Good day: The Detroit Lions had a dominant day on both sides of the football in joint practices with the Miami Dolphins at the Meijer Performance Center Wednesday. Quarterback Jared Goff and the offense moved the ball both on the ground and through the air. The offense looked the best they've looked all through camp.
Miami's offense was without top receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle for most team periods, which is important to note, but Detroit's defense reaffirmed what we've been seeing from them all camp. One thing that really stood out was that Detroit was noticeably the more physical football team.
St. Brown magic: Miami's cornerbacks had no answer for Lions veteran wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in any portion of Wednesday's practice. The first rep in 1-on-1s of open practice was St. Brown beating Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones down the left sideline for a touchdown. St. Brown won all four 1-on-1 reps with another touchdown. It didn't stop in 7-on-7 or team periods. Whether it was short, intermediate, or deep routes for St. Brown, he consistently created separation and space, and he and Goff were on the same page all morning. St. Brown had double-digit catches with multiple touchdowns, including one where he pinned the ball against the Miami defender's helmet and got both feet inbounds for a touchdown.
First-team reps: It's always interesting to see which young players or veterans who normally play a lot of backup reps, get first-team reps in joint practice. Some of the those names Wednesday were wide receiver Jackson Meeks, wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, wide receiver Ronnie Bell, cornerback Nick Whiteside, safety Ian Kennelly, and cornerback Erick Hallett II.
Officials: Wednesday's joint practice marked the first time the Lions had officials at practice. There's usually so many flags that first day with officials, they'll have to ice their arms after practice. I was pleasantly surprised by the Lions secondary not making Wednesday a penalty fest. There were a few illegal contact and interference penalties here and there but not as many as we typically see the first day with officials.
Situational football: The team ran an end-of-half situation where both offenses got the football at their own 30-yard line with 54 seconds on the clock and two timeouts in a 10-10 game. Miami's offense was up first and Detroit's defense held them to a turnover on downs on four plays that included two short completions, a false start penalty, an Amik Robertson PBU, and an incompletion on fourth down.
Detroit's offense was surgical moving down the field. St. Brown had a 25-yard reception over the middle on the first play of the period. That was followed up by catches from tight end Brock Wright and Bell to get the Lions to the Dolphins' 27-yard line with 23 seconds left on the clock. Tight end Shane Zylstra added an 8-yard reception followed by an illegal contact penalty on Miami to give Detroit great field position and time on the clock before the drill was called by head coach Dan Campbell.
O-line play: Taylor Decker said after practice Wednesday it was the best the offensive line has looked in camp. They were opening huge holes in the run game and kept Goff clean all afternoon in the pass game. It trickled down to the second and third units too. Miami head coach Mike McDaniel said before Wednesday's practice he wanted to participate in these sessions because of the physicality in which Detroit plays the game. That was on full display throughout practice as Detroit's offensive line was dominant.
Trio of INTs: Detroit's second-team defense got a trio of interceptions from Whiteside, Kennelly and Hallett off Dolphins quarterback Zach Wilson. The Lions have been emphasizing takeaways, and coaches and players always say they come in bunches. In this 7-on-7 period that was certainly the case.
Speed & spin: I cannot wait to watch Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson Sept. 7 in Green Bay for the opener. He had football taken away from him after only five and half games last season and he has taken it out on every player lined up across from him this entire camp. He hit Miami right tackle Larry Borom with the speed move around the edge and the next rep put him on skates with the spin move inside. That's a deadly combo for Hutchinson and really tough to stay in front of.
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)
Goff's afternoon: Goff was terrific leading the offense Wednesday as Detroit's offense won every period vs. Miami's defense. He's was particularly sharp in an early team period going 5-for-5 with completions to tight end Sam LaPorta, St. Brown (2), and wide receiver Kalif Raymond (2). He was 4-for-4 in a later red-zone period throwing two touchdowns to St. Brown, a touchdown to wide receiver Jameson Williams and another completion to LaPorta.
Impressing the vets: There were a couple skirmishes in practice between the two teams and the first was a minor dust-up with some pushing between TeSlaa and Jones following a run play in which TeSlaa was trying to be a physical blocker which Jones took exception to.
"You love to see young guys compete. That's the biggest thing," St. Brown said of his rookie teammate after practice. "Isaac is putting his head in there blocking and that's something I feel as a young guy, us older players respect that. That's just telling us that when he's out there with us on Sunday he's going to put his life on the line and go block that safety. For young guys to go out there and put their head in there and hit guys maybe they've never hit ... it's one of the best things they can do."
