The Detroit Lions concluded the first week of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) on Thursday with their third practice—the first in front of the media.
While at this point in the offseason, it’s always important to remember that the pads aren’t on yet, and full contact is not yet permitted. That said, we were on site Thursday, and here’s what we noticed from a beautiful Thursday afternoon at Allen Park.
Quarterbacks
It was a slow start from Jared Goff and the offense, with Goff’s first three passes during 11-on-11 play all falling incomplete. But as practice continued, Goff settled in nicely with a few rhythm passes and a beautifully thrown deep ball to Jameson Williams (more on that in a minute).
Thursday was our first look at Hendon Hooker for an entire practice since Detroit drafted him last year. Personally, I thought it was a very mixed bag from the second-year quarterback. The ball does jump nicely off his hands, and he can really put some zip on it. He roped a few passes up the seam that some starting quarterbacks probably couldn’t throw. However, the accuracy was inconsistent, at best. A couple of passes probably should have been picked off. That said, he did connect on a deep shot.
The biggest question Hooker faces at the next level is his processing skills, and I saw both some of the good and bad with him on Thursday. On one rep, he took way too long to check down the ball to Tom Kennedy, giving Amik Robinson time to read the play and nearly pick it off. On the very next play, he patiently made his reads, found running back Jake Funk, and placed the ball where Funk could catch and turn upfield.
Running backs
It’s hard to draw too many conclusions from a running back room when they aren’t getting tackled, but I will note that not only did Sione Vaki work on the “starters” side of the field during walk throughs (remember, Jahmyr Gibbs was out), but he also made a couple of nice plays. On a pass from Hooker that was over his head, Vaki hauled it in and turned it upfield for a 20+ yard gain during 11-on-11s. This is the second straight practice where I’ve made note of his natural hands in the passing game.
Tight ends
I don’t have any significant notes from the tight ends group. There wasn’t a notable standout with Sam LaPorta not present.
Wide receivers
Let’s talk about Jameson Williams. Dan Campbell praised the third-year receiver, highlighting his noticeable growth. Williams seemed more relaxed and less prone to overthinking compared to last year. His route running was more precise, and his speed remains impressive.
However, he’s not there yet. During walkthroughs, he made a mistake and reacted by hitting his helmet before rejoining the huddle. In 11-on-11 drills, he dropped a perfect pass from Goff, despite running at full speed and fully extending his arms. To be trusted as WR2, he needs to catch those. Nonetheless, he redeemed himself with a 20-30 yard catch during an end-of-half drill.
Elsewhere, it’s worth noting that it appeared Antoine Green was getting primary work with the first-team offense with Donovan Peoples-Jones getting sprinkled in. The only notable play from either was a 20-yard gain from Peoples-Jones with the second-team offense.
The play of the day came from Kaden Davis—a rookie minicamp tryout who ended up signing with the team. Davis was closely covered on a deep shot from Hooker but found late separation against Vildor for a huge gain and a touchdown. Worth noting that Jamo was one of the first down the field to celebrate the big play.
Offensive linemen
With Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker out, here’s a look at the offensive line rotations. There was some mixing and matching, but this was the most common lineup for each team:
OL1 (from left to right): Dan Skipper, Graham Glasgow, Michael Niese, Kevin Zeitler, Penei Sewell
OL2: Connor Galvin, Christian Mahogany, Michael Niese, Netane Muti, Colby Sorsdal
OL3: Giovanni Manu, Bryan Hudson, Kingsley Eguakun, Matt Farniok, Colby Sorsdal
What’s notable here is that it appears Sorsdal may be transitioning back to his college position at tackle. I saw him play both the left and right tackle spot on Thursday.
As for the rookies, Giovanni Manu remains solely at left tackle (at least as I saw), but will have to work his way up from deep in the rotation. Mahogany got some work at left guard after working on the right side during rookie minicamp.
Defensive linemen
The defensive line was missing a few key players on Thursday: no DJ Reader, Josh Paschal, Marcus Davenport, or James Houston. The person who seemed to benefit most in terms of playing time was Levi Onwuzurike, who regularly was seen with the first-team defense. CFL start Mathieu Betts also got some work and was the primary JACK linebacker for 7-on-7s.
That being said, the two biggest defensive plays were made by the two best defensive linemen on the team. Aidan Hutchinson batted down a pass on a misdirection screen play. On the next series, Alim McNeill whipped around on a stunt play and picked up what would’ve been an untouched sack (backup center Michael Niese appeared to misread the play).
I know a lot are predicting a breakout year for second-year defensive tackle Brodric Martin, but he, too, will have to work his way up the depth chart, mostly working with the second team on Thursday.
Linebackers
With no Alex Anzalone and a limited Derrick Barnes, there was a lot of Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez out there with the first-team defense. I don’t have too many notes from the linebacker group, but Campbell did draw the unfortunate assignment of covering Amon-Ra St. Brown on one rep, and it went about as well as you’d expect, with the All-Pro receiver gaining a couple yards of separation on a crossing route, before stopping on a dime, turning the other direction and beating Campbell upfield.
Cornerbacks
Rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. were both very limited participants on Thursday, with Arnold playing a little more than Rakestraw.
When both were sidelined, the starting lineup was mostly Carlton Davis and Kindle Vildor on the outside and Amik Robertson at the nickel.
Of anyone at practice, I think Davis may have stuck out to me most as the best performer of the day. He went toe-to-toe with St. Brown a few times and came away with one pass breakup. I only saw him give up a single reception all day, and it was an underneath pass to Kalif Raymond for a very small gain.
He’s been a player that wants to get in somebody’s face and challenge him,” defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said of Davis before practice. “There’s nothing changed about that. He did (it) when he was in Tampa. I know he expects to do the same things here. So he fits like perfect for what we’re trying to do.”
Robertson also showed nice closing speed on a pass that he nearly intercepted from Hooker. Other players who notched pass breakups on the day: Khalil Dorsey and Vildor.
Safeties
With no Kerby Joseph or Brian Branch, Ifeatu Melifonwu was the primary starter with both C.J. Moore and Brandon Joseph splitting time alongside him. Melifonwu nearly started practice with an interception on a poorly thrown ball from Goff. Backup Loren Strickland nearly did the same thing on an overthrown ball from Hooker.
Situational drill
Near the end of the practice, the Lions had the first and second-team offense try to score in a very specific situation:
35 seconds left, starting at their own 28-yard line with only one timeout
The first-team offense was relatively successful. After a pressure from McNeill forced an incompletion, Goff found Jameson Williams for 25-30 yards, and the Lions called a timeout with 23 seconds left.
On the next play, Goff found St. Brown for 9 yards, and they followed it with a spike. After a throwaway on third down, the Lions settled for a 52-yard field goal attempt.
Both Michael Badgley and James Turner attempted the kick from there, and both made it with plenty of distance to spare.
The second team was slightly less successful. A checkdown to Shane Zylstra picked up just 7 yards and forced the first timeout. An in-breaking route from Peoples-Jones picked up nearly 20 yards. But after spiking the ball to stop the clock, Hooker managed just a couple more yards, setting up a field goal from about 60 yards.
While both Badgley’s and Turner’s kicks had enough distance, only Badgley’s made it through the uprights, while Turner was a few yards wide right.
