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[Detroit Lions]

2025 Detroit Lions updated depth chart: Preseason vs. Chargers

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

An updated 2025 Detroit Lions depth chart based on what we have seen at training camp practices.

Ahead of every Detroit Lions game in 2025, we will provide readers with an updated depth chart of the team’s roster based on what we are seeing at practices.

For this initial preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Lions have already said they plan on resting the players who got a heavy workload at Tuesday’s scrimmage. That could include around 25 players (give or take a few) from the Lions’ 90-man roster sitting this game out.

To help out your game viewing experience, here are a few keys to keep in mind when exploring this depth chart:

• Player’s numbers are listed (in parentheses)
• Projected starters—who are not expected to play—are bolded
• Injured players are italicized
• An asterisk* identifies rookies
• No. 52 is assigned to both OL Netane Muti and LB Zach Cunningham

Quarterbacks (3)​

Jared Goff (16)
Hendon Hooker (2)
Kyle Allen (8)

The Lions have been rotating Hooker and Allen through their second and third teams all camp, and while it’s Allen’s turn in the rotation to start this preseason game, Hooker has been the better quarterback through eight practices, so he gets the higher spot on the depth chart.

Running back (7)​

Jahmyr Gibbs (0)
David Montgomery (5)
Craig Reynolds (13)
Sione Vaki (33) — injured (hamstring), limited in practice
Kye Robichaux* (25) — injured (undisclosed), left practice on Monday
Jabari Small (42)
Jacob Saylors (48) — signed on Tuesday

The Lions would probably prefer to give Reynolds a rest on Thursday, but with Gibbs and Montgomery scheduled to sit, along with Vaki and Robichaux dealing with injuries, and Saylors only joining the team one practice ago, they’ll likely need Reynolds to take some reps.

Wide receiver (11)​

WR-Y Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)
WR-Z Jameson Williams (1)
WR-X Tim Patrick (12)
Kalif Raymond (11)
Isaac TeSlaa* (18)
Tom Kennedy (85)
Dominic Lovett* (19)
Jackson Meeks* (83)
Jakobie Keeney-James* (80)
Ronnie Bell (10)
Malik Taylor (86)

With the four returning wide receivers expected to rest, the Lions should end up heavily featuring their four rookie wide receivers. TeSlaa has been dealing with an undisclosed injury for most of camp, but he’s played through it and is likely to continue here as well.

Tight end (5)​

TE Sam LaPorta (87)
TE Brock Wright (89)
TE Shane Zylstra (84)
TE Kenny Yeboah (88)
TE/H-B Zach Horton* (40)

Zylstra has been the clear frontrunner for the Lions TE3 job, but Yeboah will have a chance to jump back into the competition with a good game. Unfortunately for the veteran, he needs to be looking over his shoulder at the rookie H-back, Horton, who has arguably had a better camp so far.

Projected offensive line (16)​

LT Taylor Decker (68) Active/PUP
LG Christian Mahogany (73)
C Graham Glasgow (60)
RG Tate Ratledge* (69)
RT Penei Sewell (58)

6th offensive lineman: Dan Skipper (70)

The Lions’ projected starting offensive line is expected to sit, as is the veteran Skipper, who has been filling in for Decker at left tackle. There is still a chance the Lions end up asking Skipper to play, because they only have nine other reserve offensive linemen available, leaving them short of being able to roll two full lines.

Projected starting offensive line for this game

LT Giovanni Manu (58)
LG Netane Muti (52)
C Kingsley Eguakun (65)
RG Kayode Awosika (74)
RT Jamarco Jones (72)

Projected reserves

C/G Michael Niese (62)
C/G Trystan Colon (67)
T/G Colby Sorsdal (75)
T/G Mason Miller* (63)

Injured:
LT Taylor Decker (68) Active/PUP, target return date: after HOF game
G Miles Frazier* (71) Active/PUP

If Skipper does rest and the Lions need to rely on one player to play the entire game, there’s a good chance it’d be Giovanni Manu, as they’re trying to get him as many reps as possible.

Defensive end (8)​

Aidan Hutchinson (97)
Marcus Davenport (92)
Al-Quadin Muhammad (96) - injured (undisclosed), limited in practice
Ahmed Hassanein* (61)
Nate Lynn (57)
Mitchell Agude (50)
Isaac Ukwu (45)

Injured:
Josh Paschal (93) Active/NFI, target return date: September

With their returning top four edge rushers either resting or injured, the Lions will rely on Hassanein and the trio of fringe bubble players from last season. All four will get a chance to fight to stick with the team in 2025.

Defensive tackle (11)​

NT DJ Reader (98)
3T Tyleik Williams* (91)
NT Roy Lopez (51)
DL Pat O’Connor (95)
DL Keith Cooper* (64)
DL Chris Smith (90)
NT Raequan Williams (76)
DL Myles Adams (66)
NT Brodric Martin (99)

Injured:
DT Alim McNeill (54) Active/PUP, target return date: October
DL Mekhi Wingo (94) Active/PUP, target return date: September
DL Levi Onwuzurike (78) (Reserve/PUP); His season is over

With as many as seven interior defenders available, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lopez or O’Connor get some veteran rest in this game. Keep an eye on UDFA rookie Cooper in this game, as he’s been repping higher than expected in camp.

