The rookies have already been in town for a couple days, and the team’s veterans report Saturday, as the Lions open training camp this weekend ahead of the 2023 season. With a Week 1 matchup against defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City a little more than six weeks away, here are five things we’ll be monitoring as the Lions get back into gear.
Swagger in the secondary
Through the earlier stages of the offseason program, there was an unmistakable confidence exuding from the back end of Detroit’s defense. That unit got an overhaul this offseason with the signings of Cam Sutton, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley, plus the selection of the Alabama standout Brian Branch in the second round of the draft.
Those new additions have been partnered with the playmaking of second-year safety Kerby Joseph, returning captain Tracy Walker (who suffered a torn Achilles last September), and physical and feisty cornerback Jerry Jacobs. All totaled, the Lions’ secondary truly has the potential to turn around a pass defense that finished bottom 10 in yards, yards per attempt, touchdowns and passer rating against last season.
The initial glances we got during OTAs and minicamp were promising. Sutton and Gardner-Johnson offer a calming presence through their extensive experience and ability to communicate, with the latter having played the first three years of his career under the tutelage of Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn in New Orleans. Gardner-Johnson also ratchets up the intensity a couple levels in the back end, both verbally and physically. That energy can be felt permeating throughout the young secondary, particularly with the impressionable Joseph.
Remember, a significant component to Detroit’s strong finish last season was taking care of the ball. Quarterback Jared Goff will carry a franchise-record streak of 324 passes without an interception into the upcoming campaign. Still, you wouldn’t know that given how often his and backup Nate Sudfeld’s throws were deflected and picked off during May and June.
With Kansas City’s prolific passing attack on the horizon, it would be reassuring to see the Lions’ secondary continue to build on its early successes.
Rookie impact
Ideally, a team rounding the corner into playoff contention wouldn’t have to rely too heavily on first-year players, but there’s a strong chance Detroit’s top three draft picks will each carve out sizeable roles by the end of camp.
It starts with running back Jahmyr Gibbs, taken with the No. 12 pick in April. The Lions wasted little time clearing his path to playing time, trading the stylistically similar D’Andre Swift to the Eagles the day after adding Gibbs. He’ll be paired with another newcomer, veteran David Montgomery, to create something of a thunder and lightning backfield tandem.
But the Lions have made it clear, in both words and actions, that Gibbs has loads of potential as a pass catcher. They spent those early offseason practices lining him up all over the field and will use camp to refine his role in that phase of the offense.
Unlike Gibbs, Detroit’s other first-rounder, linebacker Jack Campbell, has a couple hurdles in his way to unfettered playing time. Obviously, the Lions trust veteran Alex Anzalone, and the expectation is he’ll rarely leave the field, meaning Campbell will have to earn his slice of the pie in a competition with Malcolm Rodriguez and Derrick Barnes, who has been getting rave reviews from the coaching staff heading into his third season.
Considering how early the Lions drafted Campbell — bucking the modern trend at the linebacker position — it would be naïve to believe the team doesn’t expect him to rise above his peers in short order. That said, the Lions do a good job running a meritocracy, with Rodriguez earning a starting job as a sixth-round draft pick last season as a prime example, so Campbell is going to have to earn it on the practice field.
Finally, Campbell’s Iowa teammate Sam LaPorta was Detroit’s most impressive rookie in the spring. If the young tight end can maintain that momentum once the pads come on, he should have no trouble claiming the top spot on the depth chart.
Less should be immediately expected from Detroit’s other rookies. Branch is blocked on the depth chart and will have to look at making his initial mark on special teams, while quarterback Hendon Hooker is still rehabbing his way back from a torn ACL and defensive tackle Brodric Martin has some rough edges that need developmental sanding.
Specialist battles
There will obviously be all types of camp competitions for starting jobs, offensive and defensive roles, and roster spots, but we’re particularly intrigued by some of the happenings with the special teams unit.
On Thursday, the Lions made the somewhat surprising decision to part ways with kicker Michael Badgley, who was a solid midseason addition in 2022 and had re-signed with the club this offseason. He had been battling a minor injury in the spring, opening the door for Riley Patterson and Parker Romo to make their case.
Patterson, recently reacquired from Jacksonville for a conditional, late-round draft pick, brings familiarity to the table. He made 13-of-14 field goals for the Lions as an injury replacement in 2021, before losing a camp competition last offseason. He landed in Jacksonville, where he continued to kick well, making 30 of his 35 field goals, with a long of 53 yards.
Patterson’s accuracy is his calling card, but he offers subpar leg strength compared to many of the league’s kickers. That’s where Romo has the leg up in the competition. The best at the position in the XFL last season, he showed the ability to convert from 60 yards and beyond during the Lions’ June practices.
In addition to the kicking competition, the Lions also have a long snapping battle brewing between Scott Daly, who has handled duties the past two years after unseating Don Muhlbach, and two-time Pro Bowler Jake McQuaide.
Finally, there’s an opening at kick returner after the team opted to not re-sign Justin Jackson, who worked in that role last year. Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson, who will also be battling for the No. 3 running back job, are two contenders. And while it’s less likely, it might be fun to see Gibbs get a shot after showcasing some electric ability during his college career. The same could be said for receiver Jameson Williams, after he serves his six-game suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy.
Mims the word
In need of some receiving depth with that aforementioned Williams suspension, Lions general manager Brad Holmes swung a savvy deal to essentially get a free look at former second-round pick Denzel Mims. If the 6-foot-3, 207-pounder doesn’t make the 53-man roster, the Lions owe the Jets nothing. And if he does, the teams will swap a sixth-round pick for a seventh-rounder in 2025. That’s nothing, in the grand scheme of things.
Mims was a highly productive receiver at Baylor, possessing welcomed size and elite athletic traits. He posted high-end speed, agility and explosive numbers at the scouting combine before entering the league. But injuries and management changes in New York have factored into his pro career never taking off.
Under Holmes, the Lions have found productive castoffs in need of a fresh start. An example from last year was the pre-camp signing of defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs, who ended up logging a career-high 755 snaps in 2022. Maybe Mims is the next Buggs, or Charles Harris, a former first-round pick who finally was able to unlock some of his lofty potential in Detroit.
And if it doesn’t work out, the Lions can cut ties without penalty.
Which Lion makes the leap?
Camp is the perfect time to see where the investment of development is taking hold. Which players are ready to take their studies, practice reps, game experiences and opportunities and turn them into meaningful production?
We already noted Barnes, who hasn’t quite found his footing two years into his career but has reportedly made a mental jump that’s showing early signs of translating to the field. What about James Houston? The edge rusher was electric in his second-half audition last season. Will added competition cause him to level up, or will he fade as fast as he rose to prominence?
One player who we’ll be watching closely is Alim McNeill. He’s played big snap totals each of his first two seasons, but we’ve rarely seen stretches of dominance. He’s bettered his offseason approach, making a commitment to improving his consistency in his third season. If he could find a way to tap into the game-wrecking force he was against the New York Giants, the Lions could be so much more dominant up front.
Offensively, Williams will continue to command our attention. He’s just so electric with the ball in his hands, but those hands have been wildly inconsistent. Separation comes easy, but if you can’t make the grab, it’s wasted. Sure, he’s going to miss the first month and a half of the season, but that only makes his practice time in camp all the more valuable.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers