acceleration, top speed and change-of-direction quickness. A strong performance against the Chiefs will help make a case for a roster spot or practice squad job.


Tight end: James Mitchell

Entering his third season, you’d think Mitchell would be primed for bigger and better things after mustering just 13 receptions through his first two campaigns. But to this stage of camp, he hasn’t stood out among the other options battling for the third tight end job behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.

Mitchell caught his lone target for an 11-yard gain against the Giants, and graded well — according to Pro Football Focus — in pass protection. It’s not a lot, but it’s something to build on for the former fifth-round pick.

With Shane Zylstra, Parker Hesse and Sean McKeon also seeing reps with the first-team offense while LaPorta deals with a hamstring strain, Mitchell needs to do something more to show he deserves the job beyond being a Brad Holmes’ draft pick.


Offensive line: Kingsley Eguakun

Eguakun was generating favorable feedback from the coaching staff ahead of the Giants game and it felt like he delivered on expectations with a strong showing as the team’s starting center.

In the preseason opener, he demonstrated the power to match up one-on-one with a defensive tackle, and also the athleticism to climb to the second level and body a linebacker. That physical skill set, combined with an impressive football IQ, make him a potentially quality depth piece capable of being developed into a starter later in his career.

Where he needs to be better is controlling his aggression and focusing on the detailed techniques required to be consistent at the professional level.

It’s unclear whether we’ll see Eguakun play anything other than center against the Chiefs, but he’s been taking practice reps at guard. If he gets an opportunity to line up and execute at that position in Kansas City, it would only bolster his roster case.


Edge rusher: Isaac Ukwu

Prior to his preseason debut, Ukwu made a few appearances in the notes I jot down during practice, but hadn’t crossed the threshold to making the daily observations. In hindsight, that was an oversight.

The undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss, who is built like a brick chimney at 6-foot-3, 258 pounds, got the start against the Giants with the regulars being held from action. With the opportunity, he had an early impact, sacking veteran quarterback Drew Lock in the opening quarter.

Given his physical dimensions, and the fact he put up 29 reps on the bench press coming out of college, Ukwu clearly packs plenty of power in his frame. But he’s also explosive, getting from 0-to-60 in a hurry. That makes him just as much a threat to bend the edge, or penetrate the pocket running a stunt, as it does running through the offensive tackle with a bull rush.

He also sets a mean edge in the run game. If there was one noticeable criticism regarding the debut, it’s that he frequently overran the pocket. That’s an easy clean up, so as long as he continues to make splash plays, he can keep himself in the conversation for a roster spot.


Defensive tackle: Brodric Martin

After a quiet rookie year, which was focused on behind-the-scenes development, there’s natural curiosity about whether the massive, 6-foot-5, 330-pounder can take the necessary steps toward contributing in his second season.

His showing against the Giants last week suggests that, yes, Martin has put in the necessary work to carve out a spot in the rotation in 2024.

Martin finished last Thursday’s contest with four tackles and a half-sack, showing impressive block-shedding ability. He still has work to do to ensure he’s consistently playing with proper leverage, but the influence of new position coach Terrell Williams and veteran leader DJ Reader appear to be having an impact on Martin.


Linebacker: Ben Niemann

The top of Detroit’s linebacking depth chart is secure, while Jalen Reeves-Maybin is both a reliable backup and an outstanding special teams contributor. That’s a reasonable label for Malcolm Rodriguez, as well, even though he’s been battling an undisclosed injury the past week.

With those five players in line for roster spots, do the Lions really need to carry a sixth off-ball option? Given the departure of Anthony Pittman in free agency, there’s a strong case to be made for backfilling his more than 350 special teams snaps.


Based on practice rotations, Niemann would appear to have the inside track for that hypothetical opening. It begins with his extensive special teams experience, but also extends to the reliability he’s shown on defense during practices and the preseason opener, operating alongside Reeves-Maybin.

The Lions cut one of two other contenders for that job this week, waiving undrafted rookie DaRon Gilbert with an injury designation. The other option, veteran Malik Jefferson, is very much in the mix after tallying six tackles in the preseason opener, including two on special teams.


Cornerback: Kindle Vildor

Vildor’s legacy in Detroit will forever be tied to last year’s NFC Championship loss in San Francisco, when a potential interception bounced off his face mask and the deflection was caught by Brandon Aiyuk, swinging the momentum of the game.

But the veteran defensive back, who started all three of the Lions’ postseason matchups in 2023 following a late-season promotion off the practice squad, is rolling into Kansas City after a pair of strong practice performances as an injury fill-in with the first-team defense.

Detroit’s cornerback depth is notably improved after the room was overhauled this offseason. Veterans Carlton Davis III and Amik Robertson, along with early-round draft picks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, are locks for the 53.

Khalil Dorsey also looks likely to make it, thanks in large part to his special teams prowess. Keeping a sixth corner wouldn’t be unusual, especially given the high rate of injury at the position. If Vildor can maintain his current trajectory, he will give the Lions’ decision-makers something to think about.


Safety: Loren Strickland

Dan Campbell was asked about Strickland this week and this is what the Lions coach had to say.

“He’s a football player and he’s one of those guys that he just won’t go away,” Campbell said. “He just won’t go away. It’s like, ‘This guy?’ One more time, Can he make this play? Well, he made the play. Can he really get over there? Well, he got over there. Well, can he make this tackle? Well, he made the tackle.

“He just keeps making plays and that’s a great thing,” Campbell continued. “He’s one of those players that I say it’s hard to ignore him. He’s caught our eye and he’s got a knack for playing the ball, he’s got a knack for finding the ball and getting it down, and he’s smart. Man, he’s smart. Conscientious player, and to your point, he plays all out. He is lights out and he’s an aggressive player. So, we got our eye on him. He’s doing well.”

That’s some lofty praise for an undrafted rookie, but like cornerback, Detroit’s safety depth is pretty stacked. And even with those flashes, it feels like Strickland is sixth on the chart, behind CJ Moore and Brandon Joseph in the battle for backup jobs.

Of course, practice squad is absolutely in play for the Ball State product, who surprisingly didn’t start regularly as a fifth-year senior at the school.


Email: jrogers@detroitfootball.net

X: Justin_Rogers

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https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2024/08/16/mekhi-wingo-lions-preseason-game-chiefs/74824538007/