Cross-training: Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the team was going to cross-train interior offensive line draft picks Tate Ratledge (second round) and Miles Frazier (fifth round). Ratledge lined up at center and guard during the first team period of rookie minicamp on Friday. Ratledge said after practice he's open to doing whatever he can to help the team and said the more he can do, the more of an asset he can be to the team.
Part of the plan: First-round pick Tyleik Williams took part in a team period to open practice. Then after team stretching, he worked off to the side with the training staff for the rest of practice. He said afterward it's just part of the team's plan for him.
"Just a plan they got me going on right now. It's a long season," he said. "I just came off a long season so it's just being smart."
Veteran presence: We usually see a few veterans taking part in rookie minicamp, mostly players who spent a lot of time on the practice squad a year ago or were injured and see the weekend as a good opportunity to stand out. This year we've got edge rusher Isaac Ukwu, linebacker DaRon Gilbert, center Kingsley Eguakun and safety Erick Hallett, who were part of the Lions team last year and are taking part this weekend.
We also have a few veterans here on a tryout basis, including cornerback Duke Shelley, wide receiver Malik Taylor, defensive lineman Trevis Gipson and defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko.
New coordinators: We got a look at new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and new offensive coordinator John Morton in action for the first time in their respective roles. Sheppard, as expected, wasn't shy about correcting and praising his defensive players. We're used to that with the linebackers, but now it extends to the entire defense. Morton's style is a little less vocal and he stuck pretty close to quarterback Cole Snyder (tryout from Eastern Michigan) all practice.
Busy man: The favorite target of Snyder in 7-on-7 and team drills Friday was third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa. He made a couple nice catches along the sideline and over the middle in both periods, and he was targeted with Snyder's first three passes in the 7-on-7 period. TeSlaa caught two and Shelley made a nice play, knocking one away.
Two things stand out about TeSlaa after my first impression of seeing him live: His size and his hands. He's got a big frame (6-4, 214), and I didn't see him try to catch the ball with his body one time. It's always hands away from body.
Overheard at practice: We've gotten used to some trash talk between offensive and defensive coaches over the years and my early selection to pick up the mantle for the offense is new running backs coach Tashard Choice. He and Sheppard went back-and-forth a little bit Friday.
View photos of Detroit Lions players arriving for 2025 rookie minicamp and getting fitted for equipment.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Leif Fautanu gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Horton at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Helmet belonging to Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein arrives at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Horton gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Miles Frazier gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein is greeted by Detroit Lions Equipment Assistant Casey Edwards at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Zach Horton gets fitted for equipment at the Meijer Performance Center on May 8, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Hands on the football: One of the defensive backs taking part this weekend who jumped out to me Friday was rookie cornerback Tyson Russell out of Vanderbilt. Russell is here on a tryout basis and made a couple plays, knocking the ball away from both TeSlaa and South Carolina wide receiver Ahmarean Brown. It was a good start to his weekend.
Catch of the day: This belongs to undrafted rookie free agent signee Jackson Meeks (Syracuse), who went up over cornerback Tavian Montgomery deep down the right sideline on a well-thrown 50-50 ball by Snyder that Meeks high-pointed beautifully. Meeks (6-1, 205) caught 78 passes for 1,021 yards and seven touchdowns for the Orange last season.