Linebacker (10)​

MIKE Jack Campbell (46)
WILL Alex Anzalone (34) — returned in full (hamstring) on Tuesday
SAM Derrick Barnes (55)
WILL/MIKE Zach Cunningham (52)
WILL Grant Stuard (15)
SAM Trevor Nowaske (53)
MIKE Anthony Pittman (41)
WILL Ezekiel Turner (47)
MIKE/WILL DaRon Gilbert (43)

Injured:
WILL Malcolm Rodriguez (44) Active/PUP, target return date: October

It’ll be interesting to see if Cunningham gets some veteran rest in this game. If he does, the Lions would most likely move away from using a SAM when Nowaske’s day ends and instead lean on more nickel sets.

Cornerback (10)​

CB Terrion Arnold (6) — injured (hamstring) on Tuesday
CB D.J. Reed (4) — returned in full on Tuesday
NB/CB Amik Robertson (21) — injured
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (9) — injured (chest), limited in practice
CB Rock Ya-Sin (23)
CB/NB/S Erick Hallett (36)
CB Dicaprio Bootle (17)
CB Tyson Russell (35)
CB Nick Whiteside (38) — signed on Monday

Injured:
CB Khalil Dorsey (30) Active/PUP, target return date: “late camp”

With the top four corners likely sitting out or nursing an injury, there’s an opportunity to see some depth players battle for the final roster spots in this position group. The wild card in this group is Hallett, who could either start this game on the outside or in the slot at nickel, as he’s done both in camp. Where he ends up largely depends on whether the Lions decide to play veteran safety/nickel Avonte Maddox.

Safety (7)​

S Brian Branch (32)
S Kerby Joseph (31) — injured (knee) — avoids major injury
S/NB Avonte Maddox (29)
S/NB Morice Norris (26)
S Dan Jackson* (28)
S Loren Strickland (24)
S Ian Kennelly* (27) — injured (undisclosed), limited in practice

Maddox got a lot of snaps at the Lions scrimmage on Tuesday, which means the veteran should be scheduled to rest in this game. However, with Branch and Joseph resting, Hallett shifting to corner, and Kennelly returning from injury, they may need him to take some snaps. If Kennelly is ready to go, Maddox will likely sit out.

Specialists (3)​

P Jack Fox (3)
K Jake Bates (39)
LS Hogan Hatten (49)

With no in-camp competition, all three will have to play in the pre-season.

At a glance, look at the Lions' projected depth chart for this game:​

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...chart-hall-of-fame-preseason-game-vs-chargers

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions injury updates: 2 players injured in preseason opener vs. Chargers

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dan Skipper and Kenny Yeboah suffered injuries in the Detroit Lions’ preseason opener. Here’s the latest news on both.

While it appeared on the broadcast the Detroit Lions were mostly free of injury in their preseason opener on Thursday night, it turns out two players may be dealing with something moving forward.

Most notably, offensive tackle Dan Skipper was spotted in the locker room after the game with a walking boot on his left leg. The Lions’ reserve tackle told reporters on hand that he suffered an ankle injury during a 10-yard run from Craig Reynolds in the second half. Skipper was replaced by second-year offensive lineman Giovanni Manu late in the second quarter, and Manu played left tackle the rest of the game.

Dan Skipper has a walking boot. Said it was a low ankle sprain suffer on Reynolds' 10 yard run during Detroit's only TD drive.

— Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network (@Justin_Rogers) August 1, 2025​

Per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, Skipper said he’d know more about the injury on Friday.

Detroit does not exactly have a wealth of talent to backup their starting tackles, Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker. Skipper has been serving as the primary backup for the past few years, but he does have some competition this year. Manu, a developmental player, is entering his second year, while veteran Jamarco Jones has seven starts of experience in six years in the NFL.

In addition to Skipper, reserve tight end Kenny Yeboah suffered a leg injury after getting rolled up on in the second half. While it looked pretty bad live, Yeboah offered a promising update in the locker room after the game.

Kenny Yeboah, who exited with a leg injury, said he'll know more in the morning about his status, but he's confident he escaped anything serious.

— Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network (@Justin_Rogers) August 1, 2025​

Yeboah is currently in the thick of a competition for Detroit’s third tight end roster spot. Yeboah, Shane Zylstra, and Zach Horton are all competing for what will likely only be a single spot on the 53-man roster.

Don’t expect any immediate updates from the team on any of these injuries. The next media session is expected via Dan Campbell on Sunday morning.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...tes-dan-skipper-kenny-yeboah-preseason-opener

 

[Detroit Lions]

4 takeaways from Lions’ preseason loss to Chargers

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The four biggest takeaways from the Detroit Lions’ preseason loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game.

I won’t spend time telling you to not read too much into the preseason. Chances are you have heard it all before. With that said, there are still some takeaways to be had from the Detroit Lions’ 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the annual Hall of Fame Game played in Canton, Ohio.

Let’s jump into what we learned in the Lions’ first preseason game of 2025.

QB play looked rough​

Simply put, it was a tough evening for both Kyle Allen and Hendon Hooker. Allen began the night with the twos, and looked off from the jump. Allen threw two first-half interceptions, with the first one nearly going for six points the other way. Out of the bunch towards the field-side, Lions receiver Tom Kennedy ran a route that broke towards the boundary. It takes more arm strength than people realize to consistently execute these kinds of throws, and not only was Allen’s throw late in terms of timing, it also didn’t have the required juice.

When the Lions went with Hooker in the second half, the offense didn’t fare any better. Working with the threes and beyond, Hooker was often bailing out of the pocket quickly due to breakdowns in protection.

Ennis Rakestraw is still getting his feet under him​

After showing some signs of promise in training camp and early in 2024, Rakestraw missed a lot of time due to a lingering hamstring injury that nagged him throughout his rookie campaign. And for a young player working to transition from the college to pro ranks at one of the most difficult positions to do so, every rep is as good as gold.

Rakestraw started the game at outside cornerback, and certainly looked like a player that is still acclimating to the NFL level. On a third-down play early in the game, the second-year corner was in press coverage, and while he was trying to re-route the receiver near the line of scrimmage, he got twisted up, allowing the receiver to gain separation down the sideline. He also had another missed tackle on what would have been a potential tackle for loss, and a nice rep that was negated by an illegal use of hands penalty.

As I said earlier, we know how difficult the transition can be for young cornerbacks as they adjust to the speed and precision of the pros. Rakestraw has all the tools needed to play at this level, and we have seen this coaching staff develop countless players. Hopefully he can continue to bank reps and stack good days.

Ahmed Hassanein is FUN​

For someone who has only been playing the game of football for six years, Hassanein looked really comfortable against the Chargers on Thursday night. He was disruptive at the point of attack, displaying fast and violent hands to help him defeat would-be blockers. This allowed him to pressure the quarterback a handful of times, and helped him make four tackles in his preseason debut.

Last week when talking to the media, Hassanein explained how he pays close attention to some of the moves that Lions star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson uses, and tries to replicate some of them during his reps. So far, so good.

OL depth needs more time​

Besides what shakes out at the center position between veteran Graham Glasgow and rookie Tate Ratledge, we know the starters, along with third tackle Dan Skipper, are about as set as they come. Beyond that, there is quite a bit of uncertainty. And while offensive line depth is an issue for most NFL rosters, few rely on their line like the Lions do.

I am still reviewing the all-22 film from the Chargers game, but judging off my first watch, there weren’t a ton of standout performances in the trenches. Veteran interior offensive lineman Kayode Awosika had a few nice moments, along with fellow veteran tackle Jamarco Jones. Outside of that, there appeared to be quite a few missed assignments along the line, particularly in the second half as the Lions produced only 59 yards of offense.

If some of the younger guys in the room like Giovanni Manu, Colby Sorsdal, and Kingsley Eguakun could take some positive steps throughout the rest of camp, I am sure offensive line coach Hank Fraley would sleep better at night.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...it-lions-preseason-loss-chargers-hall-of-fame

 

[Detroit Lions]

Open thread: What was the biggest surprise from the Lions’ preseason opener?

Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

A look at two of the biggest surprises from the Detroit Lions’ preseason loss to the Chargers.

Thursday night was a big reminder that there’s a pretty significant difference between practice and a game.

For much of training camp, the Detroit Lions seemed like they were humming along nicely. We didn’t see a ton of mental errors, turnovers, or anything that looked particularly alarming. But on Thursday night, when the Lions opened their preseason schedule with a bout against the Los Angeles Chargers, there wasn’t much that went right.

Now, no one here is sounding the alarms. It was just the first of four preseason games, and the goal is not to look perfect out of the gate. The goal is to get better every day and be ready for the season when it begins. That being said, it’s clear some of the players who will end up making the roster still have a long ways to go before they are, indeed, ready.

So today’s Question of the Day is:

What was the biggest surprise from the Lions’ Hall of Fame Game loss to the Chargers? ​

My answer: Well, the obvious choice at the top is the quarterback play. During the eight practices I witnessed in training camp, I was particularly impressed with both Hendon Hooker’s and Kyle Allen’s command of the offense. They looked composed, decisive, and both were very accurate.

And while I do think some of the “poor” play is being overblown by fans and media, it was certainly a disappointing performance for both. Allen had the better day, but it was spoiled by two very poor throws that resulted in turnovers. Hooker’s night was far more of a letdown, but some of the film reveals he was not being helped by his teammates (more on that in another piece coming later this weekend).

I want to end this on a positive note, though. I was pleasantly surprised by Ahmed Hassanein. What was particularly impressive about his performance was what he was good at. A player like him often wins through effort and motor, but I thought he was fantastic at some high-level things—particularly his discipline in the run game.

Prior to the game, coach Dan Campbell warned defenders that he is not looking for pass rushers to just blindly run upfield and get the sack. He needs defenders who will not play outside their assignment.

“I’d say that if you’re going to go make your plays and I’m going to go get all these sacks and you’re rushing high and behind the quarterback, I don’t even see it. It’s not even worth talking about anymore. It’s not worth it,” Campbell said. “But if you do what you’re asked to do and what (DL coach) Kacy (Rodgers)’s teaching you to do and (DC Kelvin Sheppard) Shep, and you set it up and you push the quarterback and you’re even with him and you crush it or you make a move there, great. But if we’re just going to run behind the quarterback, no that does nothing. But yes these guys, they’ve got a great opportunity to showcase what they can do and play within the defense and show their worth.”

That’s exactly how Hassanein played, and, in my opinion, that shows just how coachable he is. That could mean great things for the young defender.

What surprised you in Thursday night’s game? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...e-detroit-lions-biggest-surprises-vs-chargers

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions sign veteran offensive tackle

Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions added an offensive tackle, raising questions about Dan Skipper’s injury situation.

On Saturday afternoon, the Detroit Lions announced that they have signed offensive tackle Justin Herron. In order to make room for Herron, the Lions have waived defensive tackle Raequan Williams

Herron was a sixth-round pick for the New England Patriots back in 2020. He would end up starting 10 games for the Patriots in his first two NFL seasons. However, in his third year, he was traded the the Las Vegas Raiders along with a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round pick in return. Two weeks later, he tore his ACL.

In 2023, he made six game appearances and one start for the Raiders. He was eventually released in December.

Herron was given another shot with the New Orleans Saints last year, but he suffered a knee injury early in training camp and spent the entire year on injured reserve.

Obviously, injuries have plagued Herron’s short career, but he brings to the Lions experience and great character. In 2021, he rescued a woman from an attempted sexual assault.

Herron’s addition raises questions about the health of backup tackle Dan Skipper, who suffered an injury in Detroit’s preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. After the game, Skipper was in a boot and told reporters it was a low-ankle sprain.

Herron will now enter a competition for the backup offensive tackle job with Skipper, Giovanni Manu, Jamarco Jones, and Mason Miller. Time will tell whether Herron will be legitimate competition or someone who will help a potentially short-handed Lions offensive line during training camp.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...s-sign-veteran-offensive-tackle-justin-herron

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions injury updates: Good news for Terrion Arnold, Dan Skipper

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Lions got some positive injury updates on a few of their injured players ahead of Day 9 of training camp.

Last Tuesday, Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold suffered a hamstring injury and did not return to practice. But on Sunday, coach Dan Campbell provided a positive update on the 2024 first-round pick.

“He’ll be down for a little bit. It’s not a major hamstring (injury),” Campbell said. “This is a low-grade (injury), but we’re trying to be smart with it. We’re hoping to have him back—what is today? Sunday, right?—We’re hoping to have him back by the middle of the week.”

That’s relieving news for Lions fans, as Arnold was having a very strong start to training camp. After an up-and-down rookie season, Arnold looks prepared for a Year 2 jump. And given that he’ll only miss a few practices, he should be able to keep the positive momentum moving forward.

Campbell additionally gave more good injury news when it comes to offensive tackle Dan Skipper. The veteran lineman suffered an ankle sprain in Thursday’s preseason game, but Campbell said he’s only expected to miss about a week.

“He’ll probably be down for about a week,” Campbell said. “Got his ankle a little bit. Shouldn’t be long-term, but he’s going to need to lay off it a little bit here.”

Skipper has been the team’s backup tackle for the past couple of years, and he’ll remain in competition for the job with the likes of Giovanni Manu, Jamarco Jones, Mason Miller, and newly signed Justin Herron.

In related news, Campbell noted that starting left tackle Taylor Decker will come off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and be limited in Sunday’s practice as he acclimates back to practice.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...-updates-good-news-terrion-arnold-dan-skipper

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions Day 9 camp observations: Detroit’s DBs continue to shine

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

D.J. Reed led an active and impressive Detroit Lions secondary on Day 9 of training camp.

The Detroit Lions returned to the practice field on Sunday a few days removed from their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was back to business and things looked much more in sync than they did in Canton, Ohio on Thursday.

Here are my biggest observations from one of the longer days of training camp so far.

The starting defensive backs are really starting to shine ​

We haven’t talked much about D.J. Reed this camp. Some of that is because Reed has only gotten a few days of work during team drills, some of that is because Terrion Arnold has been stealing the show for the first week of training camp.

But with Arnold sidelined on Sunday as he works back from a hamstring injury, Reed showed why the Lions invested in him this offseason. Working opposite Jameson Williams for much of the 1-on-1 drills, Reed made life hard for the star receiver. While Williams won the first rep between the two on a comeback route where Reed was still in good position, the cornerback went stride-for-stride with Jamo on a deep shot—something that is tough to do.

After practice, Reed talked about shadowing Williams, and noted that people sleep on his speed. His only publicly recorded 40-yard dash time was a 4.51 at the NFL Combine, but Reed claimed he running with a sprained MCL at the time and has regularly ran in the 4.3s. That may be talk, but it certainly looked like the real deal on this particular rep, and during a rep last week when he chased down Jahmyr Gibbs.

But it’s not just Reed impressing among the starting secondary. Amik Robertson also won his rep against Williams, forcing an incomplete pass, and is the only person I’ve seen in camp give Kalif Raymond a run for his money during one-on-ones.

