Detroit Free Press

We’re basically at the midpoint of Detroit Lions training camp, with three weeks of practice and one exhibition game in the books and two more remaining — and one more set of joint practices this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That means it’s time to polish off the old crystal ball for a roster prediction

Jack Campbell’s eyes were sparkling. “I already love Detroit so much!” the Detroit Lions‘ rookie linebacker said after playing in his first preseason game, a 21-16 victory on Friday night against the New York Giants. The crowd. The loud fans in Ford Field. The game. This rookie group. Campbell just loved it. Loved all of

The Detroit Lions opened their preseason Friday night at Ford Field and the obvious question is when will Teddy Bridgewater be ready. They could’ve used the newly signed backup quarterback, but then they knew what he could do. That’s why they signed him. They aren’t sure yet what Jameson Williams can do. But they are

The Detroit Lions held 22 of their top players out of Friday’s 21-16 preseason victory over the New York Giants, which meant more time for bubble players to earn their way onto or off of the roster. Here are six players who helped or hurt their chances: Four up OLB Julian Okwara: He logged three

If that’s Julian Okwara’s new normal, Dan Campbell will be one happy coach. Okwara had three sacks and a handful of other impactful plays Friday to help the Detroit Lions beat the New York Giants in the preseason opener for both teams, 21-16, at Ford Field. The fourth-year linebacker’s big night came a little more

One of the best offenses in the NFL last season, the Detroit Lions have some work to do on that side of the ball this summer. At least with their second-string. Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs showed off his explosiveness with 37 yards on seven touches in one quarter of work, but Jameson Williams and

Longtime Detroit Lions great Lomas Brown played just one game at Ford Field, making an appearance for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, his final NFL season. Soon enough, though, he’ll be part of the stadium’s permanent atmosphere. The former offensive tackle, who played 11 seasons with the Lions, received a surprise on Friday night

Kalif Raymond has been an important part of the Detroit Lions offense the past two seasons, and the Lions are betting he stays that for at least two more. The Lions signed Raymond, their second-best receiver and a second-team All-Pro punt returner last season, to a two-year contract extension Friday. The deal ties Raymond to

McDonald’s fans 🤝 Detroit Lions fans McDonald’s of Michigan announced this week they are launching a new way for fans to celebrate the Lions all season long with the best type of celebration: Free food! After every Lions game this season, including the preseason game Friday against the New York Giants, an interception by the

Alim McNeill lost 22 pounds this winter. He said he gave up candy — among other things — to do it. Sounds simple, eh? It’s not. Not when, say, you get a craving for a chocolate bar sold at a corner grocer that’s wrapped in paper … and papery aluminum foil. Believe me, the chocolate

Practices are for starters, games are for backups. At least during the joint practice portion of training camp. Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said this week that is how he planned to approach his team’s workouts with the New York Giants and Friday’s preseason opener, when key players for both teams likely will not see

The Detroit Lions are looking for a kick returner once again. The Lions placed backup running back Justin Jackson on the reserved/retired list Thursday, three weeks after they re-signed Jackson on an incentive-laden one-year deal. Jackson was the favorite to win the No. 3 running back job and play a key role on special teams.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Shawn Windsor (@shawnwindsor) and Carlos Monarrez (@cmonarrez) • Editor: Robin Chan • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Guest: Dave Birkett, Free Press Lions beat writer • Email: swindsor@freepress.com On this episode: This week, the guys are joined by Free Press Lions beat writer Dave Birkett to talk who’s impressing us and who’s struggling in training camp so far. The trio

Jahmyr Gibbs turned the corner and burst through the New York Giants defense on Wednesday afternoon. He was untouched, unbothered. Then, David Montgomery had a massive gain through a massive hole, and Jared Goff hit rookie tight end Sam LaPorta for an easy touchdown, and Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown for an easy first down,

When the Detroit Lions signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson this spring, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said he planned to use the NFL’s reigning co-interception leader in a role similar to what he played early in his career with the New Orleans Saints. Gardner-Johnson, who spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, played primarily as a slot cornerback

While Derrick Barnes and Jack Campbell are battling for one starting linebacker spot, Alex Anzalone is feeling as comfortable as he ever has in the other. Anzalone, the Detroit Lions‘ leading tackler last season, is playing more weak-side linebacker this summer, his natural position, while Barnes and Campbell have split first-team reps in the middle.

Affirmation, not revelation. That’s what Dan Campbell was looking for from his rookie class this week against the New York Giants — affirmation they belonged, not some big revelation in play. And in two joint practices, that’s exactly what he got. “You want to see growth,” the Detroit Lions head coach said before Wednesday’s practice.

The question was simple. The answer was not. Does Jared Goff get enough respect from people outside the Detroit Lions’ facility? “I mean, I don’t know,” Dan Campbell said in response to my question Tuesday. “I don’t even know how to answer that, honestly.  I don’t know.” The Lions coach was at a loss for

Jahmyr Gibbs scored his first semi-real touchdown Tuesday afternoon. Real in the sense that he was lined up against another team. Finally. It’s still practice, technically, but you can bet the New York Giants tasked with tracking him out of the backfield and stopping him were keen on doing it. They couldn’t. Partly because a

When Barry Sanders came to Detroit as the second pick in the 1989 NFL draft, he joined a 4-12 team that hadn’t made the playoffs in six years, with a likable new head coach. “I think the slogan was ‘Restore the Roar,'” Sanders said Tuesday. One of the best running backs in NFL history, Sanders