Dan Campbell Camp Day 2 Press Event 07/30/26 Day 1 is in the books and Dan Campbell just completed his Day 2 press event, dropping plenty of info for those craving more news about the Lions. This includes some details on Tyleik Willaims Instagram post about losing 50plbs and the mystery around Gio Manu ending up on the NFI/Injury list after practice yesterday. Injury Summary New: Peyton Turner - Stiff back, nothing serious Giovani Manu - Added to NFI/Injury List due to previously undisclosed injury form offseason No Changes: Branch - Potentially Early September Kerby - Likely will linger into the season on same timeline as Branch Conklin - Calf in Spring, Two Weeks Izien - Flu bug likely back Friday Mahogany - Couple of Days Quick Hitters No changes on injuries from yesterday, two new items in Manu and Turner came up Campbell loves Gibbs and was thinking the Gibbs contract situation would have already been done, but he will coach who is present and understands the situation as both a player and coach in the league. says he isn't sweating it, and Gibbs did his conditioning test. Campbell said the silver lining is that all the other backs will get extended work including with the first team Really likes that Nick Whiteside has seized the opportunity and continues to improve. Made more plays than anyone yesterday per Campbell. Manu injury was not disclosed, happened in offseason ad has a 12–14-week timetable, so he went on NFI. Didn't offer any praise or other feedback on Manu in his answer. Campbell said they are super proud of Tyleik determining that he was too heavy and that he put in tons of work including coming in early, to get himself in shape and down to 325. Which is right where they want him at. Reduced weight means he may be out there more on third down and the line in general will be lighter, with Lopez ad Reader no longer with the team. Will likely change a bit how the DL front works. Campbell touched on the concern around LaPorta getting his back to where it needs to be for his heath. Dan Campbell Press Event Transcript Opening Statement: How's it going? Very good. All right. Uh, day two, nothing has changed. Um, really, I think Payton Turner is probably going to sit out today. He's got a little bit of a stiff back, so just got that, but we don't think that'll be anything serious. Um, other than that, it's day two. Can't wait to get going. Questions? Uh, can you just I think some of us were maybe caught a little bit off guard that Jahmyr wasn't on the practice field yesterday. That Jahmyr was not on the practice field yesterday. Can you just explain what he's doing, I guess, behind closed doors, right? Going to meetings or whatever still. And at what point does it become a distraction or a detriment to the team that he's Listen I I'll just leave it at this. You guys know how I feel, how we feel about Gibbs and how what the team feels about him. Um, and I'll leave it at that. Listen, all the other stuff, my job is to coach who's out there right now. And uh and I love the kid and uh but I man I got I got I got a team to coach right now. And listen, whatever all this at some point here, it'll get done. It's going to get done. I'm not even I'm not even sweating it. So, Is it your understanding that he won't be out there until he gets a new deal? Um I don't know. I don't know. Look, I I know this thing. He before yesterday, he did a conditioning test. He had a little bit of a back and we'll see, you know, but look, I'm not sweating. What sort of opportunity is it for like a Vaki? We saw him getting a lot of reps yesterday and obviously he's a guy who needs it. So That's crazy. Do you have one on music coming from? I feel amplified. Or is it this? Um it's a great opportunity and look it's one of the reasons we got Pacheco man. This is extra reps for pop uh with us just in our system man. So that's awesome. Vaki gets these reps uh Saylors, Small, Robichaux. I mean uh but yes to answer your question it's great. It's a great opportunity for him. It gives him more reps. So um yeah it's good. There's always a silver lining. You uh brought him up yesterday. Uh Nick Whiteside kind of popped in here last year and just immediately started breaking up passes. He had three I think yesterday on first day of camp. Um where is he at compared to when he kind of arrived mid-stream last year? He's improved. He's improved. Um and what you like about Whiteside is that when we brought him in, gave him an opportunity, he fought, made some plays, man. earned the right to stay. Pulled him up, right? Needed him. Uh did some good things for us. Uh we get him back with us here and uh and look, he's all about business. You know, that's what you love. It's not too big for him. He's all about business and he's going to maximize everything he's got. And uh he looks like he looks like he wants a spot and he wants a job. That that's what he looks like. I mean, I know it's day one, but he made more plays than anybody out there. And uh so that's encouraging. It's good to see. Uh saw Manu pop up on non-OT injury yesterday after practice. Just curious for an update there. We're Yeah, we, you know, obviously put him on NFI. And um he had a injury, a previous injury over the summer um that was not disclosed. And so um you know, came off the practice field, didn't feel good, got it checked, sure enough, that's what it was. So he will be out uh for a period of time. Who you know, I don't know how long that's going to be. Call it 12 weeks. 14 weeks. I don't know. We'll figure it out all down the road, but he is NFI. Tyleik put something out on social media. He'd lost a bunch of weight. Um I'm just curious like how much of that was player initiative, intrinsic motivation or um you know, something you kind of asked him to do in terms of taking the next step just being better about his conditioning during the offseason. No, really proud of him. Really proud of him. He uh he's a man of his word. You know, before we drafted him, you know, we set up there, Brad and I did say, "Is there going to be an issue with your weight ever?" No. He came in, he noticed that he was a little bit heavy in the spring. Came in two weeks before our program even started and uh was pretty heavy and said, "Hey, man. I want to get this right." And he put in the work. Uh Scott did a hell of a job with him, nutritionist, all that. got him got him right. Uh and then he's just put the work in. He's put the work in and I'll tell you what, man. He's a man of his word. Came in 325, made his weight, uh crushed the conditioning test, and like I told him, told the team, and so now he's in put some money in the bank of trust. It's awesome and respect. So, um really fired up, man. That's a credit to him. That's where we want him at is right around that 325 range. Dan, do those physical changes hint at any kind of different role for him this year? Like, our eyes are open. Yeah. To answer your Question, our eyes are open and uh you know, we're willing to give him an opportunity if there's if there's a little bit more that shows. Maybe he's out there a little bit more on third down. But certainly we're open to that. You know, uh we like Tyleik. We know, we absolutely know there's a role for him and there's something that he can do for us that that we feel like really helps us, but can it be even more than that? Yeah, our eyes are open. Sticking with that uh room, you guys lost a lot of mass with uh Reer and Lopez leaving. Like, does that change how you guys can play up front, how you want to play up front? Like, what do you have to be mindful of when you just lose that much size? Yeah, I mean, look, it does. it it's not we're not the same as we were with those two guys and uh man I got a ton of respect for both of those players you talking about doing some dirty work for us. I mean they did the dirty work and uh and they're good players both of them. So, you know, we look certainly we're going to miss those guys, but you guys know we got we got, you know, on this roster getting Mack back and we just talked about Ty Leak and some of these other young guys, DT tackles, Levis's back. So, we'll we're going to play it as it comes and we if that means we move a little bit more, maybe we move a little bit more. Um, but we're going to give our guys the best opportunity to make plays up front, but also just defensively, what's going to help us? what's going to help the back end. Look, our backers will play off of it. You know, uh Jack is uh crafty, nifty, smart, smart enough to make it right. Um if that's where we go, but we'll see. We'll see. What has to happen over the next few weeks for you to be comfortable going into week one? What has to be comfortable going into week one? Um, yeah. Well, I think everything, you know, just you want I think you want to feel like, you know, it's a good question. All right. Probably the most I want to know that we can run the football. I want to know we can stop the run. Um, and I want to know that we're ready for situational football. Probably those three things that if you want me to feel comfortable, the other stuff will come. you know, ah man, we're a little off on red zone, third down, you know, those are always a work in progress, game plan specific, but man, you better be able to run the football, stop the run, uh, and situational football, end of half, end of game that you feel comfortable and that you can you can function at a high level. So, those which is why we'll do a bunch of that, especially when we get in pads. Going back to Gibbs, I mean, how much were you prepared for the possibility given that you guys moved on from David and then um you know uh basically assigned him you know the bell cow back role. I mean that this was probably something that was going to factor into, you know, the potential with the contract extension also, you know, coming up, you know. Are you saying that as it relates to um the contract per se or his use? Just Yeah. I mean, you know, the Yeah. the negotiations potentially. I mean I shouldn't have said bell cow, I guess, right? That's what Hey, well, co said bell cow. Um, honestly, I I didn't think twice about it. I didn't think it would be a I really didn't, you know, I didn't I I thought I thought we'd have been done by now, but I'm also I know how this goes, man. I've been in this league a long time, player and a coach, so I know how it goes. So, I'm not even sweating it. I'm not sweating it. Yesterday, Sam LaPorta laid out this the steps and the kind of scare of gaining muscle feel back and the strength of it all back and there's nothing there's no given and guarantee that he was going to be back healthy this early. How closely were you monitoring and was your staff monitoring each step as he said kind of things were firing up and coming back throughout the last few months? Oh yeah, I mean we we've you know we kept close tabs on him. Um I mean look we do that with every player but I'm with you. you come off a back and you want to make sure you that you're, you know, you're doing everything right by him and he's doing everything right. Sometimes you got to protect the player from himself. You know, he'd be one of those guys, too. But, um, but yeah, we have and so even yesterday, man, just watching him finally really go full I know we're not in pads, but it this is much this is full speed compared to what we were doing in the spring. And so, now he's ready to go. And you know, we got him just gave him a few reps. He'll get a couple more today, a little bit more. Um, we'll back him back down tomorrow, but yeah, it's pretty exciting. He feels pretty good and um so man, it'll be great to get him back. He's a big piece. He's a big piece for our offense. He's a weapon. Thanks, guys.

In a surprise move, the Detroit Lions yesterday put OL Giovanni Manu on the Non-Football Injury List with an injury designation, catching many off guard because he started practice and wasn't in any health updates form Campbell. Lions place OL Gio Manu on NFI/Injured At today's Day 2 press event, Campbell clarified the situation, and it doesn't bode well for the young OL from Canada. Per Campbell, Manu had a "previous injury over the summer that was not disclosed." This was discovered after practice yesterday when the medical staff examined it and the determination was made that he would go on the NFI/Injury list, with a timeline of 12-14 weeks. That range puts a return between Oct 22nd and Nov 5th, Weeks 7 to Week 9, and after the Lions Bye week. It is likely that due to this being an undisclosed injury, then the Lions are likely not happy with the former 2022 Fourth-Round pick. With Manu already squarely on the roster bubble, I would think they will look to find an exit strategy that may involve an injury settlement. It feels like putting him on active NFI/Injury is a procedural move to allow them to address it at the 53-man cutdown, but he will continue to eat up a roster spot in the interim until he is placed on reserve NFI or Cut. For those keeping track, absent an injury settlement, Manu is slated to create cap savings of a little over $1M this year and next if he is cut. Over The Cap Gio Manu Contract details

The Detroit Lions kick off their 2026 training camp today with an initial acclimation practice that is expected to run just around an hour and a half. No pads yet, so we are back to similar conditions that we saw in OTAs and Minicamp. Campbell held his opening press event and touched on a bunch of injuries and other topics, which can be seen below. There was one surprise cut, one "surprise" non-participant and a whole lot more. Lions QB Jared Goff arrives at Training Camp - Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions Injury Updates These are all from Dan Campbell's press event this morning, but it provides clarity on the guys on NFI and PUP gave a few answers about player availability during his press conference Thursday, but when the team took the field, there was a pretty lengthy list of players not participating. The list of those not practicing RB Jahmyr Gibbs, S Brian Branch, S Kerby Joseph, TE Tyler Conklin, OG Christian Mahogany, S, Christian Izien RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Contract Dispute) There was speculation that he may have a "hold in" until his contract situation is resolved, and it appears that may be the case, as he missed day 1 of practice. S Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph (PUP) Campbell provided an optimistic update on both Branch and Joseph Branch has not had any setbacks and expects him to start practicing late training camp or early September. On Kerby, the update from OTAs still stand but they like where he is at, with them ramping up his work. Campbell said he's been working all off-season including running on ground and starting to do change of direction, but they aren't going to grind this for another two or three weeks. Said if they got him back for Game 1 that would be a bonus, but more realistically he is on the same timeline as Brian Branch. TE Tyler Conklin (PUP) Campbell finally shed light on what has been ailing Conklin since Day 2 of Week 3 OTAs. He injured his calf muscle in OTAs. He is running but will need approximately two weeks to get back on the field. OG Christian Mahogany (NFI/injury) Campbell did not get into specifics but said that Mahogany needs a couple of days to be ready. S Christian Izien (NFI/Illness) Izien has a Flu bug, and they want to make sure he is good to go. Target is Friday practice to come off the PUP and get him out there. Pre-Camp Transactions Liosn Signed LB and Special Teamer Troy Reeder Lions Cut DT Jay Tufele Unconfirmed that he was the lone player Campbell mentioned that didn't pass their conditioning test. Training Camp Day 1 Observations form the Lions Media General Observations Gibbs was a non-participant as mentioned above, and Brad Holmes declined comment on the situation as he was walking off the field. Multiple reports indicated that Nick Whiteside just jumped out to everyone. Had at least three pass breakups and was all over the place on both the second and third teams when on the field Jamo catch of the day, a contested 40-yard grab against both Rakestraw and Chuck Clark Multiple media members mentioned that Kerby Joseph was moving around fine while working on the side and actually doing some intense work including sprinting up the Patricia hill despite was Campbell said earlier today. Mahogany was running on the hill as well and Branch was seen working with other DBs leading a drill during individual work. Dortch looked the best of all the returners, but Pacheco struggled with the wind during the PR drills, letting a couple of balls hit the ground. Offensive Line 1st OL: Sewell-Scruggs-Mays-Ratledge-B Miller Borom received work at both RT and LT and as the 6th OL Bartch, Scruggs and Frazier all received 1st team reps at LG with Mahogany out Scruggs did all his work at LG (received the bulk of the snaps with 1st team) and none at Center 2nd OL: Borom-Bartch/Frazier-McLaughlin-Unknown-Unknown 3rd OL: Unknown - Frazier - Unknow - Unknown - Unknown RBs 1st Unit: Isiah Pacheco/Sione Vaki 2nd Unit: Vaki/Pacheco WRs 1st Unit: Amon-Ra St Brown, Jameson Williams 2nd Unit: Greg Dortch TE 1st Unit: Sam LaPorta 2nd Unit: Brock Wright 3rd Unit: Miles Kitselman/Jackson Meeks Depth: Horton/Gordon It was reported that Kitselman saw a handful of 1st team reps including as the lone TE in 11-personel DL 1st Unit: Hutch-McNeil-Williams- Lacy/Wonnum Tyler Lacy has been the "big' DE in a Five-man with Ahmed Hassanein the 2nd Big End 2nd Unit: Unknown-Myles Adams-Keanaaina/Smith-Hassanein/Unknow 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) Nowaske (Sam) 3rd team - Unknown 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 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 Gunners Unknown Rookies Blake Miller - He was observed starting at RT Derrick Moore - No Mention in interviews, observations or practice images Jimmy Rolder - Was mentioned as taking 2nd team MLB reps Keith Abney II - Showed up in arrival photos and Dan Campbell specifically mentioned that he would be taking some outside CB reps in camp. Also was in Campbell's answer about how they will manage losing Terrion Arnold. Kendric Law - Done for season with a torn ACL suffered win OTA Week2 practices Skyler Gill-Howard - Sighting of Gill-Howard in camp arrival photos Tyre West - Spotted in camp arrival photos, first known observation of him in offseason and training camp UDFAs Luke Altmyer - Spotted in camp arrival photos. Miles Kitselman - Observed taking 2nd and 3rd team TE reps but also getting a handful of 1st team reps while Conklin is missing time. Anthony Lucas - Spotted in training camp arrival and Day 1 photos. Erick Hunter - Derrick Barnes mentioned in his media scrum that Hunter is asking him questions and trying to learn. Aidan Keanaaina - Was taking backup reps behind Tyleik Williams at NT and was mentioned that with Jay Tufele getting cut, he had a clearer path to making the 53-man roster. Lions Rookies QB Luke Altmyer, DL Skyler Gill-Howard, CB Keith Abney II, and DE Derrick Moore Photos - Nicole Scharff Detroit Lions Dan Campbell Opening Press Conference Dan Campbell had his 2026 training Camp opening press conference this morning, and we provided a summary and full transcript earlier today. Below are some quick points that came out of it: Dan Campbell Opening Press Event Injury Summary Branch - Potentially Early September Kerby - No Change, Update form Spring still applies. Likely will linger into the season on same timeline as Branch Conklin - Calf in Spring, Two Weeks Izien - Flu bug likely back Friday Mahogany - Couple of Days Quick Hitters Paula Pasche was going to get 1st question but wasn't in Allen Park yet One player didn't pass conditioning test. Unconfirmed, but likely Jay Tufele who was cut yesterday Expecting Kerby to be on the Branch plan (would be a bonus getting back for 1st game) Arnold cut was addressed with team last night, not ideal, but decision was made Extension will take care of themselves, not worried about it, think highly of Gibbs and LaPorta Will know in three to four days if the revamped Line is an improvement, but believes that the five that come out of OL room will be an upgrade Abney and McCreary will take some outside CB reps. Rakestraw will take Nickle Reps. Reed and Ya-Sin will stay outside exclusively. Campbell praised Rakestraw's hips, change of direction, ball skills and ability to track the ball and is likely an outside CB, but want to take a look inside Excited about the core players, but having a newness and a bit of a youth movement and getting back to 2022 Jackson Meeks will be gi8ven extensive look at hybrid role to see if he can evolve into that H-Back type weapon and get dirty in the trenches Would like to play starters in pre-season, but still undecided Media Scrums with Players The Lions had media availability with TE Sam LaPorta, LB Derrick Barnes, CB Rock Ya-Sin and OT Blake Miller after Day 1 camp practice. Camp Day 1 Lions Players Media Scrum Sam LaPorta Just going back when you hear back surgery that's probably something that's a little scary at that, um just talk about the rehab process of we saw you out there in the spring just how you're feeling now and I've cited your kind of backwards like full time: Yeah. Uh Brett Fischer and I started back on January 4th about 5 weeks after my surgery and going ever since. They've had to tell me to get away from the building for my breaks. Other than that, I've been here and emotionally, physically, mentally feels really good to be back. A couple of fear that that that came over you with the initial diagnosis. Did you have to calm through some of those emotions? Yeah, if you've ever had a nervous system injury, just waiting for the nerve strength to come back, being told it might not come back, all those feelings of maybe not being able to play again. It sucks sitting on the couch. My wife got the uh the short end of the stick with that. Every night I'd be telling her like, "Man, I really hope God allows me to get my nerve strength back and get to play football again." She's like, "You're fine. The doctor says you're going to be fine. Strength, you know, training staff says you're going to be great. You're going to come back be great." So, shout out to her. Shout out to Brett Fischer. The entire athletic training staff. It's just amazing through this process. When was that point that you knew, okay, I feel? Yeah. Well, the nerve strength came back in phases. Started with the glute, then worked on the hamstring, then the calf. So, like honestly, probably just two or three months ago, the full strength came back and you could see like the muscle at atrophy start to, you know, diminish and grow that that strength back. So, I mean, I've had three or four good months under my belt of running, cutting, sprinting. Uh, now I'm hitting obviously going to be in pads soon, so I'm excited. There's no lingering pain or discomfort or anything like that. No, no, I feel really good. I was running around, bending well, moving well. Um, no, good so far. What have you thought about just Drew's offense overall? Obviously, when you look at some of the tight end production, Arizona, some of that was the injuries they had obviously, but a pretty tight end friendly offense. Is that maybe a good way to explain it? Certainly. Um, I think the league is gravitating towards tight end play right now with the 12 and 13 personnel, which is exciting for us specifically, but I had more of an outsiders view in the springtime during OTAAS. I was off to the side and I got to watch mostly and now to get to be a part of it. Um, just super amped to work with them. A lot of your teammates getting rewarded. Obviously money is not the motivation but it's a business. Well, would you like to get that done sooner or later or what's your was that any motivation as well? I know that the game probably you know but just was it. I think everybody that's on the roster money is motivation. This is our job now. Get to uh provide for your family is incredible. But for now I'm just going to let my agent and the organization handle that. Sam, is there a sense of purpose you feel with this group coming in after missing the playoffs last season? Of course. Yeah. I think going 15-2 the year prior, winning the division, um you know, getting the one seed and then fourth place in the division, nine and eight, missed the playoffs. Uh the drastic drop off in production and the wins. Um I think it's definitely like a motivating factor for us and I think you can see it um today honestly like we're flying around. The conditioning test was crushed yesterday. Um I got to sit back and watch the vets. I ran it the other day, so I got that out of the way. Um, but yeah, like I think guys are in incredible shape right now. We're all very motivated and this group is hungry. You mentioned Dan said earlier today in the press conference to us that there's a little bit of a newness. Did you sense that a little bit of a youth movement? I mean, obviously you're now kind of one of the establishments of this group. What do you see as far as that newness? I mean, every year it's a new team. There's fresh faces. It's exciting to have Drew in the building. you know, Shep's a second-year coordinator now, a lot of trust in him. So, I think there's trust to be built, a lot of opportunity for guys and um I think it's an exciting spot right now for the Detroit Lions. You talked about coming in and guys crushing the test, you know, do you think early on, like now that you have a chance to look back last year, like you guys set the tone early enough last year, like what do you think you guys can change to, you know, not get off to the get off to a better start? Yeah, I looking back from the nine or 10 games that I played in, I think situational football certainly could have been better. And that's really where you get wins in this league. Playing better on third down, the red zone, converting on fourth, short yardage. Uh, I think the defense would reiterate the same thing to their side of the ball. So, I think that's the first step in us becoming a great team again, and we'll obviously address that throughout camp. You mentioned guys, you mentioned opportunities. He's sitting in the tight end room with Jackson Meeks now. I mean, just like what have you seen out of him and his organ like what he brings to the room. I remember transitioning from wide out to tight end in college and it was a big jump. Um, very excited for me cuz he's an incredible athlete. We keep urging him to understand like playing tight end, you're going to lose some battles to bigger, stronger, longer guys. and um it's unfortunate, but you got to pick yourself up out of the dirt and do it again. So, I think he has a lot of room to grow. Again, incredible athlete and uh very high ceiling as a tight end. Do you kind of remember the moment that you had that in college? Is it against a teammate or... Yeah, AJ Anessa throughout fall camp in college would just like throw me into the dirt and Tristan Worfs would trample me soon after. So, that was a lot of fun to have like size 16 or 17 cleats from Worfs in your back um as like an 18-year-old kid. So that was probably my moment. I think he'll have plenty of those unfortunately, but it's only going to be better for him. LB Derrick Barnes Day one being back. Just what's it like with this group again? Feels good. I was joking around with the guys in the spring. I was like, I see you two days later. Um two days from now when OTA's ended and it just it flew goes by so fast. Um but excited to be back, excited to get back to work. Um even today, short practice, no pass, but you can see the competitiveness out of everybody out there. Uh it feels good. Weather is good coming from Florida, so this right here feels like winter to me. So, uh, feel really good. Like I said, super excited and, um, you know, ready for it to be a great camp. How are you embracing obviously in an increased role this year, being, you know, in the nickel sets this year, being a guy that might play, you know, close to 100% of the snaps. Yeah. Um, a day at a time. Um, you know, I go back and I watch film on, you know, Alex and how he did things, his technique, uh, what made him a great player. Um, it's just kind of mimic that. Um, and be the best I can be. Uh, learning each and every day. I know it's a it's kind of the role of going from, you know, Sam to Will. You know, it's one of the thing, it's an adjustment, but, um, I've been doing it since I've been here. Um, so I wouldn't say it's easy. It's a lot of things to learn for sure, but um, you know, it's not foreign to me. Um, I'm super excited for the role and for the challenge. Um, got to come out here and earn it every day. That's why I told myself um, I just take I want to take myself back to, you know, when I first got here and how I had to, you know, work my way up to be where I am. And um and that's just my mentality all camp and the whole season is I got to earn it each and every day, which I will. Um but I'm super excited for the role. Um you know, it's I'm learning a lot from um you know, obviously from Jack who've been out there playing nickel uh base, learned a lot from Shep, a lot from Ham, uh Dave Caro, um a lot all those guys in the room. So, you know, they're they're going to get prepared to be able to do it. So, Dan spoke about getting back to 21, 22, getting back to the basics. At what point do you feel like you got away from that? I mean, obviously you guys had a lot of success with it. you all get away from that, how do you get back to that as a team? I think that I feel like we didn't get away from it. Uh, I think that's kind of, you know, kind of downplaying, you know, the way we work. I would just say that, you know, sometimes things can get complacent and I don't think that we ever did, but, you know, in the in the image of the outside world, it's probably what people see, but it's not what it is. Just getting back to the basics. I remember when I first came in here, it was just hard-nosed football. It still is. is in all the years I've been here, it's still been hard nose football, but just getting back to our technique, being sound and getting back to what we do. Uh, bringing back old-fashioned football and that's, you know, ready to hit and ready to go out there and compete. Um, and bring the thumb to our opponents. You know, that's what, you know, Den has installed in all of us since I've been here. Um, and just basically just getting back to the bases, getting back to who we are and our identity. Um, I'm super excited about it. You know, you can tell just the emotion and the and the things on Dan's face that he's ready to go and that just if that doesn't get you going as a player, then you know, something wrong with you. But um I'm super excited and I'm ready to get back to the small minute details for sure. So You guys have come in as the hunters and then it kind of shifted quickly after you made it to the NFC Championship game to being the hunted. Where does it stand now with this team and the mentality as you go over this season after missing the playoffs last year? I think that every team know when they come to come play the Lions that they have to bring it. I think that mentality hasn't left. Um, and you know, and we're and when we play you, we going to make sure that you feel it. And you know, Dan said something about, you know, we want to make teams feel like if they if we do lose, and not saying we will and we won't, but if we do, they got lucky. Um, and um, and that just let you know everything you need to know right there. I mean, I feel like it feel good to be teams want to come in and give us their best. Um, that just makes us better, makes us even hungrier and really starving to be able to play against those teams. But, um, I'm super excited. Um, I know the team is super excited to get back to what we do and, you know, and we're ready to, you know, dominate the season. So, How much of an additional hunger is there having missed out on the tournament last year, as Dan likes to call it? Yeah. Uh, you can feel that energy inside the building. Um, we're not accepting nothing less than what we what we know we what we are. Um, and guys will get left behind if you're not here to work and get better each and every day. um and build that that that trust in in the coaches and the players, then you just won't be here. And I know even for myself, I'm like, I got to continue to do that lead out there. Uh be the best I can be, set a good example. Um like I said, we're just super excited to get back to who we are. Um super excited for this camp. Super excited, super excited to, you know, be out there and build chemistry with the guys offense and defense. Um and, you know, just it's exciting. I'm super blessed to be able to do this this year. So, Are you the type of player who takes last year both as a player and as the team? Do you use that as a motivation or are you kind of the type that bury it, it's gone, time to move on? A little bit of both. Um, I think that you have to continue to move forward. Obviously have that bad taste in your mouth but also be able to move forward and learn from your mistakes. Um, for me it's, you know, I'm last year is over with. I know I went back and watched all my film, every game, every play, and I know the things I need to correct in order to be the best player that I can be for my teammates and for myself. Um, you know, that's just kind of kind of my thing this year. I mean, last year was last year, but it's a whole different team. I can promise you that. Whole different, you know, energy out there, a whole different competitiveness. No guys compete day in day out. Like coach said it, there's no starters out there. So each and every day, people who think they're starters, people, you know, who's rookies, young players trying to make a spot, like there's competition out there all over the field. And that just keeps everybody going, no matter if you're a vet, a starter, starter in past years, from a rookie to undrafted. Um there's always a role for somebody. And in order to get that role, you have to go out and show each and every day. So Are there things that I guess vets did for you when you were a rookie that you try to do for guys like Jimmy now? Yeah. Um, man, I know that, you know, everybody know Alex is my best friend and um, you know, he kind of just carried me along and I'm just taking that, you know, on to Jimmy and the other younger guys cuz I know what it feels like to come in and be confused on things. Um, feel like things are just moving too fast. So, you know, obviously I like to take the young guys under my wing and kind of just, you know, make it easier for them, especially during camp cuz my first camp I was, man, I didn't know what was going on. Uh it was it was a lot for me and I know what that feels like and I don't want to ever I don't ever want them to feel that way. So uh anywhere I can help. I mean Eric Hunter asks me questions all the time. Jimmy does too. You know I'm checking on the guys in the morning. How y'all feeling? Need help with anything? Uh how you feel about this? You know just day in and day out cuz those guys need it. And then it helps me as a as a player as a veteran. You know kind of just reminding myself um of things I need to know and so yeah we have a good linebacker room man. a lot of good chemistry, a lot of good vets, people who played ball for a while in this league. Um, so it feels good. Obviously, it's competitive guys out there trying to make the team and become starters. So, um, you know, even though we're competing with each other, we're also, you know, picking each other up and this is a true brotherhood in that room. So, yeah. CB Rock Ya-Sin You got a chance to start six games last year, play really well, six starts. A little different this year coming through a season with an opportunity to play a much bigger role than that even it seems. Just how excited are you for that opportunity to kind of win that number two spot and play a huge role in this defense? Just looking forward to competing with these guys, man. Coming out every day, you know, competing against the offense, competing with the guys in our room, you know, we're all fighting for, you know, opportunities to play and uh to make this team. So, I'm just looking forward to whatever opportunity is there, just looking forward to taking advantage of it. Yeah. Campbell was saying as well, he addressed all about, you know, the Terrion situation as a team. You know, what did you take from that and just, you know, anything you like to share from that at all? TA I mean just um uh from what I know of TA man just a really good dude um a young guy um that I have a lot of you know love and respect for um he's going through a hard time right now I don't know I don't I'm not I don't know any specifics or anything like that but you know um definitely going to miss him definitely going to miss him What have you noticed maybe different re-energized of Shep heading into year two in that in that position Definitely just you know his um that was last year was his first year being a coordinator so him coming into year two you know more experience you know, definitely more energy. He had energy last year, though. But, um, just coming out, you know, just, you know, really growing and, you know, coming to himself as a as a coordinator in this league. What was your big focus this offseason? You've been doing this obviously a long time, but where was an area that you maybe saw, uh, this is something focus on? Just wanted to get more comfortable with the defense. Um, being this is like uh the second year in the system, so just become more comfortable on the defense. um not just playing corner but like the corner position, understanding the safety positions, understanding you know who's doing what and um like the big picture of the defense schematically just you know having you know growing and becoming more comfortable there. Is that film study or what goes into A lot of film study, a lot of, you know, talking with the coaches, um, talking with even the players, talking to the linebackers, you know, um, asking them their jobs and responsibilities, certain calls, certain coverages, just growing, trying to, you know, grow as a football player, even in year eight, just trying to grow and, you know, get better. Were there any particular games from last season that were like helpful as you were going through? uh each game you let's say like if we've played Steelers or something I was talking to you know Vonte about his responsibilities in that game or if we were playing the Eagles I'm talking to you know D Barnes and uh Jack Came about their responsibilities in those games just call by call just you know understand their responsibilities where they're going to be at on each play and um just learning from those guys Yeah walking up I think we got a little glimpse of what Nick Whiteside could do last year um you know a couple plays out there today just what do you think you guys He's a good player, man. He comes out, he's consistent. Come out, compete every day. He's a good player and he can continue to get better, continue to grow. A lot of moving parts in the secondary on the back end, too. Um, how important is this time of year to get that chemistry with the safeties as they're kind of working things out there? Extremely important, you know, on the field, also in in in in the classroom, you know, um talking to different guys, asking guys how they see certain things, you know, um their perspective on certain calls and certain routes and certain route combinations, you know, understanding how they're going to play certain things. And then that, you know, helps me to play faster, helps, you know, the corner to play faster. Whenever you know where safety is and the corner and the safety knows where the corner is and where he's going to be, we all can play faster and, you know, play as one. How important is it to have a couple veterans back there? It's really nice. It's really nice, you know. Um, it's really it's been refreshing playing with those guys. All those guys, man, they're all they're all vets. They're all, you know, experienced and then they're all, you know, great communicators. You know, I really like playing with, you know, all those safeties back there. Curious, you know, been in two camps with him now or starting second with Nick Whitide. You know, what have you grown to to like about his game? Competitive, you know, consistent. You know, he comes out, works every day. He continues to get better every day. So, he's a good player. Rock, how surprised were you guys by right now tear down this summer? How do you collectively just as a past? Uh, like I said before, you know, TA is great dude from what I know from him. Great dude. Um, and um, you know, we're definitely going to miss him. I'm going to miss him as a as a teammate and as a you know, somebody who whose locker was next to mine. So, I'm definitely going to miss him. He's going through a hard time right now. You know, I just hope everything, you know, works out with him. More opportunity for some of the guys here. Yeah. I mean, but, you know, it's whoever's here, who we always competing, man. It doesn't matter who's out there on the grass. The standard the standard if you get an opportunity you can take advantage of it OT Blake Miller Obviously an offensive line needs time to gel. Can you sense any of those steps from the early practices as starting to come together in this camp even on day one? Yeah I mean I feel like you know everyone in that room is very close with one another. You [snorts] know there's no one in there that I wouldn't hang out with outside of this facility. You know there's that jelling. Everyone's on the same page. Coach Freley makes sure that that you know everyone's thinking the same way. We're one big mind and you know we see things the same way. So you know it's good. We're excited. You walked in here back in the spring, a lot of new things. Granted, it's still new for you, but where is your comfort level compared to OTAS? Uh, definitely feel more comfortable. You know, things are coming a little quicker. That's not to say that there's still not more things to learn. You know, I wanted to be able to just go out there and I want to be able to make the points in my head. You know, things just to be automatic. And, you know, we're still working to that point. But, you know, with the guys we have in that room, the veterans and then coaches as well making themselves available, you know, I have no doubt that he'll be in a good spot. There's a lot of expectation on this O line this season after last year and some of the injuries and the inconsistencies. What gives you a sense that this group is the group that can take that step forward together? Uh kind of like I talked about earlier, the closeness, everyone's seeing things the same way, you know, also too just the mentality. I think Coach Freillley, Coach Campbell have done a great job of, you know, letting us know what the mentality is going into this season and, you know, everyone buying in, believing in that, going out there and playing Detroit football. It's a serious business, but also this is a milestone for you. I'm sure you worked your entire life to get to this point. Have you let it hit you yet that that this is that this is real now that the training camp gets going? Um, I mean, yeah, a little bit. You know, it's a business, too, in terms of, you know, every day I come in and there's things I need to get better. I'm going to go in there, watch this tape. I'm sure there's plenty on there that I need to improve and, you know, try and write everything down and be better on that the next day. And I'm sure uh Ben Bartch was telling me, he said it's everything keeps popping up like gophers and you just got to keep whacking each gopher like every everything that comes up and you know eventually you'll look back at yourself and uh you know you you'll see that you become a whole different player and you know that that to me is very satisfying and in being a better player you're that much better of a teammate. You give your team that much more of a chance to win. Watch the room with Penei Sewell, anything you've taken from his process? Um, I'd just say how intentional he is with everything. You know, whether that's his body getting his, you know, pre-practice activation, whether that's in the film room, you know, his attention to detail, knowing all the points at the IDs, just his overall understanding of the offense, and then how he approaches his technique, how he approaches breaking down a practice, watching film, like everything he does, he does it to a super high level. What is his relationship been like to you in terms of the leadership perspective? Maybe some advice he's given to you? Yeah, I mean he's been there, you know, he he's always there for me when I have questions and he has a lot of experience obviously playing this position and, you know, in this league. So, he he's able to give me a lot of insight that, you know, [snorts] hopefully I won't have to learn the hard way as much I can learn from him. You told us before you were drafted, you were up late watching clips of Dan Campbell giving speeches. What was it like now as training camp begins to be in the room with him as he's given one? Uh, yeah. I mean, it's, you know, it gives you goosebumps a little bit. You know, you can you can you can feel his passion. You can feel that he's super believing in his message and you can feel it's coming from the heart. It's not fake at all. You want to share a little bit of what he threw at you guys? Um I don't want to put too much out there. Just you know that we're going to go out there and we're going to be physical, and you know we want to make teams quit. There is a huge emphasis on fixing this O line this year. How much personal responsibility do you feel in fixing that? I mean I feel it's you know as any player you know it's a it's a duty to your team duty to God duty to your family, whoever it might be, you have a duty to be the best player that you can be. You know, for your teammates, for your family, for everybody, you know, for the city of Detroit, like I have a duty to be the best player I can be, and everyone knows, you know, personally, they have that responsibility as well. And everyone's very bought into that. The Lions first preseason game is at Cincinnati on Thursday Aug 13th at 7pm.

Dan Campbell Press Event 07/29/26 Dan Campbell just wrapped his 2026 training camp opening press event and provided a bunch of updates on injuries, player positions. some off season happenings and a bit about today's practice. Injury Summary Branch - Potentially Early September Kerby - No Change, Update form Spring still applies. Likely will linger into the season on same timeline as Branch Conklin - Calf in Spring, Two Weeks Izien - Flu bug likely back Friday Mahogany - Couple of Days Quick Hitters Paula Pasche was going to get 1st question but wasn't in Allen Park yet One player didn't pass conditioning test. Unconfirmed, but likely Jay Tufele who was cut yesterday Expecting Kerby to be on the Branch plan (would be a bonus getting back for 1st game) Arnold cut was addressed with team last night, not ideal, but decision was made Extension will take care of themselves, not worried about it, think highly of Gibbs and LaPorta Will know in three to four days if the revamped Line is an improvement, but believes that the five that come out of OL room will be an upgrade Abney and McCreary will take some outside CB reps. Rakestraw will take Nickle Reps. Reed and Ya-Sin will stay outside exclusively. Campbell praised Rakestraw's hips, change of direction, ball skills and ability to track the ball and is likely an outside CB, but want to take a look inside Excited about the core players, but having a newness and a bit of a youth movement and getting back to 2022 Jackson Meeks will be gi8ven extensive look at hybrid role to see if he can evolve into that H-Back type weapon and get dirty in the trenches Would like to play starters in pre-season, but still undecided Dan Campbell Press Event Transcript Opening Statement: You know, we uh guys really did a hell of a job, man. Uh we everybody made their weights um and passed the conditioning test. We looked good. All but one guy. Um so ready to go. Obviously not pads today. We'll work them up. We're in acclamation. This is uh hour and a half practice. Um but but we're really ready to go. So, you know, it's hard to believe we're in year six. um for us. Guys are excited. Coaches are excited. Um and so so it begins. So I'm going to open this up. Is Paula in here? >> The one day, dude. Unbelievable. I was going to give her the first question. Okay. All good. All good. This is like the one day she's never made it. Okay. No worries. Um okay, questions. We start with the five injury guys. I think we probably expect a branch of all of them, but the other four, where's Kerby at for you in terms of being ready at some point this camp? And then the other three, um Ian, Mahogany, and Conlin, uh any long-term concerns with any of those guys? Okay, Kerby, it it'll everything that I told you in the spring is still applies to that. You know, we're still we've been working to this, but we're still in this. Okay, he's starting to he's running on ground, man. We're starting to do change of direction some of this, but we're really we're not gonna grind this for another two or three weeks, man. So, I cannot give you a true answer. He's working his tail off. He's not really had a vacation. He's been here with our guys busting his tail. Uh so, he's putting in the work. He feels pretty good right now. We're But there we got a long way to go and we there is still an unknown, but but I like where he's at. We like where he's at. branch is is doing well. Um, you know, he his will be we obviously PUP there's no setbacks. Um, take it as it comes and and we'll see. I'm I'm sure late training camp maybe maybe early September he can start practicing. We'll see. But he's doing well. Um, who else? Izzy just had a little flu bug. We're going to make sure he's good to go. Hopefully by Friday we get him in practice here. Um, Mahogany. uh needs a couple of days and then he'll be ready. Um who else? Oh, Conklin. Conklin's going to probably be about two weeks here somewhere in there. He's running, you know, he got a little calf back in the spring. We're hopeful. No setbacks. Um we're trying to be smart with him, you know, but hopefully get him back as soon as possible so we can we can get some reps on him. Am I missing anybody? I think that's it, right, Kerby? Is it um how much what is sort of the plan of when you want to get him out or when you think you need to get him out before camp to give him that balance of getting ready but seeing if you know seeing how much he can do? Well, I' I've already to me if we got him back for the first game that that would be a bonus. I mean that would be a like whoa. Okay. I don't expect that. I'm not looking for that. I I feel like he's more on the branch plan a little bit and that is if everything goes well and everything goes according to plan with him and we got everything on our side. Um but he's doing well. The other, you know, issue of the offseason, obviously you guys made the decision to part ways with him. Can you just address that and why you decided to go that route and what changed from, you know, the last time we actually wrote in? Yeah. So, I addressed the team last night over that. You know, it it's it stinks. You never want to let go of a player. Uh especially somebody that you've been around for a while here and you drafted and all that. And uh it's unfortunate, but we made the move we felt was best for us. There any concern with, you know, filling that spot and some of the guys you got as far as filling that second? No, I you know, we're fired up. Look, it's why we got Rock back. Uh we went and got McCra. We knew we'd get Rake back off injury. Um, you know, we drafted Abney. Um, you know, certainly Dorse is back. So, you know, uh, Iron Sides is back. We feel pretty good in that room of the competition and those guys between veterans, young guys, and, uh, and, uh, ability Good about rewarding your top guys, you know, rewarding all the top. Obviously, you got some extensions coming up. Jir Gibbs kind of the talk of the offseason a little bit. Is it any concern that that uh, might bleed over into anything at all? Oh, is that something you guys want to do sooner than later or just what's kind of the update on his situation? No, I I would say um of course we you know, you guys know how we feel about Gibbs. Um and all of our guys, LaPorta, Brandt, all you know, um and so we'll take this as it comes. This is uh you know, this will this will kind of continue. It'll come as it comes. I think that's the best way to say it. And so, you know, this is uh this is both sides working through something and uh and we'll take it as it comes, but um that's where it is. And obviously, you guys did a lot of revamping on your offensive line. Um how soon do you think you'll know what you have there, how it lines up, and are you confident it will be significantly better than last year's? It's uh Yeah. Well, Joe, it's a good question. Um, I wish I could tell you we're going to know within three or four days, you know. I know this. We got four days before we even get to pads, you know. So, there's a week that you're not going to truly know. Um, you know, so you don't know. I know this as fast as we can get them in the secondary to work together, you know. Okay, these are the guys now. We need them to work together and get as many reps as we can. So, look, we're trying to we're trying to figure this out as fast as we can. It's pretty exciting, really. It it really is, you know, cuz there is there's a lot of unknown and but we really like the guys in the room and uh and we feel like it's uh it's kind of like we just talked about with the DBs. It it's a good veteran group in some areas, but yet young guys that are unknown, unproven, they got an opportunity. Um, so yeah, I feel like what comes out of that room, those five is going to be uh is going to be better than what we had last year is going to be an upgrade and not just a little. I believe that You talked about them as kind of nickel first guys when they first got in the building. Does that Abney and McCreary does the plan change at all with them? I know you've talked about the ability to flex outside. Is there an early camp plan to maybe see what you got there just in light of, you know, shifting personnel at the cornerback? Well, they will take some outside reps. You know, Mccur's played out. Look, so has AB in college. Now, I know he just stepped into our building, but they'll take some of those outside, but we still want to, you know, let them sink their teeth into some of this nickel. And look, we're going to let Rakestraw take a little nickel, too, on some of this stuff and see where it is. But all those guys got to be prepared to go outside. Um, you know, the guys we know who will stay outside right now are Reed and Rock, you know, and then those other guys need to be able to let's see if they can do some stuff inside. Um It seems like the staff has been pretty steadfast that he's (Rakestraw) an outside corner. Just what have you seen from him in your first two years that makes you think that that's where he will stick eventually? Well, I there again the injury uh just kind of the injury history with him has not allowed us to really see everything that he can do, but we know that's where he banked a lot of reps in college was outside. Um you know, he look he's got excellent feet, his hips, um just man, his change of direction, he's got ball skills, he can track the ball um down the field. So there there's just things that that you know he's got about him and there's a natural ability to him um that that you feel like is conducive to playing outside and that's probably that's probably where he'll have most of his time but yet let's see what he can do inside too. You know look he's going into year three. Um although he hasn't banked a ton of reps. It's just man there there's you begin to mature and you grow. And we feel like just from what he is internally, I'm not talking about the football player, but just you do you know, you mature, you grow, you learn, you and so we're pretty excited for him this camp to see what he's got. Drives that you have into all the drives that you have into this facility, all your first days. I think you said excited, you know, 10 15 times already, which we expect, and you should be. But what makes the excitement for this year, this first day, unique? Man, I don't It's just I don't know. This feels like there's a little bit of a transition. Like this is a it's uh there's a newness to it, you know. Um and there's a reset on, you know, it's a little bit like, okay, we still have our core crew, you know, the guys that that you guys know that have been here since 21. Um and then we've stacked on top of that. Um but then we made some moves here, you know, particularly this year, this off season. And so, it it's there's a newness to it. There's uh there's a little bit of a youth movement. Um that's up to us to get these guys developed. Uh and that's pretty exciting. but also knowing, man, I want to get back to what we did in 22 a little bit, you know, and some of 21, probably more 22, but just get back to the basics of what we are. And so, that's exciting. That's exciting. And to know you're cutting these guys loose, these guys that were puppies at one time, it's all theirs now. It's all Saints and Souls and Hutch and Jack, you know, that's exciting. Uh, so the other day Kerby Joseph uh tweeted about Jackson Meeks and said that was somebody that you need to watch out for. And it seems like there's a transition for him from wide receiver to tight end. Do you see this as like a hybrid situation where you could maybe turn a 12 13 personnel play into an 11 just by going into motion, that sort of thing, or is it, you know, where do you see him and his growth? Yeah, I think that's what we want to find out. We want to find out if um if there's something in there that that he could be kind of this hybrid, you know, H-back tight end, big slot, you know, big skill. Um felt like his skill set is um can be showcased better at this role, at this position. You know, ask him things that he does well. Now, look, he's going to have to do some dirty work. There's no there's no way around it uh in training camp for the reps preseason games, but there's things that that we'll ask him to do to see if he can do it. You know, we just felt like this was this gives him the best opportunity to be the type of player that he can be, but also maybe help us see if there is something there. So, yes, absolutely. Uh Dan, obviously today's a beautiful day, but when it is really like hot, humid like it was a week or two ago, how do you balance getting the work in with player safety? And since you started playing and through coaching, like what's the biggest thing you've learned about, you know, training in the heat? Yeah. Well, we haven't had to do it. I mean, look, we I came from New Orleans, uh, as a coach at last, and I mean, we did everything outside and, uh, and we practice early in the morning. Look, we practice early here. So, even if it is a hot day, most of the time you're you kind of avoid it here. Um, but I think the thing to keep in mind is, man, I am so conscientious of that and being smart uh with our guys, understanding what we have to do, but then remembering back to two a days and three-hour practices at 3:00 in the afternoon, you know, and it was like, dude, you're you're getting 50 reps in the morning and you're getting 40 in the afternoon, and by the way, you're not warming up or stretching. You better be ready to go. We're not going to waste 10 minutes on stretch for a three-hour practice. We got too much to do. So, I'm not saying we're doing that. You can't do that anymore. But don't forget, man, the body can go. The mind controls the body. You can do more than you think you can do. These guys are in damn good shape, and now we got to get them in football shape. And uh and we'll work them to that. Hey, Dan, have you made the decision yet about playing the starters in preseason? I know during the last camp you said you was thinking about it more. Have you decided yet that you're going to No, not I. I mean, look, I would like to, you know, but there again, this thing moves as we get through um get through these practices, you know, what do we look like? Who needs work? Then do they need to play together? Um, you know, is there players that aren't getting enough intensity in practice, you know, and the only way to get them there is they have to play preseason games or we got to go live or, you know, so we'll work around that stuff. Um, right now I would like to, but we'll see how it goes. Thanks, guys.

