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[Detroit Lions]

Discussion: Predicting Lions rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa’s 2025 production

Whenever a team drafts a raw receiver in the third round with a bevy of reliable veterans ahead of him on the depth chart, it is safe to assume that his rookie season will essentially be spent learning. With Isaac TeSlaa, however, his path to the starting lineup was carved out quicker than everyone expected.

Prospects billed as “developmental” are not supposed to progress like TeSlaa has in a few short months of training camp and preseason. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams were entrenched as the top receivers in the Detroit Lions’ offense, a role TeSlaa was never going to usurp in year one. However, the expectation was that by season’s end, TeSlaa could push Tim Patrick for a spot on the offense. Patrick’s calling cards in 2024 were clutch catches and run blocking, something that TeSlaa had an affinity for in college. With Kalif Raymond in the mix as well, TeSlaa would likely play fourth fiddle in the receiving room—at best.

TeSlaa blew those expectations firmly out of the water. The rookie was second on the team in receiving with 146 yards and three touchdowns over the four preseason games, but the performance extended beyond mere stats. TeSlaa, playing a majority of his snaps during the first half, frequently looked like the best player on the field. Thanks to his quickness and route running, he was getting open on a frequent basis. When he was covered, he was making remarkable acrobatic contested catches.

TeSlaa’s performance was so impressive that it made Patrick expendable. That is not something to be taken lightly. Since Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell took over, getting contributions from their veterans has been a staple of the roster. Patrick last year was a great example of this: cast off from the Denver Broncos, he found a new home in Detroit and emerged as a reliable option in the offensive scheme.

Now that the rookie has an opportunity for an expanded role, what should we expect from his 2025 season?

Today’s Question of the Day is:

What are your expectations for Isaac TeSlaa in 2025?​

My answer: Around 40 receptions, 400 receiving yards, and five touchdowns.

While TeSlaa jumping into Patrick’s role is a significant sign of growth for him, I do not expect him to explode off the stat sheet this season. The main reason is the number of other mouths to feed in this Lions offense.

In 2024, Patrick finished with 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns. I think TeSlaa is destined for a similar volume. Between St. Brown and Williams at receiver, as well as Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs, there are not many targets left over. Jared Goff completed 390 passes for 4,629 yards last season. St. Brown, Williams, LaPorta, and Gibbs accounted for 3,507 of those yards. Assuming Goff has a similar total in 2025, that leaves around 1,000 passing yards to go to TeSlaa, Raymond, David Montgomery, Brock Wright, Dominic Lovett, and Dan Skipper.

I expect St. Brown’s production to remain fairly consistent (115 catches, 1,263 yards, 12 touchdowns), but I think Williams could see a true breakout this season. Those targets have to come from somewhere. Could the Lions scale back the run game? Perhaps. However, it seems more likely that the snaps come from the depth pass catchers.

However, I think TeSlaa could see a sizeable role in the red zone. For all of Williams’ success last year, most of it came via his home run speed—his stellar average of 17.3 yards per catch illustrates that nicely. In the red zone, he is less of a weapon since his speed is less of a threat. Instead, TeSlaa could see a rise in red zone snaps. His size (6-foot-4) and body control should be an asset catching end zone passes. We have already seen that a few times in preseason.

The Lions are in a good situation with TeSlaa. They do not need him to be a standout on offense right away. If he can contribute a few key catches and blocks per game, that is more than reasonable for the rookie. However, he has an incredibly high ceiling, and if he continues his tear into the regular season, I am all for expanding his role even further.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/nfl-...lions-rookie-wr-isaac-teslaas-2025-production

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions announce 6 captains for 2025 season

The Detroit Lions have named their six captains for the 2025 NFL season. Like last year, the team announced three offensive captains, two on defense, and a special teams representative. The Lions’ 2025 captains are: Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anzalone, and Grant Stuard.

This is nearly an identical list to last year’s captains, but instead of Jalen Reeves-Maybin—who is no longer on the team—special teams newcomer Grant Stuard has taken his place.

For Goff and Anzalone, this is their fifth year of being named a Lions captain, meaning they’ve held that position since the beginning of the Dan Campbell era in Detroit. St. Brown and Sewell are now in Year 3 of being a Lions captain. Hutchinson has been named captain for the second consecutive season. Stuard, a free agent signing this offseason, is obviously the only newcomer to the group of six captains.

With five of the Lions’ 2025 captains being return leaders in the room, Detroit has a well-established core of talent. Goff, St. Brown, Sewel, and Hutchinson are likely going to hold those posts for years to come. And while we don’t know what the future holds for both Anzalone and Stuard, there are certainly some other young players who could eventually grow into leadership roles. Jack Campbell, Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch, and Kerby Joseph are just a few players who could step up in future years should Detroit opt to move on from Anzalone next season. The point being: the Lions’ leadership doesn’t stop with these six players.

