One-on-one tackling: The live tackling drill early in practice gets the players in hitting mode and usually sets the tone for the day. It doesn't hurt when most of the team is lined up to watch too. A couple highlights from Monday included tight end Sam LaPorta putting a sweet spin move on defensive back Brian Branch and beating Branch in both his reps. Safety Loren Strickland had the best rep for the defense by punching the ball loose from wide receiver Jackson Meeks and recovering it. Strickland is trying to win the No. 4 safety job.
Bigger, faster, stronger: There was a bit of a welcome to the NFL moment for rookie wide receiver Dominic Lovett in one-on-one drills with the defensive backs. Lovett was jammed by veteran cornerback Rock Ya-Sin at the line of scrimmage and Ya-Sin stood him up and never allowed him to get five yards down the field where he'd have to break contact with Lovett. Defenders are a little faster, a little bigger and a little stronger at the NFL level. It's a rep the rookie can learn from.
Second-year jump: Cornerback Terrion Arnold has looked good to start camp but I thought Monday was one of his best days yet. He was dominant in one-on-ones against the receivers and made a number of plays in team periods as well. He seems poised to take a big leap in his second season. He did draw the ire of defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard in one team red zone rep, however, as wide receiver Tim Patrick found himself wide open on Arnold's side of the field after getting lost in the defense on a crosser.
Missed opportunities: The team went through some situational work Monday, and quarterback Jared Goff had a couple throws he probably wants back. The offense was given the ball at their own 30-yard-line with one minute and 12 seconds on the clock in the second quarter. The very first play could have been a touchdown to running back Jahmyr Gibbs who had beaten linebacker Alex Anzalone, but Goff just overthrew him. Later on, Goff overthrew wide receiver Jameson Williams down the left sideline in what could have been another score. The first-team defense ended up getting off the field and winning the period.
Long drive: Kyle Allen was the second-team quarterback Monday and he led a great situational drive. The offense had the ball at their own 30, down by four points, with one minute and 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Allen navigated an 11-play drive connecting on passes to tight end Shane Zylstra, wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, running back David Montgomery and wide receiver Tom Kennedy. It was a toe-tap 9-yard touchdown from Allen to Kennedy right as time expired to win it for the offense.
Backup roles: The Lions were without safety Kerby Joseph and nickel cornerback Amik Robertson on Monday. It's always interesting to see who fills in with the first teams as those are players coaches are counting on early on to be the important depth of this football team. Avonte Maddox was filling in for Joseph at safety and Erick Hallett II at the nickel. Both players have had nice starts to camp.
View photos from Day 6 of Detroit Lions Training Camp on Saturday July 26, 2025.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams (91) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebackers coach Shaun Dion Hamilton during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Mitchell Agude (50) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) and Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Dan Jackson (28) and Detroit Lions safety Erick Hallett (36) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jakobie Keeney-James (80) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) and Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive assistant Caleb Collins during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 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 26, 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 26, 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 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Zach Cunningham (52) and Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on July 26, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Big leg: The team worked on some punting today and even though I've seen Jack Fox punt probably 1,000 times in practice over the years, I still find myself walking away from those periods shaking my head. He was kicking around the 5-yard line toward midfield and really got into one that sailed over the returner's head and ended up near the opposite goal line. Fox became the first punter in NFL history to average at least 51.0 gross yards and 46.0 net yards per punt last season.
Red zone seven-on-seven: We sometimes get so focused on all the skill weapons the Lions have, especially the young players like Gibbs and Williams, we forget about Mr. Steady, Amon-Ra St. Brown. Goff threw two of his four touchdown passes in a red zone 7-on-7 drill to St. Brown, who did a masterful job of creating space for himself in tight quarters.
Quote of the day: Patrick on Williams' potential in John Morton's offense: "Everyone knows what he can do in the deep game but now he's finding that short range and that's going to make him impossible to stop."
