Detroit Lions 2026 Training Camp Day 3 Recap
- The Grey Manes Staff
- 17 minutes ago
- 19 min read
Day 3 of training camp kicked off, and it started with a swap of TEs, then good news around two players on NFI, another big play by a guy that has been excelling in camp and ended with two players suffering injuries that needed to be checked out.
Injury Updates
Updates from Dan Campbell's press event this morning, providing clarity on existing and new situations since last practice of players not participating.
The list of those not practicing or exiting early
RB Jahmyr Gibbs, S Brian Branch, S Kerby Joseph, TE Tyler Conklin, S Christian Izien, OL Gio Manu, EDGE/DE Peyton Turner, LB Jimmy Rolder (Left), DT Alim McNeil (Left), Jacob Saylors (Left)
New Updates
OG Christian Mahogany (NFI/injury)
Came off the NFI list and participated in practice
S Christian Izien (NFI/Illness)
Campbell had hoped he would be back today from the Flu, but said he is still weak and will target by Sunday
Existing (No Changes)
RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Contract Dispute)
Missed Day 2 practice but is in the building and attending meetings per St brown.
S Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph (PUP)
Both are targeted for return around September
Kerby elaborated on his injury a bit saying he woke up with a swollen knee and wasn't as fast on the field, and MRI showed the issue
TE Tyler Conklin (PUP)
Calf injury, return is targeted for ~Aug 12th-13th.
OT Giovani Manu (NFI/Injury)
Campbell said that Manu had a previous injury over the summer that wasn't disclosed. He came off practice field not feeling good and after checking it out, put him on the list. It's a 12–14-week timeline, putting it between Week 7-9 of the NFL season if he is still on the team.
EDGE/DE Peyton Turner
Per Dan Campbell, Turner has a stiff back, nothing serious
Left Practice
LB Jimmy Rolder (Leg)
DT Alim McNeil (Neck)
RB Jacob Saylors (Limping)
Transactions
Lions removed Christian Mahogany from the NFI/Injury List
Training Camp Day 3 Observations form the Lions Media
General Observations
No Pads once again, Saturday is an off day, and Monday will be the first day in Full Pads.
Christian Mahogany was off the NFI/Injury list and back at practice per those in attendance. He also received some 1st team LG reps in team drills.
Both LB Jimmy Rolder (Leg) and DT Alim McNeil (Neck) left practice to be evaluated for injury. Both players walked inside on their own and it was reported that McNeil motioned to someone in the crowd that he was ok (it was friends and family day).
Nick Whiteside continues his stellar camp play by picking off Teddy Bridgewater during 11-on-11s today and getting a PBU on TeSlaa after running with him step-for-step on a deep ball.
Jameson Williams continues to impress making contested catches and leading the team on the situational drill to end practice.
Derrick Moore got a shoutout for a nice pressure in team drills and winning cleanly in OL/DL one-on-ones.
Several folks observed that Pacheco appears to have his burst back after questions about it last offseason.
Situational end-of-half 1-minute drill to end practice. The Offense had 1:10 on the clock, down 7-0 with ball on their own 25 with the goal to get some points.
Catches by St Brown, Williams (TO), LaPorta, Vaki (TO) and Jamo led to a spike
Jack Fox (with TeSlaa holding) kicked a 48-yard FG to end practice and get a "win" for the offense.
Jake Bates was on a non-kicking Day.
Offensive Line
1st OL: Sewell-Scruggs-Mays-Ratledge-B Miller
Mahogany received some 1st team work at LG in 11-on-11s
Miles Frazier was working as both an OT and OG
It was observed that Sorsdal is getting mostly OT reps with Manu now on the NFI list.
2nd OL: N/A-Mahogany-N/A-N/A-N/A
3rd OL: N/A
RBs
1st Unit: Sione Vaki
2nd Unit: Isiah Pacheco
Depth: Saylors, Small and Robichaux
WRs
1st Unit: Amon-Ra St Brown, Jameson Williams
2nd Unit: Greg Dortch, Toim Kennedy
Backups: Everyone Else
TE
1st Unit: Sam LaPorta
2nd Unit: Brock Wright
3rd Unit: Miles Kitselman/Jackson Meeks
Depth: Horton/Gordon
DL
1st Unit: Hutch-McNeil-Williams- Lacy (Wonnum - nickel)
Wingo received a few 1st team reps prior to McNeil's injury and replaced him once he left practice.
Onzururike is also picking up 1st team reps.
Tyler Lacy has been the "big' DE in a Five-man with Ahmed Hassanein the 2nd Big End and Onwuzurike getting some reps today
2nd Unit: N/A-Onwuzurike-Wingo-Hassanein
LBs
1st Tean - Campbell, Barnes and Rodriguez have been the starters in all sessions
Starting nickel LBs are Campbell and Barnes
2nd Team - Rolder (Mike), Clark (Will) and Nowaske (Sam)
3rd team - Unknown
It was noted that Damone Clark was with a bunch of regulars on the team's top Punt Block group (an indication of roster slot)
Safety
1st Team - Avonte Maddox (In for Izien in for Kerby) and Chuck Clark (In for Brian Branch)
2nd team - Thomas Harper, Loren Strickland and Dan Jackson
3rd team - Unknown
Nickel
McCreary and Abney
Outside CBs
1st Team - DJ Reed and Ya-Sin/Rakestraw
2nd Team - Nick Whiteside and Unknown
3rd Team - Nick Whiteside and Unknown
Punt Returners
Day 1 - WR Greg Dortch, RB Isiah Pacheco, WR Tom Kennedy, WR Dominic Lovett, WR Lawrence Keys and WR Amon-Ra St Brown were the reported participants
Kick Returners
Greg Dortch, Tom Kennedy, Isiah Pacheco, Dominic Lovett, Malik Cunningham, Lawrence Keys, Isaac TeSlaa and AMon-Ra St Brown.
Gunners
Unknown
Rookies
Blake Miller - Miller apparently split his one-on-ones reps with DJ Wonnum and was cooked by Hutch in team drills.
Derrick Moore - Several folks in attendance mentioned how well More looked on Day 3, winning both his one-on-ones (against Borom and Sorsdal) and a standout on Day 3 of camp.
Jimmy Rolder - Rolder left the field with an apparent leg injury.
Keith Abney II - Made a nice pass break up in 7-on-7s and tight coverage on a catch to Tom Kennedy that kept him short of the sticks
Kendric Law - Done for season with a torn ACL suffered win OTA Week2 practices
Skyler Gill-Howard - Had a couple photos in Day 3 drop, also Tyler Lacy answered a question about him (below) and what he brings to the table (athleticism and as a kid with Athleticism and energy). Also mentioned that Mahogany bested him in a one-on-one but won cleanly against Mason Miller.
Tyre West - Lost his one-on-one to Milkes Frazier
UDFAs
Luke Altmyer - It was mentioned he dropped an absolutely dime to Cedric Wilson who made a toe-tap catch and that he has looked pretty week so far in camp.
Miles Kitselman - No comments or photos from Day 3.
Anthony Lucas - No comments or photos from Day 3.
Erick Hunter - Was observed blowing up a screen pass in the backfield for Robichaux.
Erik O'Neil - Lost his one-on-one to Milkes Frazier
Lions Rookie DL Edge Gill-Howard, DE Ahmed hassanein and RB Sione Vaki Photos - Jeff Nguyen & Nicole Scharff Detroit Lions
Dan Campbell Day 3 Press Conference
Dan Campbell had his 2026 Training Camp Day 3 press conference this morning, and we provided a summary and full transcript earlier today. Below are some quick points that came out of it:
Injury Summary
New:
Gibbs - Campbell mentioned a "back" issue during conditioning test, but it isn't serious <wink>
No Changes:
Branch - Potentially Early September
Kerby - Likely will linger into the season on same timeline as Branch
Conklin - Calf in Spring, Two Weeks
Peyton Turner - Stiff back, nothing serious
Giovani Manu - Added to NFI/Injury List due to previously undisclosed injury form offseason
Updates
Izien - Giving him one more day to rest up as he is still weak, should be back on Saturday
Mahogany - Came of NFI/Injury today after the Press Conference and is practicing
Quick Hitters
Izien will sit one more day resting up from the flu. Hoped to get back today but will target this weekend (by Sunday) now.
Campbell mentioned a "back injury" for Gibbs yesterday that came up during his conditioning test and confirmed today that it was not "serious."
The plan was to get Izien some first-team reps at nickel prior to his illness. Said they are eyeing him for that spot.
They have been smart with Ben Bartch, but he will start working into team reps next week.
Lacy and McNeil looking good, with McNeil looking like his old self after favoring the leg last year
Campbell is happy to have Juice Scruggs, but going against McNeil will be hard for anyone and make you a better player
Compared the OL to DBs, needing reps to gel and develop that unspoken sense of cohesion
Campbell is thrilled with the progress Jameson Williams has made and picked right back up where he left off in the Spring.
Media Scrums with Players
The Lions had media availability with RB Isiah Pacheco, DE Tyler Lacy, LB Jack Campbell, TE Brock Wright and OG Christian Mahogany
Isiah Pacheco
Can you give us a sense of how you feel these first few days have been to? Yes. Uh the first few days been uh phenomenal. Just getting fly around the field with the guys again. Uh OTAAS are about the same. Got a little head start now out here just playing a little bit faster, physical. Um making plays.
Super explosive just through the first couple days. Just how do you feel like you got an awesome start here last training camp? Is that usual for you? Like are you from junk kind of? Um, no. Just um thankful that I came here during OTAAS to uh stand the training. I never was able to do OTAAS with any of my other teams uh like the full workouts. So, I finally got to make it to like the full team workouts and was able to compete all the way through it and on this off season uh back at home just training constantly uh coming back in shape uh looking good, leaned out rather than 215-210. Now I'm a little bit more lean and quicker.
How do how do you think that OTAA's participation is helping you beyond um maybe being physically ready? You feel like you're just playing faster because you're used to it. Yeah, not saying used to it, but most importantly just taking notes and going back over the detail pinpoints coaches made during those OTAAS now and days coming like today. Uh just re-dotting it. Uh making sure I go over my highlighted words and making sure those words stand out so I can play faster.
When you see an offense like this with a guy like Jerry Golf on the center and then all of the other explosive that they have, what do you what do you see from like just kind of the ceiling for this group and how you play in? Uh it makes you want to play harder, faster uh for your brothers, to your teammates left and right of you. Um everybody's pushing uh working hard for each other. You got guys finishing down the field and that's what it takes from every unit. Um, when you got guys doing that, it makes you lean on one another and want to fight for each other harder.
How comfortable are you trying to rob to Jahmyr's Batman? Um, you know, I'm excited. Um, it's fun. It's phenomenal being out there with them. Um, just playing fast. Um, that's what we're used to. And the scoring, we got to score.
Back in OTAs, you mentioned how competition was key at this time of the year, whether it was OTAAS or in training camp for you. How valuable is getting reps with the ones? Yes, it's very valuable. Playing fast, man, is most important. Um, being able to pick up those block protections uh is very important. You got golf uh calling the plays out fast um during those OTAs a little bit slower. Now it's more sped up uh cuz we're uh a little bit ahead of the game a little bit. So now just playing fast, physical.
It seems like that communication is really important for you guys between a new OC, new guys on the O line kind of restructuring it. How have you seen that so far on this campus? How you guys are communicating on the court, just understanding? Yes. Uh it starts with the OC and coach uh Campbell is the mentality. You got guys willing to to get the job done and they showing they're leading by example and we got to follow the the rule.
What was the last couple of years like for you with just how different is this training? Um probably dealt with a little bit injury uh during the training camps. uh getting back to training camp, healing up during uh Kansas City. Now I'm finding like offseason fully healed. Um just flying around uh just willing to get better every day.
Is there anything? Do you do you have a uh has there been any nicknames thrown out for you at Jahmyr yet? I know Jah isn't here. Any new any new nicknames for that that combo that's going to be? Not yet, but on the social media I see a lot. Uh, so just, you know, keep giving us keep giving us those nicknames and we're going to surprise y'all when we get to play.
Anything specific that excites you about playing in this offense just having or rep it, you know, in the spring and off a couple days? Um, say uh the coaches, the leader, the leadership, uh, you know, they're coaching hard. Uh, and that's what makes you want to play hard and you got coaches that's willing to stay extra, get the job done. Um, you got to listen and um, be accountable.
Tyler Lacy
Kind of got off to it the first couple days of training camp here. How do you feel? I'm feeling I'm feeling pretty good. You know, just getting back into the shake of things. You know, I got here last year, so I already knew to play college before. So, actually just playing football now and getting after it.
How much nicer is that to come into a situation where you kind of know the deal and you can kind of just go through all the I don't want to call them motions, but you know exactly what you're in for when you arrive here and you're going to get to go through the full stuff. Yeah, it feels good. I mean, you know, I got to get to know people now. I get to just go out there and straight play straight football, you know, just go out there and do my all 100%.
You've played a lot of different positions on your on your defensive line. How is that kind of helped you as you kind of find your way? I feel like it's helped me just divers diversify my um my game just I can play from the three to the four eye and then to the five and sometimes at the six. I mean, it just helps me in my game and just get more and more reps and so I can go out there on Sunday and complete it.
Be beyond just what you need for your game. I mean, how much do you feel like that helps this defense? It seems like that versatility is really important. Part of what he has do on the D line. I feel like it helps the team. I mean, it felt it helps Shep, you know, on first and second down, he can throw out whatever package he wants to and I can play wherever he needs to.
Talk about the mentality for you guys, maybe you want a little bit more out of the defense. And like you said, now that you're a little more comfortable, how do you feel like guys who are in their second, third, fourth years on this defense can, you know, kind of help usher in a little bit more? Like mentality wise? Mentality wise, I feel like the whole D line is just hungry. I mean, I feel like the whole team is hungry. I mean, we fell short last year and we just ready to get after it and achieve our goals this year.
Curious about Amed, you know, a guy that saw a little bit of last year had to deal with his injury and now he's coming back. Bring some energy to you guys. What have you seen from him throughout this, you know, this offseason and coming into camp so far? A lot of energy. A brings all the whole energy, especially it starts in the locker room and he brings it to meeting rooms and out here. He's just always asking questions. He's always just ready to get better at the game every day.
Another guy I want to ask about Skyler Gill-Howard. Uh seems to have a lot of energy, a lot of uh good athleticism and stuff like that. What are you seeing from him? A lot of athleticism just like you said I mean, his quick burst is just phenomenal and like how he can just move around on pass rush is just it's great for the team and I feel like it could set us up for a good season this year.
How do you feel like the defensive line philosophy has changed if at all from last year? You guys um you lost Reer and Lopez. That's just a lot of size in the middle there. So, how are you guys playing differently to kind of make up for that that size? Not playing different, just next man up. I mean, next guy got to come in and show what he's about. I mean, I feel like our depth on our D line is real good and they can amount to other guys levels. A lot of guys on this team have talked about that they feel, you know, just at this point a little more free right now. Maybe there's less pressure, there's less whatever that you know, obviously you guys haven't fought pads yet, but just like can you feel that as a team that everyone's feeling serving now? Yeah, I can feel that as a team. I mean, it's still we we're still coming out here and just playing and playing ball as well. I mean, there's no like easy going on football, but I feel like we're all out here just trying to give it all.
Jack Campbell
When you get this close to bats coming on, do you get that nervous tick? You know what I mean? [laughter] Super excited for what it is. Yeah. Well, I mean, whenever it comes, it comes. It definitely makes it a little bit easier for me specifically, right? Um, but yeah, no, it'll be good. I'm excited. We have just have a great group of guys this year and I'm really excited to just get into the thick of it, start calling our bodies. The process has already started but just get ready for week one and just be the most conditioned team in my opinion. That's what I think it takes. The most conditioned team in the NFL.
That's and that starts with the pads really. I mean, yeah, I feel like No, I mean right now you definitely it's like you're definitely getting in football shape right now. I mean there's ex for me it's like it's hard to practice football in the offseason because it's explosive play after explosive play. You can sprint l uh with a straight line. I I'm not that smart. Just straight line. Yeah. Was that a vertically? Yeah. Yeah. You can sprint vertically, but then you get out here, a lot of stuff's lateral, then vertical, then lateral, then vert. Like, you can't really practice it. So, if it's a little acclamation period, it's good to just get the body flowing again, get going, get the mind going, get back to camp, start feeling out, got different guys like I know this guy's going to do this versus this, stuff like that.
Dan said yesterday that the thing that he needs to see for you guys to, you know, to feel comfortable going to know you can stop the run, know you can run the ball situational stuff, too. What does that mean to you? I mean, I Yeah, I mean, I I hang my hat on the run game. So, I mean, hopefully there's no issue there. Um, and there's no excuses, too. Like, that's like something obviously we're not going to go for this year. It's just get your job done. And if you don't do it, you don't do it. And it just it's you can see it on the tape. It's blatant. Doesn't matter if you're the top guy or the bottom guy on the roster. We need you to do your job. So, um, and everyone will be held accountable. And I feel like that also starts with me. I can I can work continue to improve on that. So, How hard is it specifically back from laying the pads on? Yeah. No, right. Right now, I'm just really trying to continue to craft my punch outs. Um, so I think this is a good time to work on that cuz obviously in a live game it's it takes a special talent to be able to punch the ball and secure a tackle. It's very impressive. I haven't really seen, I've seen it maybe one time, but it's just I can get into all that later, but it's just like the angle of where the back's at, where's the sideline out, where's a teammate at, like how protected am I? So right now it's just I'm just trying to work on punching a ball and I haven't got one yet. So I need to be better, don't I? I think Well, the one time I saw it, uh, it was that Fred Warner Vikings play on the goal line. He came pawn, she squared the guy up. He got the ball out, but I think he would have, if he didn't, if he missed and didn't get the ball, I think he would have tackled him. So
I was just going to say, is that a big point of emphasis for you this this create more turnovers, punching the ball? I don't know. For me, I just feel like that's something that like a lot of people talk about, but it's if you apply it, I feel like it's there, but if sometimes people just kind of overlook it and it's not there. And I for me, I mean, turnovers won games in the NFL, so um for me, that's what I want to do. And uh just help in any way I can. I just want to be as productive as I can possibly be.
Close to any punch outs out there? Close. I don't know.
How different does this defense feel to you compared to last year at this time? Um for me all of it. No, for me I feel like obviously uh chef's still the same. I just and it starts with Dan. Like the team it start that starts with the team and the team feels identical. Everyone's out there hungry, ready to work. There's all this hurrah about last year. It's a new year. No one's thinking about last year and every single year you got to come into it with a mindset and if you don't come in with a mindset it's going to be a long year. So, um I'm looking just for guys and including myself to push it to the maximum. Um and just lay it all on the line every single week and no matter what and you saw it, no matter who gets hurt, whoever gets put in there is going to play at a high level. So,
Brock Wright
Offensive line kind of retooled. What do you see from those guys up front? Yeah. Um, a lot of tough guys up front, smart players. Um, been a lot of fun to work with the new guys in the re. Um, communication has been great. So, um, just continue to work with them, get on the same page with everything and, uh, continue to grind together.
Do you set personal goals for yourself going into this season? Yeah, always.
Can you share any of I mean, what do you want to show this year that maybe you haven't been able to show in the past if there is something? Um, well, you know, being a tight end, you want to be well-rounded in everything.
(11:38) I'd say my main goals this year are to um create more movement in the run game, um be uh the best um pass pro tight end in the league and uh create more yards after catch when I do get the opportunities in the pass game.
You and you and Sam both dealt with injuries last year. I mean, how refreshing is it to have both of you guys on the field here? Yeah, it's great together. Uh it's great. I love playing next to that guy so much. I was just saying a minute ago, he brings so much energy and juice to the offense. So, having him out there healthy is is huge for us.
A lot of people have said that Drew's offense features tight ends a lot. Does that make you excited for what could potentially come? Yeah, it's great. I mean, it's just fun getting involved in a bunch of different ways and um he's great at getting us in there, mixing it up in different areas and so uh it's really fun to see the a lot of the potential that we have in this offense.
Christian Mahogany
Earlier this week, even on Wednesday, Dan spoke about the O line saying he expects improvement from last year. I mean, the expectation is even higher. How important is it for you guys to live up to that and what do you think makes you guys better? Well, when the headman, you know, comes calling, you gota you got to answer the call. So, that's what we'll try and do and that's what we're going to do.
Can you speak about the competition that I mean again is going to happen at your position and kind of the fight to, you know, keep that spot? Yeah, competition is beautiful. You know, it's a blessing. Like, you don't stay content. You know, they say pressure makes diamonds, you know, so you just got to be ready. Come out and work every day. Those guys are really good, too. They're we're all in the NFL. We're all here to work, but at the end of the day, they're also my teammates. So, we want to all see each other be better as well. And, you know, whatever happens, that that's what's going to happen best for the team.
You guys got some one-on-one pass rush today. It's no pads. How much do you how much weight you put on that? What does it mean? It's good. You know, you got to even though you know, no pads sucks. You know, you got to wait to get the pads on, but it's still same guys, same, you know, just pads just adds a little more oomph. How did you feel last year post injury? I felt all right. You know, it's hard to like, you know, that was my probably my second injury ever. So, you know, it's just the mental of it, how it happened in football, but you know, you just got to work through that eventually. And then now I feel great. So, it all worked out.
On balance over the course of the year, were you pleased with the way you played? Where do you feel? No, I mean, I can never say I feel pleased. Like I said, I probably said this again repetitive. If once I feel pleased, like I said, I won't be here anymore. Like there won't be a Christian Mahogany in the building. I won't be here once I'm pleased. So, I'm never pleased. I definitely didn't play up to who I want to be and the player I want to be and who Hank and you know uh Brad and Dan want me to be. So I just got to be better in all facets of the game.
Where do you think you've made your biggest gains heading into the year? Probably pass pro? Definitely. That was the biggest concern cuz you know playing no excuse but playing left guard for the full full full season. I haven't done that. I didn't do that in a long time. So just working on footwork, pass pro, cuz in the run, I love the run, you know, like just little nicks in here and there, but just polishing up the pass pro a lot this this offseason this summer.
Would you come in at weight wise this year? Uh around the I think like 336 338. Yeah, around the same. No, nothing different. No.
What does that polishing process look like? Was that type of tape? Yeah, definitely. That was the biggest thing. I watched I watched like I would say maybe two of my best games and then what got me and then like my worst games as well. And then just seeing what I did wrong, how I got beat. I'm never a guy that's going to be like, "Okay, I got beat. These guys these guys are NFL all pros. These guys are good. I'm never going to put my head down and be like, "Oh, damn. I lost." You know, you're going to lose, but it's how you lose, you know? So, the biggest thing for me was just watching how I lost, fixing that, and then just making sure it doesn't happen again.
Does having someone like Skipper, someone you've played with now coaching you helped? It's definitely easier because you have a player-to-player relationship. Even though like I don't really see like it's hard to say he's my coach yet, but it's Dan. It's Skipper. He's a great dude. He's a great he's going to be a great coach and it's so much easier in the process to talk to him as well. For sure.
The Lions first preseason game is at Cincinnati on Thursday Aug 13th at 7pm.
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