Either way, congratulations to these six players!

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...oit-lions-announce-6-captains-for-2025-season

 

[Detroit Lions]

2025 NFL season predictions: Detroit Lions Rookie of the Year

The Detroit Lions are where they are today because of the NFL Draft. The job general manager Brad Holmes has done at finding young talent has been incredible. And while the Lions roster has gotten to a point where it’s hard for a rookie to make a meaningful impact, that will likely be different for Detroit’s 2025 class. At least two of Detroit’s picks are expected to be Week 1 starters, while a third could very well find a big role in the opener in Green Bay.

So our staff has a tricky job predicting this year’s Detroit Lions Rookie of the Year. Here are our choices:

Previous season predictions:

• 2025 Lions Offensive Player of the Year
• 2025 Lions Defensive Player of the Year

2025 Detroit Lions Rookie of the Year candidates​

Erik Schlitt: Tate Ratledge

Not only should Ratledge see the most playing time of all the rookies, but he’ll have a ton of expectations put on him by starting at right guard. The Lions need their offensive line to operate at full capacity in order to run their offense effectively, and believe he’ll be up to the task of keeping the Lions dominant up front.

Max Gerber: Isaac TeSlaa

With the trading of Tim Patrick, the Lions seemed to have placed all of their faith in Isaac TeSlaa. The rookie may not be the WR3 at the moment, but I wager he’ll assimilate into the offense quickly and make some plays. As Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge don’t play the flashiest of positions, a lot of the attention will go to TeSlaa instead.

John Whiticar: Tate Ratledge

I think this will be a popular pick despite his second-round status, and it all comes down to play time. Ratledge is forecasted to play every offensive snap, whereas Tyleik Williams could be a rotational piece, albeit an important one. While I think Williams could exceed Ratledge’s performance on a per snap basis, if Ratledge becomes a reliable starting guard from the onset, that pushes him into the lead for Lions Rookie of the Year.

Jeremy Reisman: Tate Ratledge

With all due respect to Tyleik Williams and Isaac TeSlaa, Tate Ratledge is the most important Lions rookie this year. Williams will be part time and could even see his playing time shrink once Alim McNeill is back. TeSlaa is exciting, but with so many mouths to feed on offense, even the most optimistic projections about the rookie receiver should be modest. Ratledge, on the other hand, will be a key part of the Lions’ offensive identity as a strong run blocker. And with him playing between Graham Glasgow and Penei Sewell, I’m confident he’ll be up for the challenge, even though I’m expecting some early turbulence.

Brandon Knapp: Isaac TeSlaa

The rookie was looked at as WR4/5 before the season even started, and with the Lions trading away Tim Patrick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, it could mean TeSlaa is in for a big year. He wowed in the preseason games, while doing fair in practice with limited play time with quarterback Jared Goff. With how many weapons this offense has, TeSlaa could add himself in the rotation very quickly.

Al Karsten: Tyleik Williams

Detroit’s run defense has the makings of an elite unit, and Williams barricading rushing lanes alongside DJ Reader will be a driving force. Neutralizing the ground game won’t just erase opposing plans, it will feed directly into the Lions’ pass rush and secondary to turn possessions into punishment. Williams may not pile up box score stats, but offensive linemen and coordinators will feel his presence every snap. And if his flashes of interior pass rush at Ohio State carry over, he’ll add yet another layer of havoc to an already dangerous defense.

Ryan Mathews: Tate Ratledge

Tate Ratledge feels like the early favorite to be the Lions’ Rookie of the Year. After moving up to select the former Georgia Bulldog, he’s immediately needed to keep Detroit’s offensive line operating at a high level. In his only bit of preseason action, Ratledge looked really solid across his 24 snaps against some of the starters for the Atlanta Falcons–wait and see what kind of confidence he can play with next to an All Pro like Penei Sewell.

Morgan Cannon: Tyleik Williams

I could have gone with the trendy pick at wide receiver here, but for me, it’s tough not to go with the defensive tackle out of Columbus. Early in 2025, I believe Williams will be a key contributor on one of the best run defenses in the NFL, with everything else falling into place as the season progresses. If he can add some juice to his pass rush by the time Alim McNeill returns, this front could be really special.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-predictions-detroit-lions-rookie-of-the-year

 

[Detroit Lions]

5 takeaways from 3 Detroit Lions coaches’ pressers

On Tuesday, three Detroit Lions coaches—head coach Dan Campbell, wide receiver coach Scottie Montgomery, and offensive line coach Hank Fraley—met with the media in the team’s first real day of Week 1 preparation for the Green Bay Packers. While each session was informative, I’m not sure anything was revealed that requires a BREAKING NEWS banner.

So on days in which a lot of little tidbits are dropped, but nothing major, we’ll try to offer a more broad recap of the media sessions for ease of consuming. Here are five things worth noting from Tuesday’s press conferences.

