Allen Park — Here are some notes and observations from the Detroit Lions’ training camp practice Friday.
► Let’s get started with a quick injury update. The Lions were down several players, including a trio of defensive tackles. On Thursday, coach Dan Campbell implied the team was managing Michael Brockers’ workload, but the veteran hasn’t practiced at all this week and is probably dealing with some sort of soft tissue injury. He was joined on the sideline by John Penisini, who left Wednesday’s practice early, as well as Nick Williams.
Additionally, cornerback Quinton Dunbar remained out of action as he addresses a personal issue, while offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby (hamstring) and rookie cornerback Alex Brown continue to deal with injuries.
► Practicing fully for the first time in a while was second-round draft pick Levi Onwuzurike. Splitting his reps between the second- and third-team defensive groups, he worked various alignments, lining up both on the edge and directly over the center as a nose tackle. He made at least one play on the day, shedding his blocker and wrapping up the ball carrier for a minimal gain while operating on the edge.
► Campbell’s coaching staff loves individual drills that incorporate a physical distraction. Earlier in the week, quarterbacks worked on defender avoidance in the pocket by having coaches roll giant yoga balls at them when dropping back.
On Friday, it was the receivers being asked to work through a visual impediment. When the ball was in the air, a coach would toss several ropes into the receiver’s line of vision, putting an emphasis on concentration through the catch.
► In one-on-one work between the receivers and defensive backs, it was Jared Goff who stood out more than the others. The Lions starting quarterback flashed his trademark accuracy, putting multiple deep balls into tight windows where only the pass-catcher could make a play on it.
Unfortunately, it didn’t carry over to the full-team segments. On the opening play, Goff looked deep for receiver Kalif Raymond, but overshot his target by a couple yards.
► Rookie receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown continued to build momentum heading into the team’s first preseason game. In one-on-ones, he got easy separation with his release off the line while working against safety Will Harris. St. Brown followed that up by getting the best of Jeff Okudah on a fly route from the seam. That’s particularly impressive given how sticky the cornerback has been defending deep patterns. He demonstrated that ability by breaking up a second shot attempt for St. Brown at the end of the drill.
► Speaking of St. Brown, he once again hurdled Okudah when the cornerback tried to go low in an open-field tackle drill.
► One player who has quietly had a strong camp is fullback Jason Cabinda. Despite looking bigger after having a full offseason to embrace last year’s position switch, he still flashes the plus athleticism he had when playing linebacker.
In the open-field tackling drill, Cabinda showed good burst to jet around the reach of starting linebacker Alex Anzalone. Additionally, the fullback has been a regular target in the passing game. He hauled another one in Friday, plowing through a tackle attempt by linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton.
It’s not outlandish to suggest Cabinda could have a bigger role in the offense than expected. He caught just two passes for eight yards last season.
► With Brockers and Williams out, Da’Shawn Hand and Jashon Cornell saw some action with the first-team defense. Hand has had a strong start to camp, while Cornell remains in the mix despite missing his rookie season due to injury and facing a three-game suspension to start this year.
The depth issues also pressed nose tackle Miles Brown into some second-team reps his first day on the roster.
► A couple players got shaken up on deep throws, with cornerback Corn Elder grabbing his leg after surrendering a deep completion to Breshad Perriman. Later in the day, it was Perriman who stayed down for a bit after an incompletion.
Trainers appeared to be looking at the receiver’s back, and even though he came back in for some more reps, it wouldn’t be surprising to see his workload dialed back in the coming days.
► Finally got some eyes on one-on-one pass blocking work. Penei Sewell dominated his first rep against linebacker Charles Harris, but the rookie offensive tackle was badly beaten by Julian Okwara, who got by on the inside with a lightning-quick spin move.
► In that same practice segment, Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker dominated both their reps, with Ragnow stuffing Alim McNeill and Miles Brown and Decker staying in front of Trey Flowers twice.
The guards weren’t nearly as steady. Jonah Jackson’s ability to anchor was tested as he got driven back on both his reps, while Halapoulivaati Vaitai stonewalled Onwuzurike and got blown past by Hand.
► The back end of the tight end depth chart hasn’t offered much in the passing game, but Charlie Taumoepeau managed to score a big gain after coming free on a crossing pattern against safety Jalen Elliott.
► The Lions closed out practice with a short, live-tackling, full-team drive that pitted the first teams against the second teams.
The top defensive group made quick work of the second-team offense with Amani Oruwariye breaking up a pass for Victor Bolden.
The second-team defense also emerged victorious. Goff initially extended the series by threading a needle to T.J. Hockenson for a third-down conversion, only to see cornerback AJ Parker halt the drive three plays later, jumping a route and breaking up a third-down pass intended for St. Brown.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers