Pads on: The first day of pads means the physicality ramps up. Early in practice, the team did one-on-one offense vs. defense tackling drills, which is always fun to watch. As expected, the tackling was a little rusty for the first day. I'd say the offense won about 75 percent of the reps.
A couple highlights for me were running back David Montgomery getting the better of linebacker Jack Campbell in an early rep and then Campbell coming up strong and taking Montgomery down later in the drill. Wide receiver Jameson Williams got the better of cornerback Terrion Arnold early but then Williams later tried to run Arnold over late, the second-year cornerback was having none of it and dropped Williams straight down.
Reps on air: It was interesting listening to OC John Morton and quarterback Jared Goff run through plays and formations on air with the skill players early in practice Friday. Goff would call the play out and they'd line up, and Morton would call out the defensive coverage. Sometimes Goff would kill the play and go into another. If not, he'd snap it and point to each of his reads in succession based on Morton's call of the coverage they were seeing. It was fun watching a 10-year veteran who has seen every coverage a defense can throw at him go through the reads with such ease.
View photos from Day 4 of Detroit Lions training camp on Thursday July 24, 2025.
Detroit Lions cornerback Dicaprio Bootle (17) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Dominic Lovett (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ian Kennelly (27) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 July 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen (8) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Kingsley Eguakun (65) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Allen (8) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Grant Stuard (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson (28) and Detroit Lions running back Jabari Small (42) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 24, 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 24, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Center of attention: For the second straight practice, veteran Graham Glasgow took all the reps at center with rookie Tate Ratledge at right guard.
"We're still going to work (Ratledge) at center, but let's go ahead and do this and see what this looks like for a little bit," head coach Dan Campbell said before practice Friday of Glasgow playing more center.
Last 11-on-11 period: Practice ended with 11-on-11 team periods with each team offense going against their respective defensive units, as follows:
- First team - Goff and company got a first-down catch from Williams and a nice run by running back Jahmyr Gibbs off right tackle for another first down. The defense eventually got off the field with what would have been an Aidan Hutchinson sack on a third-down play if he was allowed to hit Goff.
- Second team - Kyle Allen was running the second team at quarterback and completed a pass to rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa on a nice out route by TeSlaa on third down along the left sideline for a first down. Allen then hit rookie wide receiver Dominic Lovett on a short pass that Lovett turned into a big gain down the left sideline as the offense was awarded the win.
- Third team - Running back Kye Robichaux had a couple nice runs and wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James had a nice catch and run down the right sideline for a huge gain and another offensive win.
OL vs. DL: I've been waiting to chart O-line vs. D-line one-on-one pass-rush drills once the pads came on. Two highlights from each side. Hutchinson has looked great to start camp, and he won both his reps against Penei Sewell and Dan Skipper. Left guard Christian Mahogany won both of his reps. He's also had a good start to camp.
Mr. Elusive: When we think of the most elusive players offensively for the Lions, Gibbs comes to mind or Montgomery or maybe Amon-Ra St. Brown. Third-year tight end Sam LaPorta showed off some of his elusiveness a couple times in practice Friday beating Pro Bowl safety Brian Branch in a one-on-one tackling rep and later making Branch miss in the open field in a team period for a nice catch and run. Branch is one of the better tacklers on this team so no easy feat there for LaPorta.
Filling in: Veteran linebacker Zach Cunningham continues to impress stepping in for the injured Alex Anzalone. He was a tackle machine in an early 11-on-11 period focusing on the run game. Campbell has touted Cunningham's athleticism and we're seeing it early on. He could provide some good depth at linebacker when Anzalone returns.
Veteran presence: Defensive tackle DJ Reader, all 330 pounds of him, made his presence felt in the middle of Detroit's defensive line in the first padded practice. He was dominant in the second team period against the offense, pushing the pocket and playing on the other side of the line of scrimmage consistently. It's been good seeing No. 98 do his thing early in camp. Last year he missed all of camp dealing with a quad injury.
