Dominant performance: Veteran edge rusher Marcus Davenport was a beast at Lions practice Monday morning. It started in the first offense vs. defense team period when he walked a tight end back into the running back for no gain. Two plays later he flushed quarterback Jared Goff out of the pocket in what probably would have been a sack if the quarterback was live to tackle. Later, he beat All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell for a sack in a team period. Davenport was the best player on the field for the Lions Monday. It's good to see him back and making an impact after missing nearly all of last season due to injury.
Defensive gains: It's not often you see a defense dominate a 7-on-7 period but that was the case Monday for the first-team defense against Goff and the first-team offense. Veteran cornerback Amik Robertson got things started with a terrific read on a quick pass out to the right to record a tackle for loss. Second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold had a nice play knocking a ball away from tight end Brock Wright. Linebacker Jack Campbell had sticky coverage over the middle on one rep to force an incompletion.
View photos from Day 1 of Detroit Lions training camp on Sunday July 20, 2025.
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Kenny Yeboah (88) and Detroit Lions linebacker DaRon Gilbert (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 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 July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 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 July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 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 July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein (61) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 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 July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Tate Ratledge (69) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97), Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) and Detroit Lions edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein (61) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 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 July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive assistant/safeties coach Jim O'Neil during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton and Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 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 July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Marcus Davenport (92) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 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 July 20, 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 July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson (28) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Roy Lopez (51) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 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 July 20, 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 July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 20, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Opportunity knocks: Linebacker Alex Anzalone hasn't practiced the first couple days of camp because of a hamstring injury. That's allowed veteran Zach Cunningham to step in at the WILL spot and he's made the most of the opportunity. The eight-year veteran has 86 NFL starts under his belt and he's a terrific athlete. He's especially looked good early on in space in the pass game. He completely blew up a screen play in a team period Monday.
Bates report: We got our first look at second-year kicker Jake Bates as he got an opportunity to kick some field goals live in practice Monday. He hit all four of his attempts ranging from 34 to 43 yards in the first field goal period. Later on he was 3-for-5 missing left from 43 yards and 33 yards. His longest make was from 48 yards.
Second-team reps: Hendon Hooker took second-team reps Monday as he and Kyle Allen battle to be Goff's backup this season. I thought Hooker had a terrific practice Monday. He put a ball right in between two defenders to rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa for a big gain in an early team period and was consistent all day both in team and 7-on-7 periods.
Emphasis on the ball: It's easy to see that new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has put an emphasis on getting the football. Every player on defense is constantly punching at the football, and you can hear coaches constantly yelling 'ball, ball. Get the ball.' The Lions ranked 15th last season with 20 forced fumbles (eight recoveries) and were fifth best in the NFL with 16 interceptions.
Special teams ace: I can't wait for the pads to come on to see Grant Stuard play special teams. The veteran linebacker has a motor that never stops, and he seems to be in on every special teams play that he's on the field for. He had 19 tackles in a game for Indianapolis last year against Miami. Stuard has had multiple seasons where he led his team in special teams tackles and special teams reps. He brings some juice to Detroit's teams.
Practice injury: Reserve running back Sione Vaki left practice early and did not return as he was being evaluated for a left leg injury.
