In this report, we will look at the news and notes from Lions training camp, plus we will review the first preseason game, a 21-16 win over the Giants.

QB: Not much to report on QB Jared Goff. He didn’t play against the Giants, and might sit out the next 2 preseason games as well. All indications are that he has been doing well in camp. The Lions had joint practices with the Giants and Jaguars, so Goff is getting his reps in those settings. We can expect Goff to perform well as we have talked about how OC Ben Johnson sets up the offense to play to Goff’s strengths. You’ll see defined reads, quick decisions, and receivers that are schemed open. He won’t put up monster fantasy numbers because they want balance with the ground game, but he will flash here and there. In a move that they had flirted with at various times in the offseason, the Lions finally signed QB Teddy Bridgewater to backup Goff. Bridgewater is a solid backup quarterback and with the Lions expected to contend, they needed someone who could fill in if needed, and keep the offense operating at a high level. QB Nate Sudfeld is probably on his way out now, and his performance against the Giants didn’t do much to impress anyone. He was 15 of 28 for 194 yards, 0 TD and 2 INT. Maybe Sudfeld lands on the practice squad. It is almost a lock that rookie QB Hendon Hooker will remain on the NFI list to open the season.

RB: In a bit of a surprise, rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs played against the Giants. He had 6-19 on the ground plus one catch for 18 yards. His ADP seems to be climbing, but remember RB David Montgomery signed a pretty big contract (for a running back) so don’t go overboard betting on Gibbs. We know about the 1-2 punch at running back, but some movement lower on the depth chart. Free agent RB Justin Jackson, who played for Detroit last year, signed a 1 year deal just before camp to return to the Lions. However, he announced his retirement before the game against the Giants. The Lions brought in a couple of backs as reinforcements in RB Benny Snell and RB Devine Ozigbo. They both got some work against the Giants but didn’t do anything flashy. RB Craig Reynolds might still be the favorite to win the #3 job, and remember that #3 guy is one injury away from being in the rotation and getting touches.

WR/TE: The hottest topic in the preseason might be WR Jameson Williams. His ongoing issues are making him a divisive player among the fan base. There were reports that he keeps dropping passes in camp, to go along with a leg injury that kept him out for a few days, then starting a skirmish at practive one day. He got a lot of playing time against the Giants, and let’s summarize. He caught 2 passes (7 targets) for 18 yards, plus a 2 point conversion. He also was the target on both of Sudfeld’s interceptions, failing to give maximum effort to get a hand on an overthrown ball over the middle. He also had a miscommunication where he broke a route inside but Sudfeld threw deep to nobody. He also dropped a pass inside the 10 yard line on a nicely placed Sudfeld pass. Obviously it is way too early to call Williams a bust, but there are clearly some concerns. He has a long way to go to refine his techniques and to fine tune his route running. One roster move of note was that the Lions traded for WR Denzel Mims, a low risk move with some upside, as Mims was going nowhere with the Jets but he has talent. He could make the roster as the Lions’ depth at this position is shaky. WR Kalif Raymond signed a two year contract extension, so his role will continue and he could be a sleeper early in the season while Williams serves his suspension. TE Shane Zylstra is out for the year with a knee injury. Drafting TE Sam LaPorta might have squeezed Zylstra off the roster anyway. LaPorta had a drop on a 4^th down against the Giants that was a little disappointing but I am still high on him.

K/DST: I mentioned last month that I thought it was surprising the Lions were heading into training camp with three kickers. Well the waived one of them just before the start of camp and it was a surprise that PK Michael Badgley was let go. He handled the kicking for most of 2022 but with him gone it is a battle between PK Riley Patterson and PK Parker Romo, who I thought went by John Parker Romo but apparently no longer. Patterson probably has a slight edge but it could go either way. On defense, many of the top players sat out of course, but rookies LB Jack Campbell and DB Brian Branch showed promise. The defense had five sacks against the Giants, and you can see that there is more talent on paper then they have had in recent memory. We’ll see if they can put it all together.

Up next is preseason game 2 on Saturday 8/19 vs. Jacksonville, then game 3 on Friday 8/25 at Carolina.

End.