Mike Ford carved out a role with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie in 2018. He spent a brief stint on the practice squad to start that season and has been a valuable backup cornerback and special teams player since.
Ford said Monday he sees a bit of himself in two young corners trying to follow in his undrafted footsteps, Jerry Jacobs and A.J. Parker.
“Every time I’m out there and I see them making plays I’m just like, ‘Man, that reminds me when I was in that position being able to go out there, making plays,'” Ford said. “Probably their putting their self in a really good situation.”
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Jacobs and Parker should get significant playing time when the Lions open the preseason Friday against the Buffalo Bills, and both made a favorable impression in practice Monday.
Jacobs, who has taken some second-team reps at outside corner this summer, made two standout plays in a four-snap series Monday. At the end of a special teams period in which the Lions simulated two coverage defenders running downfield against two blockers, Jacobs beat Jamaal Williams off the line and was able to square up the return man for a would-be tackle.
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At the start of the next period, he held the edge on a run play, slinking underneath an offensive lineman to thwart a toss play to Godwin Igwebuike. He also had a nice pass breakup on a David Blough pass to Brock Wright in team drills.
Parker, who Lions coach Dan Campbell has mentioned often as a candidate to back up Ford as the Lions’ nickel cornerback, also shined in the special teams drill, when he looked far too quick for Geronimo Allison.
The Lions have been without Quinton Dunbar most of this summer, and Corn Elder did not practice Monday for undisclosed reasons. Both are veteran cornerbacks vying for roster spots whose experience the Lions may find too valuable to let go. The Lions also signed veteran corner Nickell Robey-Coleman on Monday.
But good young cornerbacks are tough to find, and new Lions secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant has had success developing undrafted defensive backs before. If one or both of Jacobs and Parker have strong showings this preseason, they might join Ford on the 53-man roster.
“I’ve been proud of those guys,” Ford said. “Just seeing them come to practice and prove. Those guys coming out here, getting their hands on balls, getting under some of the vets’ wings and just asking questions. So I feel like those guys are moving in the right direction.”
More observations from Monday‘s practice:
• A batch of afternoon thunderstorms forced practice inside the Lions’ Allen Park practice facility Monday for the first time this summer. D’Andre Swift, whose reps have been limited all camp by a groin injury, was absent from team drills, as were veteran linemen Tyrell Crosby (hamstring) and Michael Brockers. Crosby rode a stationary bike early in practice, while Brockers did some running on the side.
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Receivers Breshad Perriman, Quintez Cephus and Damion Ratley also were out, which bumped rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown up the depth chart in three-receiver sets and gave Tom Kennedy a few reps with the first-team offense as well.
Levi Onwuzurike and John Penisini were among others who did not practice Monday.
• Onwuzurike has done little in the way of team drills this summer and seems to be behind Brockers, Nick Williams, Da’Shawn Hand and third-round pick Alim McNeill in the defensive line rotation.
Defensive line coach Todd Wash said Monday that Onwuzurike has stayed on top of things mentally, but has some catching up to do physically this summer.
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“His football intelligence is really good,” Wash said. “Where he’s lacking stuff is just the reps on the field. He’s a big, tall individual, a little bit long. Pad level’s going to be an issue for him and we’ve got to continue to work that, but he’s got to get healthy first.”
• Wash also was very complimentary of McNeill, who has impressed everyone who’s laid eyes on him this summer.
“He’s better than I thought when we drafted him, to be honest with you,” Wash said. “I think we would all say that. We knew he was a heck of a run defender, he’s stout at the point, but he’s a lot better athlete than he showed on tape, which for us was unbelievable. He’s not just an A gap to A gap player, so if he continues to get better, we got to keep a thumb on him, and I think he can be an exceptional nose guard in this league in time.”
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• Igwebuike had a rough day in extended reps Monday. He fumbled twice, once in an 11-on-11 drill when Jahlani Tavai punched the ball loose from behind (as the play appeared to be ending), and again in a red zone drill. I didn’t see who caused the second fumble, but Tavai was among those in the area again.
Speed remains an issue for Tavai, the former second-round pick who is vying for a backup linebacker job behind Jamie Collins and Alex Anzalone. He was slow blocking Anthony Pittman in the aforementioned special teams drill, and when the two rematched, with Tavai on offense, Tavai stumbled after squeezing past Pittman on his way to the return man.
To Igwebuike’s credit, he went to the outdoor field at the conclusion of practice to get a little extra work in on his ball security.
• Like Tavai, Austin Bryant is another recent draft who needs a strong next couple weeks to firm up a roster spot. Bryant made on impressive spin move while rushing David Blough in a red zone 11 on 11 drill, though he stumbled before reaching the quarterback.
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• Two final notes for the day: Jared Goff launched a deep pass to Tyrell Williams on the final play of the first team period that went for a long touchdown. That clip may make its way to social media, but the reality is it was wobbler of a pass against a backup secondary that might have been intercepted in a real game. Still, it was good to see him launch a ball down the middle of the field.
Second, the Lions continue to welcome their new defensive players by making them do 40 up-downs. Those are easier for some players to do than others, and P.J. Johnson had a bear of a time completing them Monday. The big defensive tackle might catch some grief in the film room for his form if Wash or Aaron Glenn show those on the big screen.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.