Scottie Montgomery has all of the hats​

This offseason, coach Scottie Montgomery moved from the running backs to the wide receivers room. But that is just the tip of the iceberg in what Montgomery—who is also the team’s assistant head coach—contributes to the team.

“Scottie’s a stud, man. He is. He’s an invaluable coach for me,” coach Dan Campbell said. “He does a lot. He wears really a lot of different hats. Not only the Assistant Head Coach, but the receivers, the offense, screen game, the pass game, the splits, the formations, the tendencies. I mean, he wears a ton of hats.”

Montgomery also used the hats analogy, thanking Campbell for the opportunity to do so many thing that is preparing him for bigger opportunities down the line.

“Coming in here, I probably only had three hats. Now, I’ve probably got like 25 hats, a lot of them to cover up the hair that I’ve lost learning some of the things that I’ve learned,” Montgomery said. “It’s just the big picture. You can get so involved when you’re in a room that you can’t see the building, right? What Dan has given me the ability to do since I’ve got here is see the building, not just from an offensive standpoint, but from a defensive standpoint and also an administrative standpoint. That’s one of the things. I’ve got to say thank you to him for giving me the opportunity, and not just giving me the title. There’s two different things. There’s the title and there’s the opportunity to create your ability to see it from the head coach’s position, and that’s what he’s been able to do for me.”

Parsons or no Parsons, the Lions will stick to their rules​

At this point, it’s unclear if new Packers defensive end Micah Parsons will play on Sunday vs. the Lions. He’s currently dealing with a back injury and is obviously just getting to know the playbook. Smart money is on Parsons playing a limited role. And while Parsons can play anywhere on the defensive line, Fraley says the outlook is the same for the Lions offensive line: stick to the coverage rules.

“We have rules and when they want to move guys or stuff like that, we have certain rules we follow,” Fraley explained. “And he definitely can be a force off the edge or in the middle when they stand up, when he was in Dallas, rushing through the middle of the A-gap.”

Dan Campbell is confident in defensive line​

While many Lions fans are concerned about the depth along the defensive line, particularly on the edge, Campbell expressed his confidence in the unit. It starts with Marcus Davenport, who is expected to not only start opposite Aidan Hutchinson, but Campbell says he’s playing well enough to play on all three downs.

“He’s another guy who’s had a really good camp for us. He’s done exactly what we’ve asked him to do,” Campbell said. “He’s got some versatility with his ability to play, really in all the packages that we have. There’s nothing more that he needs to show me. I know he can do it all.”

The big concern with Davenport has always been his health, but Campbell insists the seven-year veteran has done everything humanly possible to stay on the field.

“He’s doing everything he can to take care of his body, and he went through a rigorous offseason to try to help all of that which is a credit to him to put the work out. He’s in a good place right now,” Campbell said.

Kicking inside, Campbell was also quick to point out how veteran nose tackle DJ Reader also looks at his best right now, nearly two years removed from a torn quad that cost him all of last year’s training camp.

“It’s kind of been this quiet, really kickass camp. He really has, man. He’s shown up. He’s a staple for us right now, and yes, we’re going to need him. He’s big for us,” Campbell said.

Penei Sewell is already coaching​

This week, Lions right tackle Penei Sewell—arguably the best player on the team—was named one of six captains. It was his third straight year to earn the honors, and while his play alone would warrant being named captain, Sewell is a prototype of everything a captain should be. Fraley pointed to two stories that perfectly capture the kind of teammate Sewell is.

“Don’t know if anybody noticed, but even in preseason games when he’s not playing, he made sure he had an earpiece and he got the playcall. He got to the iPads before I got to them, and he’s already coaching the guys.”

Later, he talked about how Sewell is particularly hard on himself, even during light, unpadded practices.

“Yesterday, we had practice–not in pads–we worked a couple of combinations, he didn’t feel right. He’s like, “Nah, I need to go again. I need to go again.’ And went three or four times in a row, where other players may go, ‘Ah, I’ll get it later.’ That’s what makes him great. Like, today, watching–in there, he’s watching individual drills. He’s watching himself on his sets, pass sets. And this is individuals, this isn’t even going up against anybody. Actually, he’s hitting the med ball. And he’s watching himself. That’s what makes him special.”

Don’t forget about Kalif Raymond​

While people are understandably excited about the progress rookie wideout Isaac TeSlaa made this offseason, Montgomery offered a strong endorsement for veteran Kalif Raymond—who repped with the first-team offense for most of the offseason.

“It was probably one of the more consistent springs that we’ve seen at the wide receiver position being here and being detailed, his catch-to-target ratio, his 1-on-1 wins, his ability to separate in tight coverage, his ability to make plays down the field,” Montgomery said. “We’re tracking this a little bit differently than maybe everybody else, we’re just trying to make sure that we get the upper echelon out of each player and he is playing closer to his roof now than he was before. We really like where he is and hopefully he can have a tremendous role in helping us this year.”

With TeSlaa absent from Tuesday’s practice for reasons still unknown, don’t be surprised if Raymond has a big role in Week 1 vs. the Packers.

That said, TeSlaa earned some praise from Montgomery, as well.

“He just came in and did his job,” Montgomery said. “What we would see is he would take it from the meeting room to the walkthrough to the individual drills to the practice tape. When he failed in practice, he very rarely failed again in that same detail. That lets us know, first of all, he cares. But it (also) lets us know he’s in his playbook. When you’re in your playbook, you’re going to get the respect of the people in the room. And when your mental errors are low, you get the respect of the people in the room.”

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...keaways-from-3-detroit-lions-coaches-pressers

 

[Detroit Lions]

Notes: NFL coaches, execs vote Lions most likely to fall short of expectations in 2025

As more and more preseason predictions come out just a day away from the NFL season opener, it seems the Detroit Lions may be able to play with a “chip on their shoulder” mentality this season.

When the Lions reached and lost the NFC Championship two years ago, expectations heading into last season were sky high. They were at the very top of every power ranking and expected to bulldoze their way to the Lombardi. But an unexpected Divisional Round playoff exit, plus the departure of both coordinators, seems to have shattered those expectations.

The Athletic conducted its annual poll of coaches and executives around the league, asking 31 people to cast votes in a myriad of categories. It wasn’t until the very last question when my jaw dropped: “Name three teams that will fall short of expectations this season.”

The Lions received the overwhelming majority of votes at a whopping 16, with the Washington Commanders second at nine. I knew people were a tad shaky on Detroit, but such a big voting gap was surprising.

“This was a jarring result, as the Lions drew more votes than any team ever has for this question. There’s usually so much parity in the results of this question because of its subjective nature,” writes The Athletic’s Jeff Howe.

There was only a little bit of explanation behind the votes.

“It’s hard to lose two coordinators,” a general manager said in the article (those in the survey respond anonymously.)

It appears these NFL coaches and executives aren’t the only ones not too keen on the Lions in 2025. The “Good Morning Football” crew usually so high on the Motor City seems to predict a less than stellar season as well.

Our NFC playoff predictions pic.twitter.com/xcPAFpYxwn

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) September 2, 2025

And onto the rest of your notes.

• “Lions fans are on edge. In particular, about the edge, the one opposite (Aidan) Hutchinson.” Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers offers five storylines that should define the Lions defense in 2025.

• It’s the sea of blue you love to see in the stand at away games. Called “Lions Takeovers,” the Detroit Lions are offering travel packages for road games, including flights, hotels, pep rallies, tailgates, and more.

• Per nearly all my social media feeds, I think quite a few people feel this way.

Almost that time… pic.twitter.com/hlJgNeIgLg

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 2, 2025

• Amon-Ra St. Brown in all of the ads these days!

Amon-Ra's latest ad with Little Caesars pic.twitter.com/TitU7ALqCU

— St. Brown Podcast (@StBrownPodcast) September 2, 2025

Amon-Ra's Honey Nut Cheerios commercial with Ja’Marr Chase just dropped pic.twitter.com/VRhf9A92fE

— St. Brown Podcast (@StBrownPodcast) September 2, 2025

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-likely-to-fall-short-of-expectations-in-2025

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions signing veteran QB to practice squad after tryout

On Monday, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell noted that the team was looking for a proven, veteran quarterback to fill out their room behind starter Jared Goff and established backup Kyle Allen.

“We’re looking for somebody, that if we need them, we know they can run the show,” Campbell said. “They can run the offense, they can process the information—more than, can we find a guy to develop that’s unknown, all of those. I’d rather have a guy, somebody that certainly if we’re familiar with or somebody you just know they get in the game, they’re going to get you in the right play, be smart with the football, and all of those things.”

On Wednesday, with the players off, it appears the Lions began that search. According to the transaction wire, the Lions hosted five players for a tryout, including veteran quarterbacks C.J. Beathard and Nathan Peterman.

UPDATE: According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Lions are expected to sign Beathard to their practice squad. This will require a subsequent cut on the practice squad, but that move has yet to be made public.

Beathard is entering his ninth NFL season after being drafted in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Over his career, he’s made 32 game appearances and made 13 total starts. However, over the past four years, he’s only thrown a total of 66 passes—most of which came in a sole start for the Jacksonville Jaguars back in 2023. To his credit, he completed 17-of-24 passes for 178 yards in a 26-0 win over the Panthers. Beathard failed to make the Jaguars roster in 2024, then signed with an injury-riddled Dolphins team before returning to the Jaguars in November. Beathard did not sign with a team this offseason, but had several tryouts.

Peterman is also entering his ninth season, as he was part of Beathard’s same draft class (fifth round to the Bills). His starting experience is limited to just five total games, the last of which was a loss for the Chicago Bears in 2022. Last year, Peterman spent most of training camp with the Raiders, didn’t make the roster, and sat on the Falcons’ practice squad for the season. Like Beathard, Peterman did not spend any of 2025 with an NFL team. He has worked out for the Jets this offseason.

The other three players who tried out were all receivers: Malik Cunningham (former Louisville QB), Jerjuan Newton, and Kendric Pryor. The three receivers combined have played in just three cumulative games. Newton is the only rookie of the bunch. He went undrafted out of Toledo and spent training camp with the Broncos. He caught five passes for 26 yards in the preseason.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ons-try-out-5-players-including-2-veteran-qbs

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions, Packers injury report: Isaac TeSlaa trending in right direction

The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers returned to the practice field on Thursday as they prepare for their Week 1 matchup this Sunday afternoon. The Lions still have two players not practicing, but they were able to return their rookie third-round wide receiver, Isaac TeSlaa, as he appears to be moving past his illness.

Let’s take a look at Thursday’s injury report and get you up to date with what we know.

Note: Any changes from the Lions’ previous injury report will be bolded.

No practice​

• RB Sione Vaki (hamstring)
• LB Trevor Nowaske (elbow)

Vaki and Nowaske missed practice on Tuesday, were estimated not to have been able to practice on Wednesday, and were still not on the practice field on Thursday. They’ll still have Friday’s practice to potentially help them get ready for the season opener, but at this time, it’s not looking good for either’s chances to play. Vaki’s injury has been lingering for a month now, and likely still needs rest and rehabilitation, while Nowaske’s injury is new and not as much is known.

Limited practice​

• WR Isaac TeSlaa (illness)
• OT Jamarco Jones (ankle) — NEW INJURY

TeSlaa has been dealing with “a little bug,” according to Lions coach Dan Campbell, and while it kept him out of practice on Tuesday, he was estimated to have been able to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday, had the Lions held a practice. An official return to practice in any capacity is good news for the Lions rookie, as he is expected to have a role on offense and special teams in Week 1.

“Yeah, I think TeSlaa did a great job in training camp, here in practice, and he made plays,” Lions offensive coordinator John Morton said on Thursday. “He got better every single day, carried over to the game, we thought he did an unbelievable job. He’s a smart kid, he’s tough, there are some good things that he can do that’s going to help us this year.”

Jones is a mid-week injury, which is always tough to gauge. It could be a minor thing, or we could see him sidelined on Friday. One thing to keep in mind here, though, is that practice squad tackle Dan Skipper has also not been practicing. So if Jones can’t go, it’s quite possible that Giovanni Manu will be active for the first time in his career.

Full practice​

• G Kayode Awosika (shoulder) — upgraded

Awosika has been able to practice all week, and while he was estimated to have been limited on Wednesday, he continues to get work in. As of right now, Awosika looks on track to potentially suit up on Sunday, but if he is not, the Lions have nine offensive linemen on their roster, which is still enough players to qualify for the game-day roster bonus.

Packers’ injury report​

Coming soon, but while you wait:

Cornerback Nate Hobbs (knee) returned to #Packers practice for the first time since the end of the July.

WR Jayden Reed (foot) also returned. Elgton Jenkins (hip) practiced again. DE Micah Parsons (back) logged his third practice in a row. Here's video of them all. pic.twitter.com/Ga4z0RdSMV

— John Miller (@JohnMillerNBC26) September 4, 2025

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...port-isaac-teslaa-trending-in-right-direction

 

[Detroit Lions]

6 takeaways from Detroit Lions coordinators: Week 1 vs. Packers

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp all met with local media on Thursday in the lead up to Sunday’s game vs. the Packers.

Here are my six biggest takeaways from those sessions.

Offensive coordinator John Morton​

It’s Isaac TeSlaa time​

Morton was asked about the confidence he had in both Kalif Raymond and Isaac TeSlaa now that the Lions traded their established WR3 in Tim Patrick. Interestingly enough, Morton only talked about the rookie receiver, leaving Raymond out of his answer entirely.

“Yeah, I think TeSlaa did a great job in training camp, here in practice, and he made plays,” Morton said. “He got better every single day, carried over to the game, we thought he did an unbelievable job. He’s a smart kid, he’s tough, there are some good things that he can do that’s going to help us this year. He took advantage of the opportunity when Tim was out.”

I don’t want to overreact to an omission, because sometimes a coach just forgets to mention a player in the middle of an answer. But I do think what he said about TeSlaa certainly suggests a big role for TeSlaa in his rookie season, even if it’s not right away.

David Shaw will be his boots on the ground​

Morton will be up in the booth during the game, as he believes it’s less chaotic than the sidelines and he can see the game better. But his long-time friend—and Lions passing game coordinator— David Shaw is expected to be down on the field, and that gives Morton a sense of confidence that the players will get the proper coaching on the sidelines.

“He’s just another pair of eyes at the quarterback,” Morton said. “Just looking at the quarterback, any ideas. During in between series, he’s over there with the quarterback, they relay it to me things that he is seeing, so that’s kind of how that goes.”

Morton and Shaw go all the way back to the year 2000, when the both worked under Jon Gruden’s Raiders. And it’s clear Morton is excited to be working with him again.

“I think it’s awesome to have him down there,” Morton said. “He’s done it, he’s been the head coach, he’s just another pair of eyes that can help Jared during the game and Dan (Campbell), so I love it.”

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard​

Sheppard anxious, not nervous for first game as DC​

Sheppard was asked about his excitement to coordinator his first NFL game this Sunday, and while he admitted there was excitement, he was also quick to point out that it’s not about him.

“I take myself out of that equation. I’m excited for the players and the opportunity that these guys have to go out,” Sheppard said.

It would be natural for any coach to get a little anxious or nervous before their first game calling plays at this level—or at any level when it comes to Sheppard himself. But the Lions defensive coordinator differentiated between those two emotions. He is anxious. He is not nervous.

“I’m not BS-ing you at all. I’m not nervous at all. I’m very anxious, but I’m not nervous,” Sheppard said. “There’s a big difference. Someone is nervous, you’re not prepared. We are prepared and we will be prepared, and we’ll let the chips fall where they may on Sunday.”

Sheppard credits coach Dan Campbell and former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for that preparation. For the past few years, he’s been calling plays in his mind in case Glenn was out, and Campbell afforded him plenty of situational opportunities in the preseason and training camp to the point where Sheppard feels prepared for anything.

“It’s the first time others are going to see me call games, call plays and things like that, but, as far as defensive players and myself, I’m going into this deal. I know the D and Ds [downs and distances], I know the plan, I know what we’ve said we’re going to do here, I know what we’ve said we’re going to do there, and not deviate from it no matter what,”

D.J. Reed means ‘everything to our defense’​

The Lions’ cornerback room was looking very young heading into the offseason. Then the Lions added D.J. Reed via free agency, a player with seven years of experience and a Super Bowl appearance. Sheppard had high praise for Reed, not only in his ability, but in the example he sets for a young cornerback crowd, including second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold.

“Not just Terrion, he’s meant everything to our defense,” Sheppard said. “He’s been a plug and play guy not only on the field, but in the classroom, in the locker room. D.J. Reed, I can’t say enough about him. I know that (Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson) Hutch and (Lions LB Alex Anzalone) Anzo were voted captains, but he would’ve easily been a guy that would’ve earned the right to wear that patch. Everything he does is by his work, all you have to do is watch him.”

Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp​

Kickoffs still a work in progress for Jake Bates​

Earlier this offseason, Fipp noted that last year Lions kicker Jake Bates was asked not to focus too much on the kickoff itself, instead working to get the field goal operation down. The strategy worked, as the Lions mostly took touchbacks on kick coverage and Bates was electric as a field goal kicker.

With that down, the Lions entered this year hoping to expand upon Bates’ skills on kickoffs, especially since a touchback is now much more costly—the ball moving from the 30 to the 35-yard line on kicks that land in or beyond the endzone. Fipp noted progress from Bates there, but admitted it’s something the Lions kicker will still need to work on.

“He’s definitely much better than he was a year ago, that’s for sure. I feel good about it,” Fipp said. “I would just tell you, in general, the strengths of his game are, man, big leg, pound it, drive the ball. Not necessarily place it as much, and this is a little bit more of a place it game, so it’s inherently a little more difficult for him. But, all that being said, I mean this guy’s an exceptional talent and he’s worked hard at it.”

In practice, it certainly seems like the Lions went away from the line-drive approach—a strategy that involves landing the ball between the 20-yard line and the goal line, making it difficult to return and avoiding the 35-yard touchdown. Still, Fipp expects Bates to grow throughout the season.

“I know he’ll continue to improve throughout the year. And I would say that for him in general, there’ll be ups and downs on the thing,” Fipp said.

Lions considering using starters in the return game​

Because there is an expectation for a massive increase in kick returns this year with the new touchback, Fipp admitted that it does open up the possibility of using starters in the return game.

“I think it’s definitely a conversation people have to have. I’m not going to get into all of that for us necessarily, but I think you’ve definitely got to consider it,“ Fipp said. ”It’s going to be impactful plays, and even if it’s not every time, is it in big moments? Is it – you know, I think we’ll find out.”

