Lions 2026 Training Camp Day 16 Recap
- DB Keener
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
Day 16 of training camp was a brief hour-long event that was only in shells, but it didn't prevent another injury from occurring and once again, the defense had itself a day. There are four training camp practices left after today.
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, Edge Peyton Turner, S Thomas Harper and CB Ennis Rakestraw (Left)
New Updates
Thomas Harper sat out with undisclosed injury
Sam LaPorta took a shot to the hip in the night practice, and it flared up. Hope to have him for Week 1
Jimmy Rolder will NOT be ready by the time camp ends (four more practices) and may linger into the season. Was spotted working with trainers off to the side.
Ben Bartch is in concussion protocol
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 Damone Clark
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 is in the concussion protocol
DT Mekhi Wingo
In Concussion protocol, no return date
RB Isiah Pacheco
MCL Strain - Target Week 1 return
Left Practice
CB Ennis Rakestraw (Lower Leg)
Walked off under his own power
Transactions
Training Camp Day 16 Observations from the Lions Media
General Observations
This practice was the first after fans are no longer at Allen Park, and the last one before the Preseason game on Saturday. Campbell indicated it would last about an hour and be in shells, so similar to a walkthrough
Practcie was reportedly sloppy with quite a few false starts on the OL
Jack Campbell was highly disruptive today, including a sack, PBU, TFL on three of the nine one-v-one plays ion the situational work
Vaki had one of the biggest plays in practice, a swing pass against the blitz he took for 20+ yards down the sideline
Kick returners were Kennedy and Saylors
Much of practice was scenario work with the full team on the opponent's side of the field.
1st Team - Offense was stifled by the defense for a three-and out including Jack Campbell on both 1st and 3rd downs making big plays
2nd Team - Ended with a 42-yard Jake Bates FG after Altmyer moved the team a little bit, but false start penalties and good defense (run stuff and two PBUs) ended the threat
1st Team - Offense fared better in their second go round, moving the ball on some quick slant completions, but Campbell blew up a play, then McNeil sniffed out a screen resulting in another Jake Bates 41-yard FG
2nd Team - Dobbs came in for one snap, resulting in a nice 20-yard-deep crossing route that ende din a Jackson Meeks TD, which was also the play Rakestraw was injured on
Detroit Lions Jacob Saylors, Jackl Campbell, Jameson Willaims and Jackson Meeks Photos - Jeff Nguyen - Detroit Lions
Dan Campbell Day 16 Press Conference
Dan Campbell was back at the podium to start Day 16 and offered up some injury updates, talked about the work they have been getting in, several players that have been playing well and even took a few questions form German Media members leading up to the Patriots game later this year. You can check out the full transcript here and the quick hitters and video below:
Quick Hitters
Practice will be in shells for about an hour with some red zone work
Goff will not play against Washington, Dobbs will start, but both Dobbs and Altmyer will get equal reps
Talked about Juice coming back from injury and getting thrust into being full time at center but has confidence he has been a center in the league and played snaps there before.
Said the plan is to get Hutch and Campbell off the field more this year. Campbell likely will be on less special teams, and Hutch will get rotated out. Campbell said most difficult thing was convincing them to come off.
Also said that if Campbell is off, then Nowaske or Rodriguez would likely be the Green Dot comms guy
Asndered about body types and EDGEs in particular, centered around Eric O'Neil
Took some ribbing about his old hair style (came up in the Brad Galli interview) and Cmapbell confirmed he is doen with the flowing locks.
Took a couple questions form German media and discussed the travel plans and mentioned its a Lions home game in Germany and that the Lions are Germany's team also.
Media Scrums with Players
The Lions had media availability with QB Josh Dobbs
QB Josh Dobbs
Josh, we just heard from Dan that you're going to get the start against Washington. Just initial thoughts about that and your time early time now with Detroit. Yeah, excited. Anytime you get an opportunity to start and play is always um a dream and a and a joy. So, I'm excited to go out there, compete. Um it's been good getting a chance to get to know everyone, learn the offense, get up to speed. So, it'll be a good opportunity to go out and play and compete at a high level.
How much more com comfortable do you feel now, too, being able to watch the film from the first preseason game and what you want to work on? Anything that stood out to you specifically? I think the first preseason game was just good to get in the huddle, break the huddle, um call the play and execute. Um couple scoring drives and only two opportunities out there. So that felt good. Um so I definitely feel more comfortable. Um but still getting up to speed, right? Like I think um the first game was like two days and then you know now it's like maybe nine days. So we're still getting there and getting in there and practice getting our feet wet and stuff. So, um, as I said, like Saturday would be a great opportunity to do it, to execute, to run the offense and, uh, put up some points and have some fun, but, um, yeah, we're still getting up to speed, but, um, it's been a joy and the guys, the coaches, um, everyone here has been very welcoming, so I've enjoyed the process so far.
