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Eric Woodyard
DETROIT — Detroit Lions proper deal with Penei Sewell hasn’t spent this summer time sulking round about final season’s early playoff exit.
After his top-seeded Lions’ surprising 45-31 home loss to the Washington Commanders within the divisional spherical, the All-Professional offensive lineman was admittedly upset for a number of days, however stated he was capable of put it behind him shortly after.
“Truthfully, who cares about what occurred?” Sewell stated. “We’re taking steps ahead, and every day we’re working to greatness.”
That is the mindset getting into the 2025 season as Detroit begins its preseason slate Thursday in Canton, Ohio, in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers (8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock). This can mark Detroit’s fourth look within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Recreation and the primary since 1991.
And there is no scarcity of storylines throughout the Lions group, together with a reshape of the offensive line, acclimating new coordinators, a battle for the QB2 spot and getting a very good have a look at their rookies in sport motion.
Coach Dan Campbell is prone to sit most of his starters all through preseason, as he has completed in earlier years, for concern of harm, however stated the Lions will use the chance in Ohio this week to get higher.
“They need us there and we’ll be there,” Campbell stated. “We will get good work.”
The remainder of Detroit’s preseason schedule features a journey to Atlanta adopted by house video games versus the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans.
Listed here are some issues to look at:
Meet the brand new Lions coordinators
After shedding defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive guru Ben Johnson to go teaching roles with the New York Jets and Chicago Bears this offseason, the Lions are able to showcase new coaches.
First-time defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and offensive coordinator John Morton have been obtained properly to date all through coaching camp as they’re seeking to proceed elite manufacturing on the sphere on the heels of the Lions’ first-ever 15-win season in 2024.
Sheppard has prepped for this second since 2021, when he joined the Lions’ teaching workers. He began teaching the surface linebackers earlier than guiding the linebackers room for the previous three seasons.
“I wish to give credit score to Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, as a result of it is precisely what I believed it could be,” Sheppard stated. “I am humbly saying that. I do not really feel overwhelmed.”
Morton, who served a earlier stint as Detroit’s senior offensive assistant in 2022, additionally hasn’t tried to reinvent the wheel. As an alternative, he is bringing his personal aptitude to the workers.
In 2024, below Johnson, Detroit averaged a league-high 33.2 factors per sport, which was the primary time the Lions led the NFL in PPG since 1954, per ESPN Analysis. However Morton is not frightened concerning the previous or feeling any stress, and gamers are following his lead.
“He is been superior,” Lions broad receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown stated of Morton. “He is bringing a mix of the stuff that he did in his teaching profession that labored for him, stuff that has labored for us the final two or three years in our offense that we have been nice at. He is mixing all of it collectively and sort of making his personal offense.”
Battle for QB2
Jared Goff, the beginning quarterback for the Lions, is coming off a season wherein he completed fifth within the MVP voting, and he has earned that beginning spot.
However there’s an actual QB2 competitors brewing between former Steelers QB Kyle Allen, who was signed this offseason, and Lions backup Hendon Hooker as they’re splitting second- and third-team reps all through camp.
In 2023, when the Lions took Hooker in Spherical 3, he was the franchise’s highest-drafted quarterback since Matthew Stafford was picked No. 1 in 2009. Nevertheless, he has simply three video games below his belt since getting into the league.
Hooker informed ESPN he feels his camp has been “common,” with some issues to wash up. Nevertheless, he stays assured in his capacity to safe the QB2 spot. His solely concern is doing his job and profitable video games this preseason.
“I am simply going to manage what I can management and play ball,” Hooker stated. “So long as I do my job and handle the ball and win video games that is all that issues.”
Rookies on the lookout for roles
On paper, Detroit’s rookie class of 2025 wasn’t as eye-popping as in earlier years.
As an alternative, Lions basic supervisor Brad Holmes caught to his thorough course of as an alternative of choosing for positions with this 12 months’s rookies, who’re anticipated to see the sphere all through preseason.
“I feel all of these guys have to play in a sport, or video games,” Campbell stated of the rookies taking part in within the preseason. “So, I feel our younger guys are going to … I see them taking part in on this sport.”
With their first choose, the Lions chosen Ohio State defensive deal with Tyleik Williams at No. 28. In addition they traded as much as land Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge in Spherical 2, then picked LSU guard Miles Frazier within the fifth spherical to retool the offensive line.
Although this 12 months’s draft was considered as a deep one for defensive ends, Detroit did not choose one till Day 3, when it chosen Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein at choose No. 196 within the sixth spherical.
Holmes additionally traded up from No. 102 to No. 70 to take Arkansas receiver Isaac TeSlaa and used his remaining two picks on Georgia security Dan Jackson and Georgia receiver Dominic Lovett within the seventh spherical.
TeSlaa and Lovett have each been making large performs all through coaching camp. Each additionally may contribute on particular groups.
“I might assume plenty of the rookies would get plenty of alternatives [in the preseason],” stated TeSlaa, a lifelong Lions fan and native of Hudsonville, Michigan. “So, for us, it is our first motion on the market, going in opposition to somebody that is not our protection, so we’re actually placing the whole lot into place and ensuring we acquired the playbook and workforce chemistry.”
Retooled offensive line
Campbell set the tone and made the message clear on Day 1 of camp that his eyes shall be intently centered on the offensive line.
Sure, the Lions misplaced a pair of starters in four-time Professional Bowl heart Frank Ragnow, who retired, and veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, who signed with the Tennessee Titans.
However Detroit used its second-round choose on Ratledge, who is anticipated to contribute straight away. He has seen a portion of first-team reps all through coaching camp alongside Sewell, Graham Glasgow, Christian Mahogany and Dan Skipper, with left deal with Taylor Decker (shoulder) at the moment on the lively/PUP checklist.
“Confidence is vital in relation to soccer. If I used to be to return out right here and did not imagine in myself, I in all probability would not have superb days,” Ratledge stated. “So, in my eyes, I really feel like I’ve to return out right here and imagine in myself or I am not going to have nice days.”
Hank Fraley, Detroit’s run sport coordinator/offensive line coach, has additionally had a gentle presence main the group throughout this time of roster change and competitors.
With the departures of Ragnow and Zeitler, the Lions should change 40% of an offensive line that was on the sphere for the second-most factors and touchdowns of any five-man unit within the NFL final season, per ESPN Analysis, which shall be no simple process. Even with all of the adjustments, notably within the inside, the expectations have not modified.
“The usual’s the usual, no matter who is available in. The usual by no means adjustments for anyone,” Sewell stated. “You have to are available understanding that you have to come up and execute to that normal.
“It has been in place by the fellows earlier than us, and it is our responsibility and it is our duty to uphold it.”