Competitive day: Credit to the Miami Dolphins for making some 24-hour adjustments after getting outplayed on both sides of the football in Wednesday's joint practice and making Thursday's second practice at the Meijer Performance Center much more competitive. The energy level was high and both teams got some really good work in Thursday.
Situational defensive wins: Both first-team offenses were put in a tough end-of-game situation given the ball on their 48-yard line with 59 seconds on the clock trailing 24-20 with one timeout in the fourth quarter.
- Jared Goff and the Lions' offense went first and were able to navigate down to the Dolphins' 19-yard line on completions to tight end Shane Zylstra (2), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and wide receiver Jameson Williams with two seconds on the clock. St. Brown's 20-yard catch was on a 3rd & 16 play. The final attempt to the end zone as time expired fell incomplete to St. Brown, however. Miami's defense won the situation.
- Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins' offense were shut out in four plays. Two incompletions and a short completion to running back Jaylen Wright set up a 4th & 7. Tagovailoa tried to hit wide receiver Tarik Black for a first down to the left but safety Brian Branch made a terrific play on the football to force the incompletion and give the Lions' defense the win.
Deep shot: The first play of a mid-practice team period for Detroit's offense started with Goff throwing a bomb to Williams for a touchdown. Williams got behind two Dolphins defenders, including former Lion Ifeatu Melifonwu, who Williams had a dust-up with late in Wednesday's practice. Williams was sure to let Melifonwu know he got the better of him on that play.
Pro scouting: It was interesting watching Lions director of pro scouting Rob Lohman keeping a close eye on Dolphins drills early in practice. That's one element of joint practices we don't think about a lot. Rosters go from 90 to an initial 53 in a couple weeks and that means 37 players from every team are going to get cut. The Lions are always looking to improve the roster or add a developmental player to the practice squad, and Lohman was getting a good look at the Dolphins Thursday.
Bates report: We got to see both field goal kickers Thursday and Lions kicker Jake Bates was perfect on the day making all five of his attempts from 34, 38, 43, 49 and 53 yards out.
Middle pressure: The Lions ranked third in the NFL last year with 132 pressures generated from the middle of their defensive line. We know what Alim McNeill can do in that department when he gets back from ACL rehab later this year. Rookie Tyleik Williams and Keith Cooper Jr. have shown some nice flashes of pass rush ability from the interior. DJ Reader had 3.0 sacks, eight quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and 20 total pressures last season. He had a sack in Thursday's practice and a couple nice pressures. Don't forget he missed all of training camp last year with a quad injury. He should be in prime form to start the year and he was really disruptive on Thursday, I thought.
Tough running: I thought second-year running back Sione Vaki had a nice practice Thursday. He had a couple short touchdown runs in team periods showing off some really good physicality and power to bull his way through defenders and into the end zone. He also had a nice kick return in a kickoff period that went for a big gain. After missing some time early in camp, he's coming on strong.
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)
Team red zone: While both defenses got the better of the offenses in the end of practice situation, the offenses had their fun earlier in a team period. Both offenses started on the opponent's 25-yard line. Two catches and a Jahmyr Gibbs touchdown run were the highlights for the Lions' offense in the win. Wide receivers Malik Washington and Dee Eskridge had touchdown catches for the Dolphins' offense as they moved the football much better Thursday than they did Wednesday.
Catch of the day: The award goes to Eskridge, who made a terrific catch in the corner of the end zone in a team period with Lions cornerback D.J. Reed in really tight coverage. Eskridge played his college football just down the road at Western Michigan University.
Back-to-back-to-back: During a red-zone team period, the Lions' first-team offense went on a mini tear with three straight Goff touchdown passes on three straight plays to St. Brown, running back David Montgomery and Williams. Detroit was third in the NFL last season with a 113.7 passer rating in the red zone with 25 touchdowns and no interceptions.
