Allen Park — It doesn’t matter your level of experience, joint practices are valuable for any NFL player. Even more so than preseason games, the ability to get dozens of reps in specific situations against an unfamiliar opponent is one of, if not the best way to get ready for the regular season.
But for rookies, who have yet to experience an NFL Sunday, joint practices are critical. It’s an opportunity to validate the work they’ve put in through their first offseason, while also narrowing the focus of where they must get better to earn playing time, or in many cases, a roster spot.
This week, the Detroit Lions’ class of first-year players got those opportunities through two days of work against the New York Giants, leading up to the teams’ preseason opener at Ford Field on Friday night. And several of those rookies, drafted and undrafted alike, caught the eye of Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell.
“I thought (tight end Sam) LaPorta showed up,” Campbell said. “I thought (running back Jahmyr) Gibbs showed up. (Defensive back Brian) Branch did some things. (Cornerback) Starling (Thomas V), I saw growth. Those are the guys that really stand out to me. (Wide receiver Dylan) Drummond once again, out there making plays. We got a lot of young guys that I feel like are growing.”
LaPorta, a second-round pick out of Iowa, has steadily climbed the depth chart through his first offseason. He’s been seeing work with the first-team offense since the start of camp and is in line for a significant role in the regular season. Still, the practice time against the Giants offered a chance to prove his progress has been legit.
“It’s great to compete against somebody that isn’t your team,” LaPorta said. “You’ve been bashing heads with the same guys for the past two weeks. … Playing another opponent makes it feel that much more surreal. When you’re starting to compete against other teams, it can feel a little more overwhelming. Just narrowing that focus, remembering you have a job, a task to do and not trying to do too much, this has definitely been a reminder of that.”
Several rookies left the practices with increased confidence. Defensive tackle Brodric Martin, who has also worked his way into some first-team reps during camp, felt good about his performance during the two days against the Giants, while also identifying an area for improvement.
“I know I can play in this league,” Martin said. “It was reaffirming, but the one thing I need to do is get in better shape.”
New York put Detroit’s conditioning to the test, particularly the defense, who had to battle a fast-tempo offense. Seeing that now, as opposed to Week 1 against Kansas City, was another added value to the joint sessions.
For Thomas, who went undrafted out of UAB, but has been on a clear path toward a roster spot through his first offseason, only strengthened that argument against the Giants. On the first day of practice, he broke up multiple passes and corralled an interception.
“The confidence has always been there,” Thomas said. “It’s about growing, being consistent with everything and taking whatever the veteran guys tell me to do and applying it every day. I just feel like I’m getting better as the days go.”
Of course, Thomas is taking nothing for granted. Despite being on track for a job, emphasized by his practice snaps with the top special teams groups as much as anything, he’s leaning hard into the underdog mindset that’s gotten him to this point.
“At the end of the day, I haven’t done anything in this league,” Thomas said. “I still went undrafted, so there’s still plenty for me to prove, not just to this team, but everybody around the league. I feel like that chip on my shoulder is never going to leave knowing I should have been drafted.”
Because of the amount of work the teams get in at joint practices, both the Lions and Giants are expected to rest the majority of their veteran starters for Friday’s preseason game. The rookies haven’t earned that luxury, and for most, they wouldn’t want to sit out if presented the opportunity.
LaPorta has family making the trip to see his unofficial debut, while both Thomas and Martin couldn’t hold back smiles when asked what it will mean to play under the Ford Field lights Friday night.
“Preseason, regular season, I’m ready to play,” Martin said.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers