Lions 2026 Training Camp Day 15 Recap
- The Grey Manes Staff
- 8 hours ago
- 21 min read
Day 16 of training camp was a night practice with fans in attendance to switch things up a bit and started with Campbell providing update son injuries and thoughts on some of the position battles and swaps going on and
ended with teh defense having a great day in a scrimmage.
Injury Updates
Updates from those in attendance as there wasn't any during Petzing's press even this morning. Below is the list of existing and new situations since last practice of players not participating.
The list of those not practicing, limited or exiting early
S Brian Branch, S Kerby Joseph, RB Isiah Pacheco, TE Sam LaPorta, OC Cade Mays, OG Ben Bartch, LB Jimmy Rolder, LB Damone Clark, DT Mekhi Wingo, and Edge Peyton Turner
New Updates
TE Sam LaPorta
Was not at practice, Thursday Update form Campbell is likely
WR Jameson Williams, CB Nick Whiteside, OT Devin Cochrane and DT Myles Adams
All back at Practice Today
Existing (No Changes)
S Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph (PUP)
Both are targeted for return around September
Both were seen working with trainers on side of field today
Branch for second practice in a row was running and cutting
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 and was not supposed to be serious
Has missed all of training camp, likely putting his roster spot in jeopardy
LB Jimmy Rolder (Leg) and LB Damone Clark
Has been working and running off to the side
Clark's injury is undisclosed but has missed multiple practices now
OC Cade Mays and OG Ben Bartch
Mays is sidelined for 8-10 weeks with fractured Wrist (Target Week 5)
Bartch was increasing participation coming of Lisfranc injury, may have had a setback
DT Mekhi Wingo
In Concussion protocol, no return date
RB Isiah Pacheco
MCL Strain - Target Week 1 return
Left Practice
N/A
Transactions
N/A
Training Camp Day 15 Observations from the Lions Media
General Observations
This was the last Training Camp practice open to the fans for the season.
CB Ennis Rakestraw and Isaac TeSlaa both had another great day, continuing to stack good practices after struggling in Cincinnati
Derrick Moore had himself a day by all accounts. He was lining up all over the line, mainly in 3rd down packages, and notched at least two sacks in dills while being disruptive in his limited plays.
Hutchinson, mentioned Tuesday by Campbell as being so disruptive they sometimes let the plays just go to get work in, was doing the same thing all day. One item that caught those in attendance eyes, Hutch was knocked on his back (a de-cleater) by Tate Ratledge in a 4th and 10 situation allowing Goff to pick up the first down to Williams.
Continue to observe sacks coming from blitzes and especially the secondary guys, including both CB and Safety spots
The practice ended with multiple situation drills (six)
Situation 1 - 1st Team - End of 1st Half, 3:31 on clock three timeouts and ball on own 23-yard line
Borom holding call (spelling Penei who was ona breather)
Gibbs for 20 behind a Blake Miller block
21-yard completion to TeSlaa
Barnes covered Gibbs on a wheel route (incomplete) leaving the offense in FG range
Situation 2 - 2nd Team - End of 1st Half, 3:31 on clock three timeouts and ball on own 32-yard line
This was a three-and-out situation with Rakestraw getting a sack on second down
Situation 3 - 1st Team - End of Game, :59 on clock, down 4 pts at own 49-yard line
McNeil forced a throwaway (beat Mahogany quickly)
Goff to St. Brown for 13 in flat
Goff to St Brown for 20 on seam route (beat Clark and Abney)
Last play was from 18-yard line with the defese guarding the end zone, which ende dup being a Goff to St Brown just short of the goal line and he was stopped just shy of scoring.
