Lions Observations: Call Teddy Bridgewater Again, Jameson Williams Out
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams needs important training camp reps. Coach Dan Campbell has acknowledged this fact.
However, the second-year wideout has missed time throughout camp. Most recently, he was not in action Saturday during the team's practice on Day 11.
The Alabama product had missed multiple practices early in camp with a leg injury, but had been active since Sunday.
Participation
Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu and center Frank Ragnow returned to practice Saturday.
In addition to Williams, fellow wide receiver Trinity Benson remained out after suffering what coaches called a sprained knee.
Wideout Denzel Mims came down hard after making a reception and colliding with Tracy Walker III and limped off the field.
Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who remains on the PUP list and is considered day-to-day, was observing practice from the sideline.
Running backs can be two-headed monster
Detroit's offense is going to benefit from the addition of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
The complementing skill set should excite the coaching staff, as they look to run the football and move the chains with a high rate of efficiency.
Despite many who questioned why the team moved from D'Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, the current pairing has the potential to frustrate many defensive coordinators across the league.
At practice Saturday in a situational period, with the offense trailing 24-14, quarterback Jared Goff hit rookie Gibbs for a touchdown with Malcolm Rodriguez in coverage.
"I think that's always kind of been the vision," Campbell told SiriusXM earlier this week. "That's how I've always seen it. And Ben (Johnson) and I have had a lot of conversations. But man, I think you need a back that you can, push comes to shove, he can carry a load. Somebody you feel like you can give the ball to 20, 25 times a game potentially.
Campbell added, "And then you need that specialty guy that, he's much more -- he carries the scalpel and he can slice you up and he can hurt you in the pass game potentially."
The Lions have invested heavily in the running back room that is under the leadership of new coach Scottie Montgomery.
Though he's new to Allen Park, he's already standing out in the eyes of Campbell and the rest of the staff.
“Listen, Scottie’s a stud man. I am so fortunate that I was able to get him on our staff. You lose a guy like Duce, you guys know how much I respect Duce and what I think of him as a coach, but man, to be able to get Scottie in here has been invaluable because there’s just a number of things," said Campbell. "A lot of it for me, for him, is I’m gonna slowly start doing more with him where he gets in front of the team, some of these things. I want them to get to know him a little bit and that’s what started in the spring and it’s quickly coming along.
"He’s somebody, man, where if these little things pop up, I’ll talk to him. He’s been around, he’s seen some things, he’s a good sounding board for me. He’s brought some things schematically that they did and that he’s done, from the run game but also the pass game," Campbell continued. "Just a couple things, crossing routes, things of that nature they were doing out there in Indianapolis that I think is really good. It caught my eye when I was interviewing him two years ago. So he’s brought that to us and we’re using some of this stuff and it’s starting to show up. He’s excellent man, the way he pushes those guys. He pushes those running backs, demands a lot out of them. He’s accountable, he’s high energy and he’s smart.”
Offensive lineman set to visit
Veteran Oday Aboushi, entering his 10th year as a pro, announced that he is heading to Detroit to visit with the Lions.
He spent two seasons previously with Detroit, suiting up in 23 games with 10 starts during the 2019-20 seasons.
Observations
1.) Celebrities at practice Saturday included WWE superstar Sheamus, who is in town for the SummerSlam event, and Detroit Red Wings standouts Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.
2.) Julian Okwara intercepted a pass from Nate Sudfeld intended for Dylan Drummond. The fourth-year defender is battling for a roster spot, so making similar plays is imperative throughout camp. Sudfeld went on to toss two more interceptions, one to Cam Sutton and one to Brian Branch against the first-team defense.
"He’s a flash player, man," Campbell explained Wednesday, when asked about Okwara. “He does something really impressive and then it just kind of reverts back at times. He doesn’t use what he’s been taught and so he — man, he just has to continually put on tape what he’s been taught and those little flash plays, they have to become the norm. We’re at the point now, we’re Year 3 with him, with us, and so those things have to show up every time because he’s too talented, he just is."
The depth on the defensive line is so improved that one third-team rep featured Levi Onwuzurike, James Houston and Romeo Okwara. Campbell has expressed that he feels the team has done enough to solidify the unit.
3.) Cornerback Chase Lucas came flying in unchecked on a blitz that would've resulted in a sack on quarterback Adrian Martinez.
Adjusting to the blitz will be imperative ahead of the matchup with the New York Giants in the upcoming week. Last season, Wink Martindale's defense led the NFL in blitz percentage (39.7).
4.) Riley Patterson missed a 37-yard field goal that bounced off the right upright. There was no head-to-head kicking battle at practice on Day 11.
5.) Dylan Drummond continues to make a solid case for a roster spot. He hauled in a touchdown pass from Nate Sudfeld while working against Saivion Smith in coverage.
6.) Craig Reynolds and James Mitchell were active members on offense, as each contributed with receptions when given the opportunity.
7.) Detroit ended practice with a hurry-up situation, having the offense trail 24-14 with less than four minutes. Needing multiple possessions to score, both the first- and second-team offense had their opportunities for the comeback.
As expected, when Goff needed a play, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta and Kalif Raymond were called upon and made plays against the second-team defense.
The second-team offense did not realistically fare well at all against Detroit's No. 1 offense, with Sudfeld being pressured, tossing interceptions and looking out of sync on multiple reps.
Marvin Jones told All Lions following practice, "It’s a great situation for all of us. As much as you can get in these situations, gotta have it, two-minute situation, four-minute, backed up and stuff like that. As much as you can repeat those situations the better it is for us. It was a great time."