Kerby Joseph stood out during one-on-ones for a completely different reason. Lined up opposite rookie Isaac TeSlaa, he gave the receiver a very aggressive jam that had the rookie stuck in place for several seconds. On the next rep between the two, he did it again, but TeSlaa was able to disengage quicker. Given TeSlaa’s lack of press coverage in college, this certainly seems intentional on the Lions’ part.

Finally, there’s the most consistent defensive back of the last three training camps: Brian Branch. He was dominant again on Sunday. First, he was the only defender who seems to be able to take down Sam LaPorta during individual tackling drills. Thenn during coverage one-on-ones, he had some extremely competitive reps. He was able to stick with Jahmyr Gibbs on a Texas route to force an incompletion. And while he gave up back-to-back completions to Amon-Ra St. Brown, his coverage couldn’t get much better on each play. Jared Goff just dropped perfect balls to his favorite receiver. The Lions were able to get video of both reps:

Amon-Ra working the sideline pic.twitter.com/xrmoISLNuM

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 3, 2025​

If you slow down that first play enough, it looks like Branch actually gets a hand on it.

Other standouts from one-on-ones

• The daily David Montgomery vs. Jack Campbell tackling drill went, again, in Montgomery’s favor. I also saw Montgomery handle Campbell very well in a pass protection drill.
• Dominic Lovett is generally good in the one-on-one drills, and he continues to find open field. However, he logged a couple of drops on Sunday, continuing an issue from Thursday’s preseason game.
• Isaac TeSlaa had two big wins in the tackling drill, evading Erick Hallett twice
• Ezekiel Turner was the defensive standout in the tackling drill. He easily took new running back Jacob Saylors to the ground both times.
• Gibbs closed out the coverage reps with a wheel route against Alex Anzalone. The linebacker did his absolute best, but it’s not a fair matchup. Goff laid another perfect pass for the big gain.

Depth chart shakeups ​

Along the offensive line, we saw a few changes on Sunday. For one, with Taylor Decker still sitting out team drills and Dan Skipper nursing an ankle injury, it was mostly Jamarco Jones as the first team left tackle. That said, Giovanni Manu got a handful of reps with the ones as well.

While Graham Glasgow continues to take every starting center rep, we saw Kayode Awosika relieve the starting guards on both sides with the first-team offense a little bit. Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany still got the large majority of reps, but it’s still a good sign for Awosika after a strong preseason opener.

With the reserves, Trystan Colon got the second-team center reps, continuing the trend from the preseason game, while Kingsley Eguakun—who started Thursday’s game at center—worked as a third-string guard. Michael Niese was the third-string center.

Keith Cooper continues to get sprinkled in with the first and second-team defense, as does Pat O’Connor. But the most notable change on defense was seeing Rock Ya-Sin starting to get some safety and nickel reps.

“He’s pretty tough, he’s physical, he’s headsy, and he’s versatile,” coach Dan Campbell said before practice. “There’s a number of things he can do. We’d like to start working him at some safety, too.”

With the injuries to Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw—and Ya-Sin working a little at safety—Dicaprio Bootle got a lot of work with the first-team defense opposite Reed.

Other news and notes:​

• Despite very tight coverage from Robertson, Jameson Williams made a couple big catches during team drills on crossing routes, as he continues to grow his route tree
• Sunday’s practice had the most successful two-RB set play to date. A draw play to Gibbs had David Montgomery ahead as the lead blocker and earned at least 10-15 yards.
• It was a perfect day for Jake Bates, who made six field goals during team drills. Distances: 34, 38, 39, 44, 44, 49.
• Kalif Raymond had two huge gains during team drills, toasting the second-team defense during 11-on-11s, and then beating the starters during 7-on-7s.
• Branch absolutely laid out Shane Zylstra after a checkdown to the tight end. Based on my viewpoint, it could’ve drawn a flag for helmet-to-helmet contact. Thanks goodness for guardian caps.
• Practice ended with a running-out-the-clock scenario. The offense had it first-and-10 from their 34-yard line with 2:24 remaining and a one-point lead. The defense had one timeout left. Despite a big stop on first down (Jack Campbell and Marcus Davenport combined for a tackle for loss), the Lions offense managed to dig themselves out of a hole and earn a first down to run out the rest of the clock. On a third-and-medium, Goff fooled the defense with a screen pass to Montgomery that gained at least 10 yards.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...p-observations-detroits-dbs-continue-to-shine

 

[Detroit Lions]

Training camp highlights: The St. Brown, Goff connection is unreal

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Video highlights from Detroit Lions training camp, and some analysis of each play.

Sunday’s practice was nearly 2.5 hours for the Detroit Lions, as training camp continues to ramp up for the regular season. With so much content at their disposal, the team offered a ton of highlights from practice for those who weren’t in attendance.

Let’s break down the highlights, adding my own commentary based on my personal viewpoint of practice.

Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jared Goff are on another level​

Amon-Ra working the sideline pic.twitter.com/xrmoISLNuM

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 3, 2025​

In general, I thought the defense was doing a great job during the one-on-one drills between receivers and defensive backs. Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and Tim Patrick all struggled to win their individual reps.

However, Amon-Ra St. Brown was unstoppable, and it wasn’t because of poor defense. St. Brown’s relationship and chemistry with Jared Goff are unmatched. In the two reps above, safety Brian Branch is in solid position, but thanks to ideal ball placement (and maybe a little push-off on the out-route), St. Brown is able to come down with the catch.

But what’s particularly incredible is the first replay on the deep shot. Branch is in such a good position that he actually gets a hand on the ball, breaking the spiral and making it a tougher catch for St. Brown. But you wouldn’t even know unless you slowed the video down, because the Lions receiver still catches it with complete ease.

1-on-1 highlights​

View this post on Instagram​

A post shared by Detroit Lions (@detroitlionsnfl)​

Over on the team’s Instagram, they offered a bunch of one-on-one drills from every position. Here are the most interesting reps:

• Isaac TeSlaa uses his size to create a ton of separation from new Lions cornerback Nick Whiteside
• Aidan Hutchinson tries the spin move that worked against Penei Sewell on the opening day of padded practice. But this time, Sewell is ready for it and shuts it down.
• Derrick Barnes has a fantastic coverage rep against David Montgomery—timing his tackle perfectly for the pass breakup
• Rookie on rookie crime! First-round pick Tyleik Williams runs second-round pick Tate Ratledge a few yards back, but the rookie offensive lineman never loses his anchor.
• In the last clip, Jahmyr Gibbs runs full speed downfield, giving linebacker Alex Anzalone no real chance to keep up. A perfect ball from Goff hits Gibbs in stride for the touchdown.

Overall highlights: ​

View this post on Instagram​

A post shared by Detroit Lions (@detroitlionsnfl)​

The full highlights from practice offer a little more insight into Sunday’s session. Notably, as I mentioned in our observations post, Kalif Raymond had a couple of big plays on the day.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...n-ra-st-brown-jared-goff-connection-is-unreal

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions injury update: Ennis Rakestraw will be out for ‘a while’

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw is believed to have suffered a long-term injury per Dan Campbell.

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell confirmed the suspected bad news regarding cornerback Ennis Rakestraw’s injury. Per Campbell, Rakestraw is expected to be out for some time.

“It’s a shoulder,” Campbell said. “I think it’s going to be a while. At best, I think it’s going to be a while.”

Campbell noted that they’re still doing tests for Rakestraw, so they aren’t ready to commit to any specific diagnosis or timeline.

“I hate it for the kid. You hate it,” Campbell said. “It’s not his fault. Just one of those tough deals. All you can do is try to get it better, rehab, come back stronger, and move on.”

It’s a tough blow to Rakestraw, who has dealt with several injuries since entering the NFL as the Lions’ second-round pick in 2024. He was limited to just one preseason game with an ankle injury. His regular season was shortened to just eight games after dealing with a hamstring injury—eventually landing on injured reserve in November. Just this camp, he was dealing with an early chest injury, and now this shoulder injury will sideline him long-term.

Earlier on Monday, the Lions added former Michigan Panthers cornerback D.J. Miller to help out with depth. He’ll join Rock Ya-Sin, Dicaprio Bootle, Tyson Russell, and Nick Whiteside as depth behind Detroit’s starters: Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, and Amik Robertson.

The Lions’ secondary took another blow on Sunday, with seventh-round rookie Dan Jackson suffering a leg injury that landed him on injured reserve. After placing Jackson on IR, cutting running back Kye Robichaux, and signing Miller, the Lions have an open spot on their 90-man roster.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...injury-update-ennis-rakestraw-out-for-a-while

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions place rookie safety on IR, add new cornerback

The Detroit Lions announced on Monday evening that they have placed rookie safety Dan Jackson on injured reserve.

Jackson suffered a leg injury during Sunday’s practice and did not return.

Jackson was in contention for one of the Lions’ reserve safety spots behind starters Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. A seventh-round pick this year, Jackson came from the Georgia Bulldogs with a ton of special teams experience and a great story. He was a walk-on at Georgia, and despite opportunities to transfer, he stuck with the program for five years, eventually earning a starting job on defense his senior year.

If the Lions opt to keep Jackson on injured reserve, his season is over. However, the Lions could opt to cut him with an injury settlement, and he could theoretically re-sign with the team whenever he is healthy again (plus an additional three weeks). That said, there is a risk that another team could sign him if they go that route.

Jackson’s injury drastically shifts the Lions’ secondary outlook. Players like Morice Norris, Loren Strickland, and Ian Kennelly now have a greater shot at making the final roster.

The Lions also announced that they’ve signed cornerback D.J. Miller. The former Kent State defensive back initially signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2024. After failing to make the team, Miller signed with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers. In this past season, he played 10 games, made 29 total tackles, and picked off two passes.

INTERCEPTION

HAVE A DAY D.J. MILLER pic.twitter.com/wCRzgNTwii

— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) April 5, 2025

Additionally, the Lions waived running back Kye Robichaux with an injury designation. Robichaux has missed the past week of training camp with an undisclosed injury.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2025...-place-rookie-safety-on-ir-add-new-cornerback

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions sign 5th cornerback in past month

Late on Monday, the Detroit Lions announced they have signed cornerback Luq Barcoo. He was actually the second cornerback the Lions signed that day, after adding former Michigan Panthers corner D.J. Miller.

The news comes after the Lions’ injury situation at cornerback continues to grow. Late last week, 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold suffered a minor hamstring injury that has sidelined him for about a week–although he’s expected to return midweek. More seriously, Ennis Rakestraw was injured in Sunday’s practice, and coach Dan Campbell indicated on Monday that he believes the injury will sideline the second-year cornerback for “a while.” With Khalil Dorsey still on the Physically Unable to Perform list and Rock Ya-Sin starting to get some work with the safeties, it has left the Lions very thin at cornerback. Behind starters D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson, and Arnold, here is the list of healthy Lions cornerbacks

• Erick Hallett (converting from safety)
• Dicaprio Bootle (added 7/18)
• Tyson Russell (added 7/18)
• Nick Whiteside (added 7/28)
• D.J. Miller (added 8/4)
• Luq Barcoo (added 8/4)

That said, both Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox can play cornerback.

As for Barcoo, he comes to Detroit after going undrafted in 2020 and bouncing around all over in the five years since. Most notably, Barcoo was named All-XFL in 2023 as a member of the San Antonio Brahmas. That year, he started nine games, tallied 31 tackles, a sack, and an interception.

Former @AztecFB DB Luq Barcoo with the PBU for the Brahmas pic.twitter.com/QjExoaQNze

— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) February 19, 2023

Listed at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, Barcoo is tall and long, and at San Diego State, he had one of the best seasons in program history in 2019. That year, he tallied 55 tackles, nine interceptions, 16 pass breakups, and five tackles for loss. He ended up being named third-team All-American.

“The biggest thing is that he’s playing with more confidence because he knows what to do,” Barcoo’s college positional coach, Demetrius Sumler, said in 2019. “That goes with preparing and playing last year, and with having the whole spring to understand what we’re doing. He’s playing faster. He’s being more aggressive and physical.”

In case you’re keeping track at home, here are the new jersey numbers for each of the cornerbacks added in the past month:

• Dicaprio Bootle: 17
• Tyson Russell: 35
• Nick Whiteside: 38
• D.J. Miller: 42
• Luq Barcoo: 40

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...troit-lions-sign-5th-cornerback-in-past-month

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions training camp Day 11 live updates

After a day off on Tuesday, the Detroit Lions are back to training camp with their final practice before Friday’s preseason game in Georgia against the Atlanta Falcons. For veterans who aren’t likely to play in the exhibition game, this will be their last opportunity to get some work in this week.

It should be an eventful, newsworthy day in Allen Park. We’ll likely get some clarity on Detroit’s intentions for the preseason game—for example, whether rookies Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge get their first in-game action. Additionally, there was a laundry list of injuries the team suffered last practice, so coach Dan Campbell is likely to offer some updates during his 8 a.m. ET scheduled press conference.

Then it’s back to the practice field, where the Lions will continue their assess their depth, install their playbook, and prepare for the upcoming season. With fans in attendance again, fans and media in attendance are permitted to give live updates from what is expected to be a particularly long practice

So on Wednesday morning, when practice kicks off around 8:30 a.m. ET, fans, reporters, and everyone else in attendance will flood the internet with updates, and here on this site, you can access them all and discuss them in the comment section.

We have curated a Twitter list full of all the trusted Lions reporters on site, and you can access all of that news as it happens right here. Twitter no longer allows lists to be embedded on our website. However, you can access our list and follow along with live updates. Additionally, if there’s an update that you find particularly interesting, you can always embed the tweet in the comment section at the bottom of the page. Just make sure you are continuing to follow our community guidelines in the chat.

Get your live, Day 11 training camp updates here​

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...troit-lions-training-camp-day-11-live-updates

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions camp observations, Day 11: Defensive domination continues

After an intense Monday practice, the Detroit Lions took some intensity off of Wednesday’s training camp session, working only in shells during the two-hour field work.

The main takeaway of the day was, again, a strong day from the defensive unit. Let’s get into that and a lot more in our Detroit Lions training camp Day 11 observations.

The defense continues to dominate, but Dan Campbell isn’t worried about the offense​

I don’t know if there’s been a single day of training camp when the offense has been significantly better than the defense. They’ve had some stalemates, but any lopsided day of practice have certainly favored the defense, and that was the case again on Wednesday.

During red zone work, the Lions offense did eventually score a touchdown—a Kalif Raymond catch in the back of the endzone—but it required a continuation of a drive that was essentially already ended by a fourth down stop (and possible bobbling interception from D.J. Reed—it was unclear if he was still inbounds).

Then, when it came to a situations drill, it was even sloppier from the offense. Holding the ball at their own 31-yard line with 3:41 left, down 14-24 with three timeouts left, the offense essentially went four-and-out. After a drop from Amon-Ra St. Brown and a couple of short passes, it set up a fourth-and-2. Jameson Williams ran a short crossing route and had Reed beaten by a couple of steps, but the fourth-year receiver dropped the pass for the turnover on downs.