Based on what we’ve seen in training camp—and the team’s unofficial depth chart—it seems more likely the Lions will utilize some combination of Grant Stuard, Craig Reynolds, and Sione Vaki at kick returner, with Kalif Raymond remaining the punt returner. But in a big moment? Maybe they slip Jahmyr Gibbs or Jameson Williams back there.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-detroit-lions-coordinators-week-1-vs-packers

 

[Detroit Lions]

What the Detroit Lions 2024 data reveals about losses in trenches

Frank Ragnow and Levi Onwuzurike were pivotal trench contributors for the NFC’s No. 1 seed last season and were expected to again be foundational forces on the interior in 2025. Replicating their production on both sides of the ball won’t be easy. But a look inside the data lab reveals several Detroit Lions players whose small-sample participation splits last season paint a revealing picture of how their presence—or absence—tangibly impacted Detroit’s performance in the trenches.

Lions defense – Levi Onwuzurike

After Jack Campbell, Levi Onwuzurike might’ve been the Lions’ most steady and reliable front-seven presence last season. He tied Carlton Davis III for the fifth-most defensive snaps (697), trailing only Kerby Joseph, Campbell, Terrion Arnold, and Brian Branch. But it’s not until you dig into the numbers that you realize just how much of a difference he made.

Onwuzurike didn’t always generate headlines, but his impact was immense—especially given his versatility. With him on the field, the Lions defense played like a top-five unit. Without him, they fell to dead last in yards per play allowed and bottom-half in success rate. The drop-off extended across categories, including a noticeable dip in turnover rate from fifth to 16th.

He wasn’t a flashy disruptor, but Onwuzurike’s dirty work consistency made life easier for those around him while being a handful for opposing attacks. With his absence looming large this season, Detroit will need a blend of new additions and returning health to help fill the gap.

Lions defense – Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes

The first two front-seven dominoes to fall in 2024 were Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes, both lost for the season in Week 3. Each brought unique strengths to their roles—and each proved difficult to replace. As the Lions look to level up their defense in 2025, getting both players back healthy could be a massive boost, especially with Onwuzurike no longer in the mix.

In the 157 combined snaps when either Davenport or Barnes was on the field last season, Detroit’s defense performed significantly better across yards per play metrics—including against the run and the pass—compared to the 977 snaps without them. The unit also improved in sack rate and third-down defense.

If Barnes can log 600–700 snaps and Davenport can reach 500+ snaps in 2025, the Lions defense not only has a strong chance to return to top-10 form, but could realistically flirt with being one of the league’s best units—helping cover any growing pains or lapses in offensive continuity. It’s worth noting that when Davenport and Barnes were active, the defense was fully stocked, including Aidan Hutchinson in peak form. It further reinforces that with health on their side this season, that kind of loaded lineup could be even more dominant.

Lions offense – Graham Glasgow

The Lions’ on/off splits for Frank Ragnow were well documented following his retirement. As a central piece of Detroit’s elite offense over the past three seasons, Ragnow’s absence creates a massive void. The Lions are turning to veteran Graham Glasgow to fill it—a player with 40 career starts at center, including every game of Ragnow’s rookie season in 2018. Glasgow will take over the pivot (where he’s started just four games over the past two seasons), flanked by two burgeoning guards in Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge.

In a small 184-snap sample without Glasgow over the last two years, the Lions’ already potent offense actually improved. The team averaged 6.6 yards per play (up from 6.0) and increased its explosive play rate from 12.4% to 14.1%—both would have led the league. Most notably, the pressure rate dropped drastically from 35.4% to 22.2%.

Still, Glasgow is a 10-year pro with a long track record of reliability and leadership. After an underwhelming stretch at left guard to end last season, he’ll have the chance to reset at a more preferred position. If he can stay healthy and settle into rhythm with the new-look interior, Glasgow is more than capable of bucking those splits and anchoring the line during a pivotal season.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ns-2024-data-reveals-about-losses-in-trenches

 

[Detroit Lions]

Former Lions EDGE Za’Darius Smith signing with NFC contender

There will be no reunion between the Detroit Lions and Za’Darius Smith. According to several outlets, Smith is signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Per Jordan Schultz, the deal is worth up to $9 million.

After trading for Smith at last year’s deadline, the Lions opted to cut Smith this offseason in a cap-savings move. Detroit cleared $11 million in cap space over the next two years with no dead cap on the books. Both sides had expressed interest in a reunion, but it’s clear money was an issue. Last week, after roster cuts, Lions general manager Brad Holmes had this to say about re-signing Smith.

“You guys know me, anything’s a possibility at any point. I don’t know what’s going to happen. But, the one open roster spot, we just have one open roster spot. It’s not for a specific player, it’s for the player that makes the most sense for us, whoever that player may be,” Holmes said.

He would later add that there had not been any recent talks with Smith or his agency about a reunion.

While with the Lions for eight games last year, Smith produced 12 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and 40 pressures (per PFF).

The Lions appear to be relying on the returns of Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport from injury to fill out their defensive end room. Beyond that, Detroit has Al-Quadin Muhammad and recently claimed Tyrus Wheat. They are also expecting Josh Paschal back after his stay on the Non-Football Injury list and have Andre Carter on the practice squad.

