Rookie guard Tate Ratledge got a pretty big boost of confidence from his head coach on Thursday.
"Tate Ratledge, I thought looked like a starting NFL guard yesterday, which fires me up," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "So, it's early, that's step one, but the kid's getting better."
That's certainly good news seeing how the Lions are counting on their second-round pick in this year's NFL Draft to be their starting right guard when the regular season begins.
Ratledge was good in his preseason debut in Atlanta last week, and he and right tackle Penei Sewell were dominant in the joint practices against the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday and Thursday, opening up a ton of holes in the run game.
Ratledge seems to be settling in nicely at right guard and in doing so is gaining a lot of confidence.
"It certainly gives me confidence being a rookie coming in to a grown man's league coming in here trying to compete," Ratledge said Thursday when asked about his head coach's vote of confidence. "All I can do, to the best of my ability, is go out there and play as physically as I possibly can and clean up the technique later. For me, it's going out there trying to set the tone for myself and the line and then going from there."
Ratledge said he's getting really comfortable playing next to the All-Pro Sewell, who he said makes his job much easier.
"You watch him in protection, some of the ways that he was able to pass to anticipate was pretty good for a young guy," Campbell said of Ratledge. "I just thought he and Penei (Sewell) were working at a high level in some of these combination blocks and it looked like the game slowed down for him a little bit yesterday. It's early, but that's a step in the right direction, certainly."
Since veteran left tackle Taylor Decker has been back at practice the last week, the Lions have gotten some really good work with the five players upfront expected to start Sept. 7 in Green Bay – Decker, Sewell, Graham Glasgow, Christian Mahogany and Ratledge.
Campbell said Thursday he's really liked the way those five have played together the last week. The offensive line looked great overall in both joint practices keeping Jared Goff mostly clean and opening up holes for Detroit's running backs.
"It's great to have Decker back," Campbell said. "I mean it's great. He's only been back a few days of football and he looks pretty good man, and it just makes us run that much better. So, it's good to have him back - that unit I feel like over the last couple of days has really begun to trend the right way, they're kind of playing together."
EDGE DEPTH
One player battling to be part of the edge rush depth behind starters Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport is Al-Quadin Muhammad, who played pretty well last season in nine games for the Lions with 3.0 sacks, five quarterback hits and four tackles for loss.
Muhammad mixed in some first-team reps during Thursday's joint practice and has had a really nice camp.
"Muhammad's having a really good camp, really good," Campbell said. "He obviously started camp, he had that - just kind of that tweak, but since he's been back, he's kind of taken off. I would say that's a good way to put it.
"He brings some security to us, he's been a steady hand for us and he is having a good camp for us. Guy plays hard, he's tough, he's relentless, plays hard, he's gotten better at the run game setting edges and he's gotten a little bit of that rush, can get an edge and it's high effort too. So, glad he's with us."
View photos from Day 13 of Detroit Lions training camp on Wednesday August 13, 2025.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Loren Strickland (24) and Detroit Lions corner back Luq Barcoo (40) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions corner back Luq Barcoo (40) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jackson Meeks (83) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen (8) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Horton (40) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Myles Adams (66) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (23) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Ronnie Bell (10) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions corner back Luq Barcoo (40) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12), Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Christian Mahogany (73) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen (8) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Malik Taylor (86) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
EXTRA POINTS
- It was good to see second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold return to the practice field Thursday after rehabbing a hamstring injury the last week and a half.
- Tight end Sam LaPorta suffered a minor undisclosed injury in Wednesday's practice and will miss some practice time per Campbell.
