Episode 3 of "Inside the Den" dropped last night and it opens with quarterback Jared Goff taking a trip down memory lane, reminiscing on his first training camp in high school and walking through the halls of Marin Catholic.
Now, 16 years later from his first varsity season, Goff and the Detroit Lions are preparing to make another playoff run after missing the postseason and finishing fourth in the NFC North in 2025.
Here are three highlights from the new episode:
1. Staying levelheaded
Goff chose his senior quote from former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden: "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."
In the episode, the Lions' quarterback said he doesn't allow external validation or judgment affect his game. Staying levelheaded and consistent in his approach yielded the results at each level he's played at. It's something he's embodied since high school that stuck out to his former head coach, Mazi Moayed.
"His approach to the day-to-day was calming," Moayed said in the episode. "You knew what you were going to get and the same thing showed up in the games … as a coach, you learn to trust him."
Goff's steadiness and dependability show up in every area of his life, from his family to football, on or off the field, winning or losing. For the Lions, they know they're getting the same quarterback day in and day out.
2. Full steam ahead
Over the offseason and into the start of training camp, Detroit worked on building their identity and going back to the basics. With one preseason matchup in the books and at the tail end of camp, Goff said that it's 'full steam ahead' for the Lions now.
"We feel like iron is sharpening iron every day," defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said.
For Sheppard, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and head coach Dan Campbell, it's not always about beating the other side of the ball. Challenging the team and competing against the best to bring out the best in each other are the Lions' goals.
'Get to work' is a common phrase mic'd up players in the episode - like Goff, wide receiver Jameson Williams and edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson - shared.
The Lions have bought into the expectations at camp. Petzing noted that the physicality, work done in meetings and level of competition they put out on the field has pushed the team collectively. Sheppard emphasized showing up with the same identity every day regardless of who the opponent is, even if it's Detroit going up against each other in camp.
"It's not about beating the offense," Sheppard said. "It's about improving daily … when you look back in a totality of training camp that you'll be happy with where we are."
3. Battling in the preseason
The first preseason game of 2026 didn't end in a win over the Bengals, but a handful of players stood out, and Campbell commended his team's effort and ability to put the work done in practice on the field on gameday.
Edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein, quarterback Luke Altmyer, cornerback Keith Abney II, running back Raheem Blackshear and tight end Jackson Meeks were just a few who were featured in the episode.
Hassanein finished the night with two sacks, one forced fumble and four total tackles (two tackles for loss). The rookie cornerback came up with a fumble recovery along with five total tackles. Altmyer was 13-of-22 for 130 yards and one passing touchdown. He tacked on a two-point conversion run in the fourth quarter.
The work is far from over for the Lions, especially the players who are fighting for a roster spot this preseason and training camp. Petzing said it takes all 53, starters and depth pieces alike, to win games. Though they have the end goal of winning Super Bowl LXI in February 2027, Detroit is taking it one day and one play at a time to get there.
"Inside the Den" Episode 3 Highlights:
- 0:55 – Attacking the 2026 season
- 1:35 – Goff reminisces on his high school playing days
- 12:19 – Goff pours into Detroit's community
- 15:31 – Lions take on first day of padded practice at training camp
- 19:06 – Petzing and Goff's relationship
- 20:42 – Re-establishing the team's identity
- 25:44 – Lions at Bengals Preseason Game 1