A day after brining the roster back up to the offseason maximum of 91, the Lions made another move today and cut veteran DT Jay Tufele. In addition, they placed S Chritian Izien on the Active/Non-Football Illness and OL Christian Mahogany on the Active Non-Football Injury lists. Lions make moves prior to camp Tufele was actually projected by our team to take the last DT (NT) spot in our camp preview, but the Lions apparently are going in a different direction. As far as Izien and Mahogany go, being placed on the NFI list isn't necessarily a big geal, but it is at a minimum a precautionary step to allow the team to bring the player back sooner than later, bit in camp and if the issue lingers into the regular season. NFI Description

Now that both the Rookies (Sat 7/25) and Veterans (Today) have reported for training camp, it's time to look at the Lions defense and Special Teams roster battles leading into camp. We will take a look at the players at each position and put them in the buckets that we think they fall, Starter, Backup, Bubble/Cut/Reserve/Practice Squad. The (Number) after each position is how many players, we think the Lions will keep starting the season. Projected Positional Numbers to get to 53 OFFENSE (25) DEFENSE (25) STs (3) DE/EDGE (4) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: DL Starters: Aiden Hutchinson, DJ Wonnum Backups: Derrick Moore, Payton Turner Bubble/Practice Squad: Ahmed Hassanein, Anthony Lucas, Eric O’Neil Analysis: Hutch and Wonnum will most assuredly be the starters, and Moore and Turner (if healthy) will likely the primary backups. It is possible that Hassanein, Lucas or O’Neil could beat out Turner, but unlikely as the Lions are looking for an Edge that can play the run as well as rush the passer. I could see all three of them making the practice squad if they are not claimed on waivers if they don’t make the final roster. Detroit Lions Edge Aiden Hutchinson IDL (5) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: DL Starters: Alim McNeil, Tyleik Williams Backups: Levi Onwuzurike, Tyler Lacy, Jay Tufele Bubble/Practice Squad: Skyler Gill-Howard, Mekhi Wingo, Chris Smith, Myles Adams, Tyre West, Aidan Keanaaina Analysis: Outside of Williams and McNeil, this group has more questions than answers. We believe that Onwuzurike, if healthy, will be a roster lock. So that leaves the need for a pure NT (veteran Tufele over youngsters Smith and Keanaaina) and versatile players Tyler Lacy and draft pick Skyler Gill-Howard fighting over that fifth and final roster spot. It’s likely that the loser of that battle (likely Gill-Howard), Adams, Smith and Keanaaina end up on the practice squad, but Wingo is probably done and West, despite all the pre-draft hype, has been non-existent in any pre-season coverage. Detroit Lions starting IDL Alim McNeil and Tyleik Williams - Eric Hartline-Imagn Images LB (6) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: LB Starters: Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez Backups: Jimmy Rolder, Trevor Nowaske, Damone Clark Bubble/Practice Squad: Troy Reeder, Erick Hunter, Joe Bachie Analysis: The LB room has five locks in Campbell, Barnes, Rodriguez, Rolder and Nowaske. The sixth spot is up for grabs, and it likely will go to veteran Damone Clark, while Reeder, Hunter and Bachie could get a seventh spot as special teams ace (likely at the expense of a DB), but only Hunter seems like a Practice Squad candidate. Detroit Lions likely starting LBs: WLB Malcolm Rodriguez (#44), MLB Jack Campbell (#46) and SLB Derrick Barnes (#55) CB (6) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: DB Starters: DJ Reed, Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary Backups: Keith Abney II, Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey Bubble/Practice Squad: Nick Whiteside, De’Shawn Ricker, Amaris Brown Analysis: When looking at CB, you almost have to look at the CB and S rooms as a holistic group. So many players can play either position due to their versatility, that it makes it hard to project roster spots. For CB, we know that Reed, Ya-Sin and McCreary and Abney II are locks. That leaves Ennis Rakestraw and Khalil Dorsey potentially battling it out for the fifth-sixth CB spots, with an extra safety (like Maddox or Harper) that also has slot CB skills potentially kept instead. For now, we are looking at 6 CBs (with four safeties after the two on PUP) with the three kids (Rucker, Whiteside and Brown) all getting looks at the Practice Squad. Detroit Lions likely outside CB starters DJ Reed (#4) and Rock Ya-Sin (#23) S (4) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: DB Starters: Brian Branch (PUP), Kerby Joseph (PUP) Backups: Christian Izien, Chuck Clark, Thomas Harper, Avonte Maddox Bubble/Practice Squad: Loren Strickland, Dan Jackson Analysis: In probably the most anticipated position battle, it will be who are the starting safeties when the season kicks off. It's more than likely Brian Branch goes on IR and misses the first 4-6 weeks at a minimum of the season, leaving five guys fighting for what we believe is four roster spots. The bigger question is what is Kerby Josephs status? Will he play? will he go on IR? Clarity could be coming soon, but we will take the pessimistic approach that he will be moved to the Reserve PUP and miss the first four games of the year, leaving Loren Strickland and Dan Jackson on the outside looking in. Both will likely end up on the Practice Squad. The dilemma would then become, who is sacrificed between Maddox, Harper, a backup CB or a different roster spot if Kerby does make the final 53-man roster? Likely will be the QB spot (even though we picked Altmyer to make the roster). Either way, there will be injuries, and some guys we are projecting to be on the initial 53-man likely move to a reserve list before being able to play. Lions Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph and RAS Comparison of Dan Jackson and Loren Strickland ST (3) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: Special teams Starters: Jake Bates (K), Hogan Hatten (LS), Jack Fox (P), Greg Dortch (KR/PR), Abney (Gunner), Dorsey (Gunner) Backups: Tom Kennedy (PR), Jacob Saylors (KR) Bubble/Practice Squad: Gunners: Dominic Lovett, Cedrick Wilson, Malik Cunningham, Nick Whiteside, De’Shawn Rucker Analysis: The Lions trot out the same three specialist as last year, although they are all impending Free Agents after this year. The battle will be at the Returner and Gunner spots primarily, with the Dortch, Kennedy, Saylors as the three primary returners (KR/PR) and the gunners will likely be Dorsey and Abney. That leaves a whole bunch of reserve DBs and WRs fighting for the last few spots at their positions and as a STs contributor. The Lions P Jack Fox, LS Hogan Hatten and K Jake Bates

The Detroit Lions rookies reported on Saturday 7/25/26 and the veterans will report tomorrow (Tuesday 7/27/26), so we thought it would be a good time to take a look at the Lions Offense as they start training camp. We will take a look at the players at each position and put them in the buckets that we think they will end up, as a Starter, Backup or Bubble/Cut/Reserve List. Let’s preface this by saying that any injuries can shale this whole list up immediately, including brining in replacements form the outside. The (Number) after each position is how many players, we think the Lions will keep at the cut down to 53 to start the season. Projected Positional Numbers to get to 53 OFFENSE (25) DEFENSE (25) STs (3) QB (3) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: QB Starter: Jared Goff Backup: Teddy Bridgewater Backup/Bubble/Practice Squad: Luke Altmyer Analysis: Jared Goff will be the starter barring injury, and Teddy Bridgewater will most assuredly be his backup. The question will be how well Luke Altmyer plays in the preseason, and whether the Lions plan to keep 3 QBs (instead of 2) on the active roster to start and then slip Altmyer onto the reserve List. We think they will keep three this year. Lions QB Jared Goff RB (4) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: RB Starter: Jahmyr Gibbs Backups: Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors Bubble/Practice Squad: Jabari Small, Kye Robichaux Analysis: We believe that the top four RBs and the pecking order are set, with Gibbs, Pacheco, Vaki and Saylors. Where it may get interesting, is whether Small or Robichaux show something to push Saylors from backup to bubble, or if an intriguing RB option becomes available prior to the final 53-man roster being set. Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs WR (6) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: WR Starters: Amon-Ra St Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa Backups: Greg Dortch, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks Bubble/Practice Squad: Cedrick Wilson, Dominic Lovett, Malik Cunningham, Tarik Black, Tay Martin, Lawrence Keys, Lucky Jackson Reserve List: Kendric Law (IR) Analysis: The top three, and likely top 4 (including Dortch) are etched in stone. That leaves nine players competing for 2-3 sports in our opinion. We believe that Meeks and Tom Kennedy will take two of those spots as they fill multiple Special Teams and Backup positions (including backup TE with Meeks), which leaves a likely battle between veteran Cedrick Wilson, former draft pick Dominic Lovett, and a bunch of UFL free agents brought in post OTAs battling it out for the final roster spot and likely 2-3 reserve Spots. Jamo and St. Brown TE (3) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: TE Starter: Sam LaPorta Backups: Tyler Conklin, Brock Wright Bubble/Practice Squad: Zach Horton, Thomas Gordon and Miles Kitselman Analysis: LaPorta was not placed on the PUP (although Conklin was) so the last roster spot likely comes down to Brock Wright vs the three Kids (Horton, Gordon and Kitselman), with all four of them between 6’3” to 6’5” and weighing between 250-256 lbs. Our money is on the veteran Wright, who is supremely athletic compared to the others with the UDFA Miles Kitselman getting first dibs on the Reserve List TE spot. Also need to call out that we have Jackson Meeks as WR 6, but he could also be TE 4 as a receiving specialist. OL (9) Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: OL Starters: Penei Sewell (LT) - Christian Mahogany (LG) - Cade Mays (C) - Tate Ratledge (RG) – Blake Miller (RT) Backups: Larry Borom (OT), Ben Barth (IOL), Juice Scruggs (IOL/C), Miles Frazier (IOL/OT) Bubble/Practice Squad: Devin Cochrane (OT), Seth McLaughlin (C), Colby Sorsdal (IOL), Michael Niese (IOL), Giovanni Manu (OT), Mason Miller (OT) Analysis: There are two positional battles that could shake up the depth chart, primarily at LG and then at RT. It’s expected that Blake Miller will be the starting RT and Larry Borom will fill the swing Tackle spot that Dan Skipper had the last few years. The LG battle will come down to Barth, Mahogany, Scruggs and Frazier most likely, with the three that don’t’ win the starting job filling out the backup IOL positions. That leaves former Lion’s draft picks Manu, Sorsdal and Niese along with Cochrane, McLaughlin and Mason Miller battling for likely 2-3 Reserve List spots. Sewell and Ratledge

The Detroit Lions are poised to fill out their final roster spot with the signing of LB Troy Reeder per his Management Company. Incidentally, Reeder was not re-signed by the Rams after they signed the Lions Grant Stuard as a younger (and attempted upgrade) version of the Special teams trole that Reeder had been filling. Troy Reeder signing with Lions Announcement on X Reeder is a seven-year veteran that was a 2019 USFA of Rams out of Penn State, and he has played exclusively in Los Angeles, with six years with the Rams (including the last three) and one year with the Chargers (2022). The 31-year-old has been a part-time starter, but primarily a special teamer and backup throughout his career. He will likely compete as an MLB with Joe Bachie to be the backup to Jack Campbell. He fits as a Brad Holmes player, being extremely athletic Troy Reeder RAS Score The Lions currently have the max of 91 players as they enter camp, with Ahmed Hassanein being an International Player, allowing the Lions to carry one additional roster spot.