The team kept the drive going anyways for practice, and they were able to dink and dunk their way down the field. Again, the offense got a little assistance from the coaching staff, allowing the play to continue when Aidan Hutchinson and Alex Anzalone picked up what would have likely been easy sacks. Still thanks to a nice play from Jahmyr Gibbs, catching a ball in tight coverage from Jack Campbell, they were able to get the ball into the red zone. St. Brown capped the drive with a short touchdown pass in the flats with 1:21 left.

From there, the Lions simulated a three-and-out stop, giving the ball back to the offense, down three with 56 seconds left, 80 yards to go, and zero timeouts. The drive lasted just two plays: a batted down pass from Hutchinson, and a pick from Avonte Maddox after the ball appeared to deflect high in the air off of Williams.

Prior to practice, coach Dan Campbell shrugged off concerns that the defense appears to be ahead of the offense right now.

“I think (the defense is) a handful right now,” Campbell said. “And then offensively, certainly, we want to be clicking a little bit better, but I also know we’re like this far away. Every practice you come out, it was even the other day, it’s like, we hold up a half second longer, and this is a 30-yard touchdown. Bad footwork on one play, Gibby spits out of there, instead of five (yards), we’re about to get 60 for a touchdown. So, we’re literally that close, and it’s just that’s how it works with offense, especially early, it’s one guy here, one guy here, one guy here, and it’s just the little minute details. They’re all correctable, that’s what’s awesome.‘

Without a doubt, some of the issues have come at the left tackle position, where Giovanni Manu is filling in for Dan Skipper, who was filling in for starter Taylor Decker. It was another rough day for Manu, with several miscommunications with left guard Christian Mahogany that left a free runner to pressure Jared Goff and some frustration between the two linemen. When asked if he was taking a bit of a leadership role with Manu—despite being from the same draft class—Mahogany shut down that talk.

“I wouldn’t say that at all. It’s not like that. I don’t want to make it seem like that,” Mahogany said. “It’s just we’re all peers here. I’m trying to coach up my buddy. I’m not above him in any way. That’s not—if it made it seem like that, we’re peers, we’re in the same draft class. He’s like a brother to me. I want to take care of him, make sure he’s doing everything right.”

Campbell isn’t using that as an excuse, either. While he knows Decker will make them better, he notes that it’s on the entire team to ensure the offense is able to function without one of their starters.

“You’ve still got to be able to move the ball if you don’t have one of those guys or two of them or three of them or whatever the case may be,” Campbell said. “So, you tinker with some stuff, you try to make it work, you keep a few more guys in on protection than maybe you ordinarily would, but that’s a part of the task of moving the football against your defense in practice.”

It’ll likely be Manu out there at left tackle for the start of Friday’s preseason game. We’ll see if the offense—sans most of its starters and with Hendon Hooker at quarterback—can hold up any better than they did in last week’s Hall of Fame game.

Some OL depth shifting​

At this point, I’ve lost track of where we are in the backup center rotation, but on Wednesday, it was Michael Niese as the backup and Kingsley Eguakun with the third team. More notably was a small shift in the guard rotation. For nearly all of training camp, it has been Netane Muti and Kayode Awosika as the second-team guards. However, on Wednesday, I saw Trystan Colon get work at second-team left guard over Muti. Muti started practice with the third team and got sprinkled in with the second team eventually, but that’s got to be a good sign for Colon after a strong preseason showing as the second-half center against the Chargers.

Of note, too, with no Dan Skipper and Jamarco Jones—and Manu working exclusively with the first-team—both Mason Miller and Justin Herron had to pull double duty at tackle with both the second and third teams. Expect both to get a lot of action on Friday. It’s also possible the Lions play Colby Sorsdal at tackle in the preseason game, but it’s worth noting he only worked at guard on Wednesday.

Other news and notes:​

• While the offense struggled overall, there were some early promising runs from the unit, including an outside run where Giovanni Manu did a great job walling off Tyleik Williams from the left edge. That allowed Gibbs to turn it upfield for at least 10 yards.
• If you thought the Lions were done with Grant Stuard at kickoff return after his game-opening fumble, think again. He remains in the rotation there.
• I thought it was a very, very strong day from Tate Ratledge, even though it’s hard to judge fully without full pads on. I’m impressed by his mental processing. He did a great job walling off Williams and getting to the second level on Alex Anzalone on one play. Then, later in practice, he and Penei Sewell perfectly stopped a stunt between Williams and Aidan Hutchinson.
• Keith Cooper continues to stick out for the right reasons. Getting time on both the interior and edge, Cooper notched a big pass knockdown on fourth down during a two-minute drill.
• Speaking of, the second-team offense had their own opportunity to complete an end-of-game drill. The scenario: 1:16 left, down four points, starting on their own 38-yard line with one timeout. While they failed on the aforementioned Cooper pass breakup, they continued the drive anyway. A big play to Jackson Meeks for 16 yards helped move them near the red zone, but Hendon Hooker had to resort to two jump balls from the 22-yard line to find the end zone, and neither Isaac TeSlaa nor Meeks could come down with it. Tyson Russell had strong coverage on both attempts.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...vations-day-11-defensive-domination-continues