- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,150,572
- Reaction score
- 59
As the Detroit Lions wrapped up their three OTA practices open to the media, there were several notable developments on the offensive side of the ball. While Dan Campbell continues to stress that it’s far too early to make definitive conclusions, OTAs offered an early glimpse into potential position battles, emerging contributors, and the team’s overall mindset heading into the 2026 season.
The tone was set by quarterback Jared Goff, who made it clear that last season’s disappointment is still fresh in the minds of the players.
“I think we are hungry,” Goff said. “We were a fourth-place team last year. And we need to come out and play a lot better this year.”
That sense of urgency seems to be shared throughout the organization. Campbell echoed a similar message while reminding everyone that the focus right now is simply improvement.
“The most important thing is letting them continue to improve and just take it day-to-day,” Campbell said.
The Lions head coach also reiterated one of his favorite offseason reminders: “There are no jobs won in the spring.”
That philosophy was evident throughout the week. Practices were structured more around teaching and development than competition, with the majority of team periods taking place at a pace only slightly above walkthrough speed. The daily schedule primarily consisted of four segments: 11-on-11 work, positional drills, 7-on-7 periods, and special teams sessions focusing on punt return and coverage units.
One interesting takeaway from special teams was the group handling punt return duties. Veteran receiver Greg Dortch was first in line during drills, followed by Tom Kennedy, newly acquired running back Isiah Pacheco, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Pacheco’s involvement was particularly noteworthy, as Detroit appears interested in exploring multiple ways to utilize his athleticism beyond the traditional running back role.
Perhaps the biggest area of focus offensively was the offensive line. With multiple changes to the unit this offseason, all eyes were on who would emerge as the frontrunner for the starting right tackle position.
According to observations from Jeremy Reisman, the most frequently used first-team offensive line featured Penei Sewell at left tackle, Christian Mahogany at left guard, Cade Mays at center, Tate Ratledge at right guard, and rookie Blake Miller at right tackle.
The biggest surprise from that group may be Miller’s early involvement with the starters. Entering OTAs, many expected veteran Larry Borom to be the player to beat for the job. Instead, Detroit appears committed to giving Miller extensive opportunities with the first team. While it would be premature to name him the favorite, receiving consistent starter reps this early is certainly encouraging for the rookie’s chances.
The Lions also continued to rotate players throughout the interior offensive line. Mahogany appears to have positioned himself well in the battle for the starting left guard spot, but the competition remains open. Both Miles Frazier and Juice Scruggs received opportunities with the first-team offense. Frazier, in particular, showcased his versatility by taking snaps at both left and right guard throughout the week.
The wide receiver room also generated plenty of buzz. Isaac TeSlaa continued to impress during individual drills and receiving work. Reisman specifically pointed out the rookie’s natural hands and ability to make difficult catches look routine.
Lions beat reporter Jeremy Reisman stated “TeSlaa’s hands are really fun to watch.” Throughout receiving drills, he was making full-extension hands catches, and he made it look very easy.”
Meanwhile, Jameson Williams appeared completely in sync with Goff during team drills. Williams consistently created separation and came down with one of the better catches of the week when he made a contested grab against Christian Izien.
Further down the depth chart, the battle for the final wide receiver spots could become one of training camp’s most intriguing competitions. Rookie Dominic Lovett continues to make a strong early impression and had one of the standout plays of OTAs. On the play, Lovett beat rookie cornerback Keith Abney with a clean release off the line before creating separation on his route and hauling in a catch over the middle.
While Campbell is right that no jobs are won in the spring, OTAs provided a valuable first look at several developing storylines. Blake Miller’s emergence at right tackle, the continued growth of Jameson Williams, TeSlaa’s impressive hands, and Lovett’s push for a roster spot were among the most notable offensive takeaways. With mandatory minicamp and training camp still ahead, these battles are only beginning, but the foundation for an important 2026 season is already being built.
Continue reading...
The tone was set by quarterback Jared Goff, who made it clear that last season’s disappointment is still fresh in the minds of the players.
“I think we are hungry,” Goff said. “We were a fourth-place team last year. And we need to come out and play a lot better this year.”
That sense of urgency seems to be shared throughout the organization. Campbell echoed a similar message while reminding everyone that the focus right now is simply improvement.
“The most important thing is letting them continue to improve and just take it day-to-day,” Campbell said.
The Lions head coach also reiterated one of his favorite offseason reminders: “There are no jobs won in the spring.”
That philosophy was evident throughout the week. Practices were structured more around teaching and development than competition, with the majority of team periods taking place at a pace only slightly above walkthrough speed. The daily schedule primarily consisted of four segments: 11-on-11 work, positional drills, 7-on-7 periods, and special teams sessions focusing on punt return and coverage units.
One interesting takeaway from special teams was the group handling punt return duties. Veteran receiver Greg Dortch was first in line during drills, followed by Tom Kennedy, newly acquired running back Isiah Pacheco, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Pacheco’s involvement was particularly noteworthy, as Detroit appears interested in exploring multiple ways to utilize his athleticism beyond the traditional running back role.
Perhaps the biggest area of focus offensively was the offensive line. With multiple changes to the unit this offseason, all eyes were on who would emerge as the frontrunner for the starting right tackle position.
According to observations from Jeremy Reisman, the most frequently used first-team offensive line featured Penei Sewell at left tackle, Christian Mahogany at left guard, Cade Mays at center, Tate Ratledge at right guard, and rookie Blake Miller at right tackle.
The biggest surprise from that group may be Miller’s early involvement with the starters. Entering OTAs, many expected veteran Larry Borom to be the player to beat for the job. Instead, Detroit appears committed to giving Miller extensive opportunities with the first team. While it would be premature to name him the favorite, receiving consistent starter reps this early is certainly encouraging for the rookie’s chances.
The Lions also continued to rotate players throughout the interior offensive line. Mahogany appears to have positioned himself well in the battle for the starting left guard spot, but the competition remains open. Both Miles Frazier and Juice Scruggs received opportunities with the first-team offense. Frazier, in particular, showcased his versatility by taking snaps at both left and right guard throughout the week.
The wide receiver room also generated plenty of buzz. Isaac TeSlaa continued to impress during individual drills and receiving work. Reisman specifically pointed out the rookie’s natural hands and ability to make difficult catches look routine.
Lions beat reporter Jeremy Reisman stated “TeSlaa’s hands are really fun to watch.” Throughout receiving drills, he was making full-extension hands catches, and he made it look very easy.”
Meanwhile, Jameson Williams appeared completely in sync with Goff during team drills. Williams consistently created separation and came down with one of the better catches of the week when he made a contested grab against Christian Izien.
Further down the depth chart, the battle for the final wide receiver spots could become one of training camp’s most intriguing competitions. Rookie Dominic Lovett continues to make a strong early impression and had one of the standout plays of OTAs. On the play, Lovett beat rookie cornerback Keith Abney with a clean release off the line before creating separation on his route and hauling in a catch over the middle.
While Campbell is right that no jobs are won in the spring, OTAs provided a valuable first look at several developing storylines. Blake Miller’s emergence at right tackle, the continued growth of Jameson Williams, TeSlaa’s impressive hands, and Lovett’s push for a roster spot were among the most notable offensive takeaways. With mandatory minicamp and training camp still ahead, these battles are only beginning, but the foundation for an important 2026 season is already being built.
Continue reading...