Welcome to The Grey Manes Monday Morning Rundown, a collection of news and notes form the prior week that impact the Lions, the NFL or whatever else catches my eye. Detroit Lions Exclusive 1934 Club Lions Players, Coaches and Team The Lions are offering membership to an all-inclusive, members only pregame lounge called the 1934 Club exclusively for Lions Loyal Members (aka season ticket holders.) Lions place Safeties Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph and TE Ty Conklin on PUP list prior to training camp. Jared Goff did a quick interview with The Insiders on NFL Network about the outlook on the 2026 season, his new OC and dropped that he is partnering with Little Caesars, likely as a spokesperson. The Lions are seeking a Senior Graphics Designer for a full-time role in Detroit. It appears the Lions also hired Brooke Kirchhofer as Talent & Associate Producer role. Interestingly enough, the Lions have also not filled the team reporter role previously held by Tori Petry and Dannie Rogers after reorganizing their in-house staff under the One Pride Productions team, so maybe this is a step in that direction to backfill the role. Athlon Sports has their X-Factor player list out, and the Lions Rock-Ya Sin was the choice, which I think most of us would agree with. ESPNs Mike Clay has released follow-up OL rankings and has moved Penei Sewell up to OT 3 and OL 7 (was OT10 & OL17) without any sort of reasoning. His original rankings were trash with Lions fans and media rightly dragging him hard on it, so much so that he quietly correcting them, which says a lot about the mentality of these analytics guys when called out for being completely wrong. The Lions have released additional "Get to Know" Pick posts including Kendrick Law Rumors, Nuggets and Speculation Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta now has a date of 2/13/28 Michigan AD Warde Manual is out by the end of the year after multiple missteps and an internal investigation by the school Riddell has a new Collector's helmet available in the Riddell Axiom Authentic, which you can pick up in most team stores (they aren't cheap!). Roger Goodell hasn't worked out a contract extension yet, but it appears to be in the works and should be done in the coming months. ESPN has started laying off people after the NFL Network merger, with some notable names including controversial on-air personality Ryan Clark and long-time ESPN personality Karl Ravech, NFL reporter Tom Pelissero, Charles Davis, Cam Newton, Bart Scott, The defending Super Champion Seahawks will be on Hard Knocks this year, starting Aug 4th. Buffalo has built a unique feature into their new Highmark Stadium that honors the Bills Mafia Lions Week 5 opponent Arizona Cardinals finally got QB Jacob Brissett to sign a revised contract after he held out all off-season. Things I think are Noteworthy The first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday has been released...We are so back In more movie news, Days of Thunder 2 has reportedly been greenlit and filming to start in 2027 with Tom Cruise reprising his role as Cole Trickle. Avengers: Doomsday Character Compilation

Kerby Joseph proclaiming he wouldn't be going on the PUP. After declaring that he wouldn't be going on the list yesterday, Lions S Kerby Joseph was overruled by the Lions training staff and joined S Brian Branch and TE Ty Conklin on the Pre-Training Camp PUP list today as the Lions prepare for Veterans to report on Tuesday. Lions place three on PUP Both Branch (Achilles) and Joseph (Knee) were expected to be on the initial PUP list, but Conklin (Unknown injury suffered in OTAs) is a bit fo a mystery. Conklin was a full participant in both Weeks 1 and 2 of OTAs, as well as Day 1 of Week 3, but left the Day 2 practice with this unknown injury, which was not believed to be serious at the time. "Tyler Conklin's absence had no official explanation provided by the Lions, but Justin Rogers noted that Conklin left Wednesdays practice with an injury, although it appears minor based on Campbell not addressing it." He did not return for the third practice in Week 3 nor either practice in Mandatory Minicamp the following Week, so it won't be until Tuesday that we likely find out the full extent of what Conklin is dealing with. As a reminder, here is the NFL rule on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, with all three players eligible to cume off at any time during camp, or if it lingers into the regular season, transition them to the Reserve/PUP list where they would miss the first four games of the season: NFL PUP Rule

Detroit Lions 1934 Club Logo Earlier today, the Detroit Lions sent an email out to season ticket holders about a unique new hospitality lounge that will be introduced at Ford Field this fall. The name of 1934 Club harkens back to when the Lions arrived in Detroit, and will be an all-inclusive, members-only pregame hospitality lounge that only season ticket holders will have access to. This season the Detroit Lions are unveiling the 1934 Club, an all-inclusive, members-only pregame hospitality lounge that offers a premium experience unlike anything else at Ford Field. Inspired by the year the Lions franchise arrived in Detroit, the 1934 Club honors our rich history while creating a new destination for fans to gather, celebrate and redefine the pregame experience. Members can expect an atmosphere that blends the energy of a premium tailgate with the sophistication of a private members club. Limited memberships will be available for Lions Loyal Members only. Watch your email in the coming days for details on exclusive membership opportunities and your chance to become one of the inaugural members of the 1934 Club. It will be a premium (aka paid membership) membership program and will have limited availability, at least initially. More details will be hitting season ticket holders' mailboxes in the next few days likely including pricing and deadlines.

Welcome to The Grey Manes Monday Morning Rundown, a collection of news and notes form the prior week that impact the Lions, the NFL or whatever else catches my eye. Avonte Maddox proposing to his girlfriend Iman. Lions Players, Coaches and Team More Love is in the air for the Lions, last week it was Amon-Ra St Brown, this week it is Avonte Maddox proposing to his girlfriend Iman. Congrats! David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs had FOUR of the Top 100 runs ranked 30th to 21st. Gibbs also had a Top 10 run coming in at #9 with a 69-yard TD against the New York Giants. Jack Campbell has been named the 5th best Off-the-ball LB in the NFL per the ESPN survey of NFL conducted with Executives, Scouts and Coaches. Last survey results from ESPN request to Coaches, Scouts and Exec was for Safety, and both Brian Branch (4th) and Kerby Joseph (9th) made the top 10, even with their injuries. Lions WRs Amon-Ra St Brown (5th) and Jameson Williams (HM-16th) both show up on the ESPN Survey of Top WRs in the NFL from Execs, Scouts and Coaches. Amon-Ra St Brown accolades weren't limited to the Top 10 WRs, as he was also named as the 7th best Day 3 Draft Day Steal since 2015 by NFL on SI Detroit Lions single game tickets are now on sale at Detroit Lions.com LB Jack Campbell and his wife Megan announced the birth of their son. Congrats! It's officially the off-season, as Jon Jansen kicked off a buzz last week by stating on 97.1 that the "inside scuttle" is that Jahmyr Gibbs could hold out/hold in at training camp if he doesn't get his contract extended before then. The Lions have released additional "Get to Know" Pick posts including Skyler Gill-Howard and Tyree West. Rumors, Nuggets and Speculation ESPN has re-sgned Adam Schefter to a new multi-year deal There has been an all-out PR war going on by the NFLPA against the NFL around the grass fields that are being used for the World Cup, and why NFL owners won't put them in everywhere. Looks like Tom Brady just can't stay in one job for too long, as he now appears to be angling toward some sort of WWE beef with Logan Paul. The NFL is not fond of gambling within its ranks (but let that sweet ad money flow), as we saw with the Sorsby incident, and now they have popped Arizona Cardinals Personel Executive Ryan Gold with an indefinite suspension and he has been removed from the Cardinals Official Front Office List on their website. JJ Watt has always been a good one, and he took time out of his day to meet up with a fan that was too nervous to say hello in a public setting Things I think are Noteworthy The first poster for Spaceballs: The New One has dropped.... The country -wide outbreak of "stomach issue" from Cyclospora has been traced back to shredded lettuce from Taco Bell. It has also induced bangers like this post form well know X troll account... Just kidding, the FDA messed up and they still don't know where the source of the cyclospora is coming from. First movie poster for "Spaceballs: The New One"