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TIM AND MIKE: Training camp Day 7 observations

Pass-rush drills: I paid close attention to the offensive line vs. defensive line pass rush drills Friday. Right tackle Rick Wagner and pass rusher Devon Kennard split their two reps against one another. Left guard Frank Ragnow easily won both his reps against defensive tackle Toby Johnson. That's been pretty consistent throughout camp for Ragnow. Left tackle Taylor Decker split his reps with defensive end Anthony Zettel. Defensive end Kerry Hyder Jr. beat tackle Corey Robinson rather easily in their two reps. Defensive tackle Christian Ringo also got the better of guard Kenny Wiggins in both their reps. Rookie tackle Tyrell Crosby was stout winning both his reps against Jeremiah Valoaga. – Tim Twentyman

Versatile rookie: Rookie Kerryon Johnson was drafted in the second round to improve the running game, but he's shown he can do more than that. He also has receiving skills, as he showed on one play Friday morning. Johnson split wide right like a receiver and made a sharp in-cut to make a catch with his hands between two defenders. He might have the ability to be a three-down player, if needed. – Mike O'Hara

View photos from Day 7 of 2018 Detroit Lions Training Camp presented by Rocket Mortgage.

Versatile vet: Theo Riddick is regarded as one of the league's top receiving backs, with the ability to run out of the backfield and in the slot. But a skill that doesn't get noticed as much – except by teammates – is his ability as a blocker and pass protector. He showed that on one drill. He seldom gets beat. – Mike O'Hara

Speaking of Riddick: He had himself quite a red zone period Friday catching the football. He completely lost linebacker Jonathan Freeny on an option route over the middle for a big gain that probably would have been a score if the period was live. The next play Riddick lined up wide right and made a terrific leaping catch over Glover Quin along the sideline right at the end zone pylon. Riddick is certainly is a nice red zone weapon for Jim Bob Cooter to have in his back pocket. – Tim Twentyman

Diggs, from the files: Quandre Diggs has the instincts and ability to play cornerback, nickel and safety, and he's done all three in his first three seasons. But there are other parts to his game. In a recent punt-rush drill, he timed his burst perfectly to slide right and get through a hole up the middle. It might have been a block in a real game. – Mike O'Hara

Tough cover: One of the hardest jobs asked of linebackers is to cover running backs one-on-one in space. The running backs had their way with the linebackers, for the most part, in a one-on-one passing portion of practice. The running backs caught a lot of passes in the drill. The best rep among the linebackers was put in by Steve Longa, who didn't bite on Ameer Abdullah's double move and stayed right with him to force the incompletion. It was really nice coverage by Longa. – Tim Twentyman

Participation report: Veteran guard T.J. Lang and veteran defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson sat out practice Friday. Joining them were defensive end Ziggy Ansah (PUP), wide receiver Andy Jones (PUP), tight end Michael Roberts, defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand, linebacker Chad Meredith, defensive end Cam Johnson and safety Stefan McClure. Veteran defensive end Cornelius Washington was removed from the NFI list and was a limited participant in practice. He said afterward that it wouldn't take him long to get back into the mix. Joe Dahl played right guard with the first-team offense with Lang sitting out. – Tim Twentyman

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