Situation 4 - 2nd Team - End of Game, 1:06 on clock, down 4 pts at 50-yard line and no timeouts
Short passes to Lovett and Vaki over the middle chewed off large chunks of time
Eric O'Neil sack on 3rd down
4th down prayer from Altmyer to Lovett fell incomplete
Situation 5 - 1st Team - End of Game, 3:20 on clock, down 7 pts at own 48-yard line with 3 TOs
Offense found themselves in 4th and 10 and the above mentioned Ratledge decleating of Huthcinson allowed for the Goff to Williams conversion
Gibbs breaks a Maddox tackle 9which would have been for loss) on third and 1 to secure the 1st down
Goff to TeSlaa on a pivot route gets the offense into the red zone
Gibbs gets stuffed by lacy and Williams
Next play, Gibbs gets a TD on a Texas Route
Lions go for two, get the D-Line to all jump, and then on next play Hutch ends it with a sack on a Goff bootleg
Situation 6 - 2nd Team - End of Game, 1:11 on clock, down 7 pts at own 30-yard line with 1 TO
Big gain by Tay Martin over Khlalil Dorsey for ~17 yards
Altmyer scrambles for 14
Altmyer to Martin on 4th and 1 for 1st down on a short slant route
Last play ended with 12-seconds left, no TOs and Offense about 33-yardss out. Altmyer can't find anyone and ends up getting sacked by Hassanein to end practice
Depth Chart Observations by Position Group
QB
Altmyer continues to rep ahead of Dobbs even after a week. Dobbs doesn't seem to have his reps increasing much yet. Only was observed with a single 7-on-7 rep yesterday
OL
1st Team OL was Sewell-Mahogany-Scruggs-Ratledge -Miller
Seth McLaughlin was reportedly looking better than Juice Scriuggs at 1st team OC when he was on the field, although Scruggs received most of the 1st team reps
Borom was in for Penei (breather) in situational drills at LT and false started. He continues to be the swing tackle
RBs
Pecking order was Gibbs, Vaki, Saylors, Smalls
Saylors and Small were splitting 2nd team reps
WRs
Back to Williams, TeSlaa and St Brown with the 1s
Dortch, Lovett, Kennedy, Cunningham and Martin were getting many of the 2nd team reps
TE
LaPorta being out, Conklin received 1st team reps with Meeks getting some 2nd team reps
DL
Hutch, McNeil, Williams and Wonnum were starters (with Lacy as Big end)
Moore was getting specialty rush reps with 1st unit
At one point they had a Speed rush line of Hutch, Moore, Gill-Howard and Wonnum out there
Ben Stille continues to make plays on the second unit
LBs
Barnes and Campbell were 1st team
Devin White and Rodriguez were second team
Safety
Same players in same roles
Nickel
Abney is getting first team reps in the battle with Izien and McCreary
Outside CBs
Rakestraw was 2nd Team along with Dorsey
Returners
Tay Martin was observed on 1st team KR reps again, and was mentioned by Dave Fipp before practice as jumping off the film
Gunners
N/A
Rookies
Blake Miller - Had a good day, both in 1=on=1s where he held his own against Hutch and Wonnum and in the situation drills.
Derrick Moore - Moore held a media session (linked and transcribed below) and covered many topics about his camp and getting on the field. Was observed getting a big sack against fellow rookie OT Blake Miller and combining with Hutch on another.
Jimmy Rolder - Has been observed working and running off to the side getting closer to a return
Keith Abney II - Mentioned as being victimized on a great throw and catch by Goff/St Brown in the situational drills. Still getting 1st team Nickel reps as well as working at outside CB
Kendric Law - Done for season with a torn ACL suffered win OTA Week 2 practices
Skyler Gill-Howard - Appeared in a specialty front of speed rushers thrown out there by Sheppard. Lost a one-on-one to Ratledge
Tyre West - No mention today
UDFAs
Luke Altmyer - Continues to get the most 2nd team reps even with Dobbs in camp. had some good throws today but was sacked and rushed quite a bit.
Miles Kitselman - Placed on Reserve/Injured with leg injury and is out for season
Anthony Lucas - No mention today
Erick Hunter - ST Coordinator Dave Fipp twice mentioned Hunter unsolicited as a guy that has stood out during his media availability yesterday, in addition to answering a direct question about how guys like Hunter are paired up with other players to get them up to speed.
Eric O'Neil - Had a sack against McLaughlin on a stunt in situational drills.
Amaris Brown - No mention today
Melvin Priestly - Mentioned as stoning Tyler Lacy in one-on-one rep but getting driven deep into the pocket by Ben Stille
Detroit Lions Alim McNeil, Thomas Harper and Jameson Williaams Photos - Jeff Nguyen/Nicole Scharff - Detroit Lions
Dave Fipp Day 15 Press Conference
Dave Fipp held serve on Day 15 of training camp and he covered a bunch of topics relate to how the STs guys can make the team, some unsolicited praise for a couple of players and the transcript of the items he was asked and answered is below:
Opening Statement: Oh man, I can't believe I'm here. I'll just say that. Uh, just being coaching in this league, there's nothing like it. Uh, I feel like a kid in a candy store. I was thinking about that before I came down here. When I was a kid, my brothers and I, we'd ride our bike down the street couple miles away. We'd beat a little candy. We'd, you know, eat share. Hey, can I get one of yours? You give me one of mine. U, it was incredible. But it's the same thing today. I feel very fortunate and lucky working for a head coach that I'm working for, being a part of this organization, working with these players out on the practice field. There's really nothing like it for me. So, I'm thankful to be here and uh whatever questions you guys got, I'll do my best.
What was your candy of choice? Uh it was Coke bottles. The little Coke gummies. Coke bottle gummies. Those things are pretty strong. The red jelly beans. Those ones, too. That was it.
Yeah. You'll have a lot to say. I guess it comes down to special teams, the guys on the back end of the roster of how much they're contributing on special teams. Uh do you feel kind of like a lynch pin in that way of in the decision-m process of hey, you know, what do you think of this guy, that guy? Yeah, I think uh I tell the players, I mean, in the old days, I felt like, yeah, there was a handful of guys that they just made the roster on special teams. And I feel like uh time over the last handful of years has changed a little bit. We've had more injuries collectively probably as a league. You're playing more players throughout the course of a year. Um, I tell the players now like you're going to make the team probably in two phases. You're going to have to play on offense and special teams or defense and special teams. And I know this, the more that you can do, the better in modern football. If all you can do is play on special teams, you're going to have to be really, really special to make it just on that. Now, you have to have some function. Now, if you're very, very good on special teams and you can help a little bit on defense, you know, you got a chance. Or you're really good on defense and don't do much on special teams, you still got a chance there. But I think for the most part, we're looking for guys who can help in all areas. Um, and uh, we end up playing a lot of players throughout the course of the year. Uh, when they ask my opinion on guys, I'm going to give them my opinion and tell them to the best of my knowledge what I think how a guy will play for us.
Has there been a guy or two who stood out, who's taken that message to heart, maybe a younger guy, who has understood how valuable special teams is to getting him on? Yeah, I think you know the one thing we got uh you know we are replacing some good players and there's also a lot of good competition out there. I would definitely say that and there's a lot of players at a lot of positions like linebacker. There's four guys probably you got Eric Hunter, you got Bachie, you got Reeder, and you got Ogbongbemiga. Um these four players, they can all play. Uh you got Hunter's the young guy, the other guys have all played in the league. Um and uh it's very competitive. So you're looking for who's going to play the most or be the most dependable player who can help the most on defense and special teams probably the combination of the two. Um so that's a competitive spot. I think the wide receiver spots very competitive. You got Martin, you got Black, you got uh Lucky Jackson who's made some plays. Um and these are all down the line guys. And then obviously those guys above them. You have the returner position with Kennedy and Dortch. Really a palm returner. Lovett fitting into that a little bit, but really probably Kennedy and Dortch right now in my opinion. Um, so there's a number of positions. The safety position, you know, is really up in the air right there. Who's going to play there? Obviously with the injuries to the safety position, who's coming back? And so, yeah, there's a lot to process
Wanted to follow up on Hunter. We see you match him up a lot with Nowaski in in practice and that seems like a pretty good challenge with a guy that's proven at this level and from all signs like the rookie holding his own. I'm just curious how much he's caught your eye how I maybe more advanced he might be than you anticipated coming from Morgan State. Yeah, I would say he's definitely caught our eye. He's caught everybody's eye. I know that. You know the challenge for young guys is and we match guys up with a lot of different players. We do that. We do veteran on veteran, veteran on rookie, you know, um smaller guy on bigger guy, bigger guy on smaller guy. You're trying to gain a lot of information this time of year so that when you get in the season, you know who can handle what matchups. Um for him, he's definitely done something probably every practice where you're like, "Wow, he did a great job there." Or he stood out. Um and that's really what you're looking for. Um now that being said, he's also made some big mistakes, too, you know, and it's like, man, um how much of that can you weather? Well, when you're talking about the punt team, not a lot, you know. So, those guys got to go out there and execute. They got to protect the passer. It's going to be a blitz most of the time that they're picking up and they got to be 100%. Um, and you can't have a sack or for us a block punt. Um, sorry. So, anyways, hey state. So, anyway, yeah, he's done some good things. Um, and I would say he's right in the middle of a competition. The advantage those other guys have as they've played. So, they've been through that stuff. I think Belichick, you know, I love Belichick, but he used to have a thing where there'd be no rookies playing on the punt team. You know, he just didn't want that to happen because he knew a mistake in that phase is devastating. Um, so if anytime you have to put a young player out there like that, you got to be careful. Um, and that's his challenge that he's fighting. The other guys have experience, but you know, they haven't in some ways flashed as much as he has at certain things, too. So, um, it'll be interesting.
So, sorry, man. So, probably about half the league doesn't have both kick returner and punt returner playing the same guy playing both positions. Just curious why you think that is. And do you believe maybe you have a guy here that can do both those things? Yeah. Well, I would say number one is uh on kick return, you have to have two players back there. So, it can't just be the punt returner anyway. Um, so the punt returner may be a part of that, but he may not. Um, I think it really just depends on the roster, the makeup, who you have. Uh, I do know that like if you were asking me preference, I would say I would like a bigger, stronger guy on kickoff return. And most of that's just durability. I mean, those guys take some shots. Uh, and I would say there's a little bit more contact with those guys. It's a little bit more like a run play than it is ball out in space. That's a little bit more like a punt return. Um, so it's definitely difficult to find a guy who does both. That being said, it also depends on the makeup of your roster. You might have a top wide out or one of your top wide outs, you want to return punts, but you don't want them to return kickoffs. That could be part of that decision. So, a lot that goes into it.
Could Dortch play that role. Yeah, I think, you know, Dortch has done a little bit of both. He's done more punt return than kickoff return, but he's certainly done both there. Um, I think TK can do some of both. Um, we've seen him do that for us, too. So, you're talking about two guys that could do that. Then it also for us would turn back to who else do we have available on game day and what's the best combination 11 we can get and in that conversation now you know I know he's not out there right now but does Pacheco figure into that you know does somebody like that now maybe you could have Pacheco and whoever that other running back is back there and you get two running back bodies and you don't play the palm returner back there so just always to make the best 11 also play the best you can throughout the course of the whole season too not any one game.
What do you see as the biggest benefit to having that operation with the with the holder, the snapper, and the kicker now going into three third season? I see it's pretty rare that that you return those guys. There's not maybe a little bit of turnover there. Just the biggest benefit of that. Yeah, it's obviously great having all three of those guys back. I you know how I feel about all three of them. I think all three are great players. Um they're very passionate about what they do and they really work hard and become better every year and really every day, which I love. Um but uh yeah, it's a benefit to them because now you know they can get in a good rhythm and routine, work together. They know each other's idiosyncrasies and nuances. Um you're not adjusting your rhythm for a different snapper and uh things like that. So I think it's helpful for them, too, but it's also comforting for us.
