Lions 2026 Training Camp Day 7 Recap
The Lions have made it to Day 7 of training camp, and Drew Petzing started it off, followed by a scorcher of a practice, with a few players being held out, a few coming off to have injuries tended to and a few more that were dealing with cramps.
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 or exiting early
RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Limited), S Brian Branch, S Kerby Joseph, OL Gio Manu (NFI), EDGE/DE Peyton Turner, LB Jimmy Rolder, EDGE Derrick Moore, OG Ben Bartch, RB Sione Vaki, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, DL Mekhi Wingo (Left), Da'Shawn Rucker (Left), Tyler Lacy (Left)
New Updates
RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Contract Dispute)
Showed up in uniform and went through stretching but didn't do any Individual or team work.
TE Tyler Conklin (PUP)
Passed his physical, was removed from PUP and practiced today
TE Miles Kitselman (Concussion)
Placed on season-ending Reserve/Injured list
Lawrence Keys (leg)
Was waived/injured
Teddy Bridgewater, DJ Reed, Isiah Pacheco & Juice Scruggs
Appeared to have the day off
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, nothing serious
Missed his 6th straight practice
LB Jimmy Rolder (Leg)
Campbell identified his injury as a Hamstring and re-stated he will be out for a while.
EDGE Derrick Moore (Groin)
Expected to miss 7-10 days with a groin strain
Sione Vaki (poked in the eye)
Campbell said Vaki has a broken nose and will miss some time to heal up. Likely back with a visor sooner than later
Left Practice
DL Mekhi Wingo (Groin)
DB Da'Shawn Rucker (Ankle)
Multiple Players (Cramping)
Transactions
Lions sign Former UFL RB Raheem Blackshear and waived/injured WR Lawrence Keys
Lions placed TE Miles Kitselman on season ending resere/Injured list and signed WR Tarik Black
TE Ty Conklin passed his physical and was removed from the PUP list
Lions signed RB Jahmyr Gibbs to biggest RB contract in history this evening, besting Bijan Robinsons two-day-old deal
Training Camp Day 7 Observations from the Lions Media
General Observations
Fans were back in attendance, and Special Guests were Albert Vreer of SI and Olympic Ice Dancers Evan Bates and Madison Chock.
Officials were on the field for the first time in camp, and lots of flags, mostly for DBs being handsy past five yards were thrown.
Jahmyr Gibbs caused a bit of a stir by trotting out in full pads and taking warmups and a few walkthroughs, but then retreated to the sideline to working off to the side He did not take questions at the end of practice form the media, but did give a thumbs up to someone that shouted if a deal was close? Apparently close meant this evening.
In the OL/DL 1-on-1s, Ahmed Hassanein and Christian Mahogany were top performers today
In WR/DBs, Khalil Dorsey had the only TD and TeSlaa high-pointed a pass over Whiteside for the catch of the day
Jake Bates was 6 of 8 today, hooking a 48-yarder to the left and pushing a 39-yarder wide right.
Situation drill to end practice for both second team Offense and Defense
Offense was down 1 with 3:30 left, the task was to score and deplete as much clock as possible
Punt was downed at the six-yard line
Offense got a quick first down, but then Frazier jumped on 1st & 10
Next play Hassanein executed a stunt for a sack on 2n and 15
Once reset, Altmyer had six straight completions, two runs by Robicheaux and then Bates nailed a 41-yarder to "win" as the time expired.
Depth Chart Observations by Position Group
OL
Not much mention of OL today, but no Scruggs meant Mahogany received most of the 1st team LG resp once again.
RBs
Saylors, Small and Robichaux split 1st and 2nd team reps with Vaki, Gibbs and Pacheco all out
WRs
TeSlaa has a nice bounce back day, and Kennedy also picked up the pace form reports
Williams and TeSlaa had great high point catches that were worthy of catch-of-the-day
TE
Ty Conklin was back and getting 2nd and 3rd team reps
Meeks reportedly had a really good day in blocking and stiff-armed Dorsey turning a 5-yard reception into 15
DL
Breakout days for Hassanein and Gill-Howard
LBs
Devin White received quite a bit of 1st team WILL LB reps next to Campbell today.
Nowaske was also on 1st team per reports.
Safety
Same players in same roles
Nickel
It was noted that McCreary has been just ok so far in camp, with Izien and Rakestraw potentially moving past him on the depth chart at nickel
Outside CBs
Dorsey was working with the twos and had a good day overall
Returners
No Updates: Greg Dortch, Toim Kennedy, Lawrence Keys, Isiah Pacheco, Dominic Lovett
Gunners No Updates: Dorsey, Izien, Rakestraw, Abney and Ya-Sin were mentioned as having strong days
Rookies
Blake Miller - Was in Camp photos today. Was pushed back into the pocket by Hassanein in 1-on-1s and then a late move by Wonnum caused another "loss".
Derrick Moore - Expected to miss 7-10 days with a groin strain
Jimmy Rolder - Campbell identified his injury as a Hamstring and re-stated he will be out for a while.
Keith Abney II - Identified as the victim of Kennedy on a post pattern from the slot, but got his revenge against Tom K on a corner route later.
Kendric Law - Done for season with a torn ACL suffered win OTA Week 2 practices
Skyler Gill-Howard - Campbell mentioned Gill-Howard as being able to do things form the three-tech that others can't and just needs to keep doing things. He also received some 1st team work in full team drills including what was reported as a nice run stop at the line with Barnes and a sack on Altmyer. It was a mixed bag in 1-on-1s, as he was pancaked by fellow rookie Priestly, bested Miles Frazier but also lost to Tate Ratledge.
Tyre West - Bested Mason Miller twice in 1-on-1s but lost to McLaughlin and then twice to Priestly.
UDFAs
Luke Altmyer - With Bridgewater out, Altmyer took the vast majority of the 2nd and 3rd team QB snaps in full team work. Impressed those in attendance with his poise and accuracy.
Miles Kitselman - Will be out awhile
Anthony Lucas - Mentioned that he got a pressure through vet Brrom.
Erick Hunter - Was in Camp photos today.
Eric O'Neil - Combined with Hassanein on 2nd DL for a sack of Altmyer
Aiden Keanaaina - Was stonewalled by Seth McLaughlin in 1-on-1s.
Amaris Brown - No mention today
Melvin Priestly - Was in Camp photos today. Pancaked Gill-Howard in 1-on-1s and stalemated West twice.
De'Shawn Rucker - Only mention was leaving early with an ankle issue
Lions QB Jared Goff, OL Blake Miller, DL DJ Wonnum, WR Greg Dortch and RTE Sam LaPorta Photos - Jeff Nguyen/Nicole Sharff Detroit Lions
Dre Petzing Day 7 Press Conference
Day 7 brought Drew Petzing to the podium, and he covered a bunch of topics related to his new team, his philosophy and a bunch of the players he gets to coach now. The link is the transcript of the items he was asked and answered:
Media Scrums with Players
The Lions had media availability with LB Jack Campbell.
LB Jack Campbell
I know it's the other side of the ball, but it's nice to get Jah out here even a couple, you know Is it nice? I don't know. For me, I was like, I saw him back out there. I was like, gosh, now I got to go one-on- ones against him >> in routes. But yeah, it's No, it's good to have Jah back. Uh, he's, you know what he is. You know what he does for the team. He's electric. Um, I came in with him. He's been nothing but good to me and my family the whole time I've been here. And he's just a fantastic human being. Um, so I mean, yeah, it's awesome to have him back out here, but it'll make my job a little bit tougher.
I think you played all of eight snaps last year. I mean, what does it take to do that? And do you expect to play as much I guess this year? I mean All of eight snaps. Yeah. No, I mean I for me I mean that's the mentality that I come in with like I want to give me I give me it all. I don't care. I mean that's what I'm here for. I feel like uh I just right and that's what this is for. I'm trying to load up myself. Um and especially like playing special teams like I mean I want to um we'll see what happens. But I mean I would I mean I did it last year. I'll do it again. But just like you got to call your body to be run down on kickoff and get into a series. There's no excuses. Doesn't matter that you just ran down, made a tackle or didn't make a tackle and you're tired. Like it doesn't matter. So right now that's my thought process. like as many reps I can get, ones, twos, threes, fours, fives, I don't care who's it against, just let me get my body going. So
Skyler Gilh Howard's a guy who's got a couple, you know, first team reps today, rookie defensive tackle.
What's you what's your first impression? I feel like he just he's he can do a lot of things at the three technique position a lot of guys can't do. Um, and I kind of see him fitting. I mean, every player's a little bit different, but I kind of like wingo-ish feel. So, we'll see where it goes. But, I mean, he's done a good job. You just need to keep going.
You guys ran the most uh I think the highest number three linebacker, you know, uh last year. How does the dynamic change if you go play a lot more nickel this year? Um yeah, I mean it's just it's a competition. We'll see what's going to happen. Um I know this year though a lot of teams are going to get into 22 personnel and 13 personnel. So um we'll see what happens. I don't I don't you can't play nickels to that. So we'll see what happens. And you've seen it around the league. I know it's coming. A lot of teams are going to get back into two back because nowadays people come I'm not going to say conferences or anything but they don't see two back no more and that's just what it is. So and you got a lot of kids you can you can manipulate runs fits get angles on guys really easy with the two back fit. So yeah.
How much is your responsibility if you if you do play the nickel? I mean how much does your responsibility change? Oh it doesn't really change at all. It just for me it's just that guy stepping in just doing his job. Sure. Um cuz a lot of our stuff, the nickel and the third linebacker are just literally the same people. They just interchanged. Now we just put in a lighter body and instead of a bigger body and now I mean what do you expect? We get a nickel, they're going to run the ball. So
And your impressions of Devon, I guess. Yeah, he's been great. Uh he's I mean he's a true vet. He's been in the league twice as long as me. So it's been good to talk to him. His thing like how he sees things. He I mean he played at a super high he's been playing at a super high level. So just like seeing how he sees it, just getting on the same page with him. I mean, he's been fantastic for the room. Uh it's he's learned the system so fast. He's done a fantastic job.
You've talked about taking ownership of the defense. Have you seen other guys maybe fall in that fall in that line with you, taking ownership of it all? I feel like right now, I mean, it's just the main staple. Like Hutch, he's you know what he's got to be. Mac, you know what he's got to be. Um and I feel like secondary wise, DJ Reed, you know what he's got to be. Rock, True Vet, Vonte, Chuck, all those guys have just done a fantastic job. LB room, I mean, D Barnes has done a great job. So, um, and a bunch of other guys. So, I mean, I'm missing guys and I always hate when I name people because then I always remember that I miss one. So, but, uh, we we've done a good job on that front, but there's more to be had.
The Lions first preseason game is at Cincinnati on Thursday Aug 13th at 7pm.
Transcripts are created with an assist from AI
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