Earlier this week on the radio, coach Dan Campbell was asked to give a reason why Za’Darius Smith wasn’t on the roster right now.

“Well, we’re good right now,” Dan Campbell said. “I mean, we’re pretty good here. We got Davenport, we got good depth, I like what we got on the interior, too, we got a lot of flexibility, and we’re sitting pretty good right now. So we’re ready to go, man.”

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...dge-zadarius-smith-signing-with-nfc-contender

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions place Jamarco Jones on IR, sign 1, elevate 1 practice squad player

The Detroit Lions made three roster transactions ahead of the Week 1 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, placing offensive tackle Jamarco Jones on injured reserve, signing running back Jacob Saylors to the active roster, and elevating linebacker Anthony Pittman from the practice squad for this game. All three moves were direct results of injuries on the roster.

Jones was a surprise inclusion to the Lions’ initial roster, edging out Dan Skipper for a spot on the 53. One of the many reasons most were surprised he made the roster was due to his inability to stay healthy. Throughout training camp, Jones was consistently dealing with some ailment. While not all injuries forced him to miss time, he did have several injuries that he was dealing with.

Jones started the week healthy and practicing in full, but on Thursday, he appeared on the injury report with an ankle injury, which has led to this stint on injured reserve. Jones will miss the first four games of the regular season and will be eligible to return in Week 5.

While this seems like a prime opportunity for Skipper to return from the practice squad to the active roster, he has been unable to practice all week and, unfortunately, will also be unavailable to play in this game.

That means the Lions will turn to either second-year offensive tackle Giovanni Manu or position-flexible offensive lineman Kayode Awosika for their OT3 role in Week 1. While Awosika has primarily played at guard for the Lions, he entered the league as an offensive tackle (the position he played in college), and offensive line coach Hank Fraley said that in addition to guard, Awosika was also the team’s “emergency tackle and center” when speaking to the media this week.

Saylors was signed to the active roster following running back Sione Vaki being ruled out with a hamstring injury. Saylors figures to slot into Vaki’s RB4 and special teams roles, similarly to what he did during the preseason. While Saylors is currently on the active roster, that doesn’t necessarily mean bad news for Vaki’s recovery. It’s commonplace for the Lions to sign players to the active roster in these situations, in order to save their roster elevations (players are only allowed three elevations per season). It wouldn’t be surprising to see Saylors waived on Monday, clear waivers on Tuesday, and then be back on the Lions practice squad on Wednesday.

Pittman’s roster elevation was likely a direct response to the Lions ruling linebacker Trevor Nowaske out with an elbow injury. Pittman’s skill set is similar to Nowaske’s in that he can play the Lions’ MIKE and SAM roles, while also contributing in all four phases of special teams. This will be Pittman’s first elevation of the season, and he will revert back to the Lions’ practice squad following the game without needing to go through the NFL’s waiver system. He’ll have two more roster elevations remaining for the remainder of the season.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-on-ir-sign-1-elevate-1-practice-squad-player

 

[Detroit Lions]

Report: Lions, Jameson Williams agree to 3-year extension

On the eve of the Detroit Lions’ first game of the 2025 season, the team has reportedly agreed on a three-year extension with receiver Jameson Williams. As first reported by Jordan Schultz, Williams’ three-year deal is worth $83 million with $67 million guaranteed. If accurate, that’s an average of $27.7 million per year, which puts Williams 13th among current wide receiver deals in average per year. Teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year, $120 million ($30M/year) contract last offseason.

After two seasons battling through injury and a pair of short suspensions, Williams had a breakout season in 2024. In 15 games, Williams caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards, and seven touchdowns.

The hype for Williams has continued this offseason, as several coaches have noted his growth prior to the season.

“He’s had a good spring, and it’s another one, I don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves in OTAs, but there’s so much versatility with him,” coach Dan Campbell said in May. “There’s so many things that we can do just with his routes on the outside. I mean, we can do things inside, but just with his speed, and he’s gotten so much stronger. His ability to stop. Put his foot in the ground. Man, when you can run like he can run and now you’re beginning to (get) where you can stop on a dime, you talk about a hard cover.”

Williams was already under contract for 2025, and the Lions had already exercised his fifth-year option worth $15.5 million in 2026. At this point, it’s unclear if the extension is built off the fifth-year option, leaving him under contract through the 2029 season or if it’s including the fifth-year option, making him inked through 2028.

We’ll update this post with any more updates to Williams’ new contract.

In related news, the Lions and Aidan Hutchinson are not expected to reach an agreement before the start of the season, but talks are reportedly ongoing and amicable.

Lions and Aidan Hutchinson have had positive contract conversations, but are not expected to reach a deal before the season starts today, per sources. pic.twitter.com/OX092sTgdb

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 7, 2025

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ns-jameson-williams-agree-to-3-year-extension