Dave, can you expand a little bit on what you like about Pacheco beyond the body type as a kick returner and then um not just at return, but on special teams, what does what does Jacob Sailor mean to you on special? Yeah. Um, so Pacheco, I mean, no, he did a little bit of it when he was younger in Kansas City, so you seen that. He had some good plays back there. Uh, more than anything, you just watch him run the ball on offense. Like, I think Gibbs would make a good returner, too. But, uh, um, anyways, but yeah, so anytime if a guy's dynamic with the ball in his hands on offense and there's a chance that translates um, on special teams, too. Um and uh so that's kind of really what we see in Pacheco obviously when he gets healthy maybe we can get him back there and then some of it depends on his role on the roster and game day and etc and playing the course 17 years or 17 games and all that. Um and then Saylors, I mean I love Saylors. I loved him a year ago. He came in and really helped us out um on special teams and I thought he played very well for us on teams a year ago. Um, and then to see him go out there and play like that on offense. I was super happy for him in the last preseason game because to me, he is a deserving kid of that attention. He really has gone under the radar but been a very good player for us on special teams um last year. So, I'm encouraged with that for him.
Seen this kind of massive Won't give you Gibbs as a return man, huh? Yeah. I don't know. When you put the ball in his hands, a lot happens. So, I know that.
So, we've seen kind of this massive developmental jump from Ahmed Hassan on defense. Seems like special teams, there's a lot more precision and control needed uh with a player like that. How have you seen his growth with your groups in particular? Yeah. Um he does a great job. I mean, the one thing about him, Ed, is he goes out there and he works his tail off. He's going to fight and compete. Uh and you love that about him. He's tough as heck. He's very competitive. Um he takes everything personal. Um but uh you know one thing that is a challenge for him on special teams a lot of our plays are wide open space plays you know when you're playing defensive line you're in a tighter confined box. Um we we've utilize some players like that in the past on kickoff coverage here. Um so maybe that's an area he can help us out. But really when you're talking like punt return uh it's going to be difficult. And then can he match up a guy on kickoff return? Defenders are used to getting away from blocks not blocking as much. Um, so some guys are better at that than others. Um, and he's definitely worked at it for us. Um, so I those types of players to me are more luxury type players. Like if he's available on game day and he made the roster and he's on the team and he's playing and the defense wants him, um, could I find a role for him that would help elevate the players around him and make him one of the best 11 guys to be on the field on any given play? Then yeah, that's to me like a luxury. um those other linebackers, man, those guys got to play. You just don't have any other bodies. So, um certain positions kind of more valuable to me than others. Um I would consider that one a luxury but love what he does.
Saw you, uh kind of joking around with Jameson when he was walking around the field the other day. The social team also put out a clip where you were wearing his jewelry during practice. I'm just curious what kind of trickle down effect his joy has on the rest of the team from your perspective. Yeah, I mean he I mean J Mo is awesome. You guys know I've always loved him. I love the fact that he played Gunner. Uh you guys gave me hell because we were going to play him as a gunner. Um but uh but uh no, I love him. He loves the game of football, you know, and I would say that's probably the biggest thing. Uh you know, you're looking for guys who can stand out or make an impact or jump off the film um and do it. You know, the only way I could relate it to you in this off season or actually not too long ago, uh Chris Stapleton played a concert in Fort Field. So, I went to the concert and there's all these people leading up to it. The first guy, I don't know what his name, something Allen or Allen Stellin or something like that was incredible. Chris Stapleton, obviously, when you hear the guy sing live, you're like, "Oh my gosh, she just jumps off the stage." Um, Laney Wilson, I'm a huge Laney Wilson fan. Uh, I think she's incredible. I love her story. I feel like she's just one of those people who made it on her own. And then I'm watching the Laney Wilson show though and there was somebody comes up and this lady was jamming on this guitar and I'm like damn who is that? And then all of a sudden she's playing the electric violin in front of everybody and this person jumped off the stage the way she was playing that instrument with a passion and energy and I'm like damn I mean this is she's got it. I mean she has definitely got it. So I looked up her name. Her name was Sav Madigan. She's from Traverse City, Michigan. And I'm like, dude, she's got it. And really, that's what you're looking for in a player. So, like Jamo, he's got it, man. Gibbs, he's got it. You put the ball in their hand, it jumps off the film, you see it. Um, and that's what you're looking for in players, man. This time of year, who can jump off the film and make you go, gosh darn it, like I got to look that person up. Who are they? I want them on this roster. That helps you on teams for you.
Who's jumped off the film on teams for you? So Tay Martin's jumped off the film every day. Bunch of these guys, Hunter's jumped off the film doing something good. Bachie played some good football. All these guys I've mentioned, Reeder's done some good things, you know. Um and that's why I say it's a very competitive situation here. Um but uh yeah, it's a good question. I can't give it all away.
Media Scrums with Players
The Lions had media availability with EDGE Derrick Moore
EDGE Derrick Moore
How anxious are you to get on the field and the game? Man, I'm so excited. I can't wait for it. You like literally I can't wait for it.
What are the hard parts for you right now? Uh say the hard parts, you know, is just really, you know, just trying to come out here and compete against the best every day. You know, go against guys like Blake Pne and the rest of the guys on the old line, you know, just going against them and just trying to bring my best self out every day cuz I know they going to bring their best uh competitiveness out. So just trying to be the better self, uh better me every day and just competing every day and going against them going against them guys.
Where do you think you're better player now than maybe day one at training camp? Uh better player now and I say probably like my comfort level just coming out here being able to be com comfortable you know within you know the play calls um you know going against the competition that I'm going against you know just being able to just be relaxed and just play 100% not thinking too much.
Can you walk us through the sack you had? I think it was against Blake. Both you were hunching the back field that third down play. Uh it was just it was just third down play. You know, it was just at that point, you know, you just got to get off the ball. You know, also you got Hutch on the opposite side. So, you got to get that before he get there. So, you know, sometime that be my mindset, you know, when I'm out there with Hutch or anybody else, you know, just get back there before they can because we got we got a deep Elon R that can get to the ball. So, you know, that's my mindset on every third down, really on every passing down, just get to the ball best as I can because I know it's other guys getting there before me.
Derek, is that a sneak peek of what things could look like this season, you and Aiden in the back field? Hey, I ain't going to say too much, but it couldn't can be, but no matter what, who whoever's out there, it's going to make it all look the same.
What do you think you know, that week and a half or whatever you were, what do you think you missed and how did you close the gap, you know, to sort of finish strong? Um, I think the only thing I probably miss, you know, just being out here on the field, that's it, you know, but mentally I was still engaged, you know, uh, watching film, asking questions to the older guys and also to the coaches. Uh, just so when I get back out here, I can just go 100%.
In what ways do you think a preseason game can really help you feel like an NFL player? Uh, it can help me a lot, you know, just getting back into the rhythm. Um, you know, I've been out for two weeks, you know, so getting back into the rhythm, uh, being able to go against different competition and seeing different looks and different things like that and just showing everybody, you know, what I'm capable of doing.
Seems like you're getting a lot of work on third down. What do you think you bring to that down that makes you such a weapon on that down, I guess? Um, you know, I feel like coach, he look at me as a guy who can get to the ball. I feel like that's what he want to do on get on third down is get to the ball. Get to the He looking for guys that can get to the ball. So, You know, I just want to be one of them guys that, you know, he trusts. I just want to be one of them guys that coach uh Jeff trust and I can get to the ball. That's it.
I saw your wheels that pass rap against Gibbs. All of a sudden, I'm writing down a number. Who's keeping up with him? How quick you got to be to make that read? Hey, you got to be real quick for that right there. I I Hey, that was probably that was my first time going against Gibbs like that open field. So, next time I know to get out there a little a little sooner. So, I'll be ready for it next time.
What have you been able to learn from going against Penei? Uh, you know, going against like guys like Pane, you know, you just got to bring your every day. Literally, excuse me for my language, but like you got to bring your every day because he coming every day literally. And he not, no matter who he is, he not going to slow down or take a take a break or take a play off or anything like that. He coming every play. So you got to be you got to be ready to trap your up and go against him cuz he bringing his every play.
Can you feel yourself leveling up from those cumulative reps against Pay? Yes. I actually like going against guys like Penei and Blake, you know, just guys that's going to bring it every play that's going to compete and even if you win or lose, like they not satisfied with it. You know, they trying to get better each and every play.
The Lions second preseason game is home at Ford Field against the Washington Commanders on Thursday Aug 22nd at 12pm.
Transcripts are created with an assist from AI
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