Detroit Lions Training Camp: Day 8 Live Blog

For Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia, Tuesday was not about improving pad level and teaching fundaments.

It was about being the mentor and leader a group of football players needed in a highly charged and emotional time in this nation's history.

So for Patricia and the organization, the decision became quite easy.

Football needed to be put on the back burner -- for at least one day.

“Good afternoon. I don’t really know exactly what I have to say other than the fact that -- I do know that when I got into coaching a number of years ago and decided to coach football and leave engineering -- one of the biggest things to me and one of the biggest factors for me was trying to make a difference in people’s lives and trying to just really be there," Patricia said Tuesday.

He explained further, "I know certainly that the coaches in my life helped me grow as a young person, and certainly my dad who was a coach -- that was big also. Something that just as a coach it’s great -- football is great. I love it. It’s my passion. It’s something that I think about all the time -- competing at the highest level. But, it’s about people. It’s about relationships. It’s about trying to help those who need help in any facet, whether if it’s on or off the field, and it’s to listen. This is a pretty special team. We have a great group of guys. We have amazing leaders in that locker room, and really, they’re all leaders in what they do every day."

After making their stand, it will be important for the coaching staff and leaders of the roster to uplift and support each other as they progress through the remainder of training camp.

Make sure to pay attention to and to check in with SI All Lions, as the daily news is analyzed and discussed throughout training camp.

We’re back out here today. Rain has slowed. The cloud cover and breeze is nice. pic.twitter.com/tIGMVzPrJ1
— Ben Raven (@BenjaminSRaven) August 26, 2020

No Joe Dahl at practice today. Patricia says Bo Scarbrough and D’Andre Swift will be limited.
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) August 26, 2020

It‘s raining now, but Patricia said Lions are going to try to go outside and practice today if there’s no lightning
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) August 26, 2020

Curve ball, Joe Dahl is practicing
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) August 26, 2020

The Lions are back on the field after they canceled Tuesday’s practice, spending the day standing for social justice. pic.twitter.com/0TnoqfGd0v
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 26, 2020

#Lions back on the practice field @AP_NFL pic.twitter.com/HEOtkg9JGe
— Larry Lage (@LarryLage) August 26, 2020

Jamal Agnew returning punts during warmups... special teams coach Brayden Coombs right up in there, he’s been very hands on through camp so far pic.twitter.com/oyp6wBh6SY
— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) August 26, 2020

They were, but Will Harris got some time, too. https://t.co/UJRuVELnXc
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) August 26, 2020

Best player on the field today was Tracy Walker. He was the one to finally end T.J. Hockenson’s reign of terror.
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) August 26, 2020

For the first time I’ve seen all camp, the Lions us Desmond Trufant and Jeff Okudah on the field at the same time. Was your primary No. 1 pairing today, but Amani Oruwariye got some time, too.
— Jeremy Reisman (@DetroitOnLion) August 26, 2020

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