Better than 72 hours of preparation this time for the second preseason game. Anything any benchmarks you specifically want to hit in this one? No, just go out and have a clean operation, good game. Like I think um all the guys want to compete at a high level is everyone's chance to show what we can do on the football field, right? And um guys are competing for jobs, guys are competing for opportunities, guys are competing for bigger roles. Um and so every time you step on the field, right, is to go out and execute and play at a high level. So the benchmark and stuff, everything gets handled if you kind of approach each play with the right mentality. And that's what I try to do. And it seems like that's what everyone does here. So I think it'll be a good day on Saturday.
You've been in a couple different quarterback rooms in your career. How is this one maybe different? Yeah, I think um it's definitely different because this is the first time like me and uh JG were in the same high school class. So, we've known each other for a while. So, this is the first time I've really experienced that. So, I've really enjoyed um that just kind of like reminiscing, but also um there's a lot of high-level football conversations in the KB room. Um there's a lot of experience across the room between Tui and Brew and Mike and myself and obviously JG. So, um yeah, there's a lot of experience. I think Luke's done a great job of really absorbing all the information and performing well, giving his opportunities. So, it's been um it's been really cool. It's been a really good room thus far. I'm excited to continue to work with the guys.
Yeah, it's a unique perspective, right? You're trying to help Luke get ready as well. He's just a rookie. What is that relationship like between the two of you and what the conversations are in that QB room? Yeah, definitely relationship's growing as I said, like with everyone, you know, it's only been here a week. So, um I'm no expert in this offense, right? I know I've played football, but I'm not an expert here yet. And that's the goal for me to learn and grow and have the conversations I can be ready whenever my number's called. And I think um just with any rookie, right, they're absorbing a lot of information very quickly. They're trying to make the most of every practice at every rep. And you know, first just serving as example of like what to do, how to carry yourself. And then when questions come about, just be open and willing to answer. So I'm always am a resource, but also as I said, like I'm still learning myself. So um I'm enjoying that process as well, soaking it all in and taking it day by day.
I know the last time we talked with you, you said one of the defining features of working with Drew Petzing is just his communication and how clear it is. He's always one step ahead. Anything specifically that sticks out with him in Detroit or any parts of this offense that you really enjoy? Yeah, I think um well, we obviously we have some great weapons, like the best players in the league, so just enjoy watching them practice and perform and make plays. Um and so I think like watching how he uses those guys um in specific roles to really accentuate their skill set will be a blast. So, he's going to uh do a great job. It's going to be good. It's going to be really good.
You might have already covered it, but you're getting the start, you know, here Saturday. What does what does that mean to you? What do you need to show to lock up a roster spot if you feel that that's in jeopardy? Oh, uh my goal is to be myself. You know, go out, execute the offense, getting out of the huddle and perform at a high level. That's always my goal, whether it's practice or a game. So, I'm excited for the opportunity. Any opportunity to play football is um a joy and a blessing. So, I'm going to enjoy it, but make the most of it at the same time.
Now that you've been in it a few weeks, how similar is this offense to sort of what you ran under Drew a few years ago? I would say a few weeks is probably a stretch at this point. It's been nine days. So, um, but it's similar. There's similar and different in the same, right? Like there's different players and, uh, they've been playing high level offense here for the years even before I was here, obviously before Drew got here. Um, so yeah, like I think um, Drew's adjusted his playbook to fit the scheme as any really good coach will do. And so, uh, for me, right, like there are changes and nuances and, um, so I'm still getting up to speed on them, which I know I will at the right time, but, you know, still just taking it day by day.
What's the change language? Is it actually in some of the nuances of the routes? What is the change, I guess, that you're A little bit of everything, right? Like the players are completely different here, right? The team's built differently. So, you're going to build your offense around these guys and their skill set.
Just first impressions of Luke Altmyr Yeah, he's been good, man. I heard I heard he's been doing a really good job at practice before I got here. So, I've been impressed. I know um he's responded when he's had adversity. He's made plays and made throws when they're there. So, I think he's doing a really good job of grasping it. Um it can be a lot for a rookie, but he does a good job getting in and out of the huddle. Um which is just a little thing that sets you up for a successful play. So, I've been impressed. And um I know we have we have a has a really wealth of knowledge in that QB room. He's done a great job tapping into that.
Just last thing I got for you, you know, this stage of the offseason, right, two weeks till the first game, what do you do as a vet? How do you sort of get yourself ready for where you need to be week one? Um, take it day by day. You know, that's really it. Don't look ahead. Just take it day by day and focus on the playbook, what you can control and maximizing every rep you get.
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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