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One of the best and most comprehensive features we offer every year is our Footballguys Preseason Updates. Every week this month, Bob Henry, Jason Wood, Clayton Gray, and their team of Footballguys Staffers cover every player that matters from every NFL team. It's 32-plus pages of some of the most comprehensive coverage you'll find. It's probably worth the Footballguys Premium Subscription by itself.
Updates from Week 4
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Sports Illustrated's latest cover features Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Penei Sewell. The article inside the issue details the Lions’ roster rebuild, but one snippet about the trade for Jared Goff was noteworthy. General Manager Brad Holmes was excited to acquire the quarterback, and it inspired Goff. “I hadn’t felt that way in quite some time,” Goff said. Head coach Dan Campbell gave insight into the backup quarterback situation: “Well, I think you’re always concerned with injury at any position. The quarterback position certainly is—that’s always on the back of your mind, and ultimately, you need to know, you must have conviction that whoever that guy is going to be able to keep this ship afloat.” He continued, “And what we know about [Hendon] Hooker is, Hooker is a young developing quarterback, and he needs reps, and he needs time. I do know that. And Nate [Sudfeld] right now has the upper hand because he’s played more. He’s been in it more, and he’s seen it more, he just—and so with, that would tell you there’s a good chance you keep three.” For fantasy purposes, Sudfeld is the backup quarterback for the beginning of the 2024 season and possibly the entire season, with Hooker being a long-term stash.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
The injury update on Jahmyr Gibbs sounds promising. “He’s trending the right way,” Campbell said. “Wish we had more practice with him, but as far as the health of it, he is healing, and he’s on schedule to be back and get his legs back under him, and we’ll see where he’s at.” The plan is for him to practice this week. In the meantime, David Montgomery is ready to carry as much of the load as is necessary. The No. 3 running back, Craig Reynolds, suffered a leg injury in practice and didn’t play in the finale. However, Reynolds should be back for the Week 1 game. Rookie Sione Vaki has also done enough to make the final roster as the No. 4, with long-term upside.
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy encouraged fans to “trust the process” and not overreact to a thin receiver corps when the initial 53-man roster is announced. He thinks the team will be creative and active in adding someone. Amon-Ra St. Brown, arguably the team’s most crucial skill player, and Jameson Williams are integral parts of the 2024 passing attack. According to Christian Booher, being free of distraction and injury has allowed Williams to flourish. His speed is a known differentiator, but this summer, he’s shown more consistency and nuanced ability to run the entire route tree. Questions abound beyond those two, as Kalif Raymond is the only other roster lock, but Coach Campbell openly admitted he would prefer Raymond not play heavy snaps on offense because of his return responsibilities. According to Tim Twentyman, undrafted rookie Isaiah Williams is in the conversation for one of the last spots. He’s not the biggest or fastest receiver, but he has a feel for route running and making plays in space.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Parker Hesse appears to have won the No. 3 tight end job behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. According to Alex Reno, Hesse has had a meteoric rise during camp. While Hesse is primarily a run blocker, he’s versatile enough to get snaps at fullback as well. Coach Campbell was optimistic about LaPorta returning to practice this week ahead of their Week 1 game.
Preseason Updates: Kickers
Jake Bates had another mixed-bag performance in his bid to be the Lions’ kicker. He made a 46-yard field goal and three extra point attempts but missed from 30 yards. He has probably done well enough to go into Week 1 as the team’s kicker despite never attempting a field goal in a college game.
Preseason Updates: Defense
James Houston IV is on the roster bubble. Two years ago, he had eight sacks in the last seven games but was injured for most of the 2023 season and has only been healthy for half of training camp this year. Brian Branch is looking to take the next step in his second year. “He shouldn’t make that throw,” Branch said of the errant Goff pass. “That was a bad read.” Branch also made a big hit on David Montgomery in a short-yardage drill. “D-Mo [David Montgomery] had got me last week on the goal line, so I already told him I had to get him back,” Branch said. D.J. Reader has a chance to return to practice this week after off-season surgery, which would be a massive boost to the middle of the defense. Levi Onwuzurike was the biggest breakout of anyone in camp, according to Jeremy Reisman. Cornerback Terrion Arnold hasn’t practiced in the past couple of weeks, but Campbell is hopeful he could return this upcoming week. Fellow rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw returned to practice last week, which is a good sign for a secondary that has dealt with many injuries this summer.
Preseason Updates: Returners
Khalif Raymond will continue to field punts in 2024, while Craig Reynolds is the favorite to field kickoffs.
Updates from Week 3
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Jared Goff has performed well with his command and precision in practice, according to Alec Karsten. He said of Goff, “I would need to grow an extra hand to count the number of high-level, in-rhythm, perfect-placement throws he delivered in team drills.” The Lions' offensive line has protected Goff well, even though he was blitzed more than any other quarterback in the NFL last season. Goff’s kryptonite is when he’s moved off his spot and has to evade pressure using his legs. Hendon Hooker bounced back from a poor first preseason game to a much more poised second game, producing a 108.3 passer rating and a rushing touchdown as well. Nate Sudfeld struggled, making the backup quarterback job a tight race. Brad Berreman suggests Hooker won the backup quarterback job after his play in the last preseason game.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
The Lions may have the deepest running back room in the NFL. Karsten compared David Montgomery to a werewolf with a full moon, saying he’s “an imposingly physical freak of nature” in his observations of him in practice. Montgomery was winning in tackling, short-yardage, and team drills. Jahmyr Gibbs suffered a hamstring injury last week, but Head Coach Dan Campbell said, “I think we’ll be good” about Gibbs’ status. Karsten complimented Craig Reynolds as “being one of the best, most well-rounded, third running backs in the NFL.” Reynolds has done well in practice, making two big plays with the first-team offense filling in during Gibbs’ absence. Reynolds has fantasy value if either Montgomery or Gibbs misses regular season time. Sione Vaki is a raw running back after only having 53 touches in college as he played both running back and safety. Vaki is turning heads in the preseason after averaging 7.3 yards per carry in the first game and 82 total yards in the second game. Campbell said of Vaki, “We already felt like this kid is going to have the ability to play special teams. So now it’s like, ‘Well, can you use him on offense? Is there a place?’” “He’s amazing,” quarterback Hendon Hooker said of Vaki after the game. “And very smart as well to be a young guy coming in and making plays. You saw some different shifty moves, too. It’s very cool to see his growth.”
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown surprised a teen by meeting him, signing a jersey, and giving him tickets to the opening game after the teen helped save a woman’s life in July. The connection between Goff and St. Brown is crisp as they produced many receptions and a touchdown at Wednesday’s practice. According to John Maakaron, St. Brown appears in prime shape, looking even better than in years past. If the new contract is letting St. Brown take his game to another level, then fantasy managers will be very pleased. Jameson Williams fully extended for a two-point conversion in the corner of the endzone. The most impressive part of Williams’ camp is that he’s winning in different ways. It’s not just vertical routes, and it’s not just speed. The releases are better, and the routes are crisper, according to Jeremy Reisman. Antoine Green was placed on waivers after a concussion/neck injury in the first preseason game. Coach Campbell wants someone to win the No. 3 receiver job, saying, “It’s still the same as where it’s at. We’re waiting for any one of those guys to step forward.” “DPJ (Donovan Peoples-Jones), I felt like, has been, since the game, much better. He’s playing faster, and I notice it; we all notice it, so that’s encouraging. But (Daurice) Fountain and Tre’Quan (Smith) and Kaden Davis, somebody, we’re dying for somebody to step up and say, ‘Hey, man, I’m the guy. I’m the guy you can depend on. I’ll be the same, consistent player every day, find a way to make the plays that come my way.’” Two other players Campbell didn’t mention are Kalif Raymond, who operates better out of the slot, and Isaiah Williams, who has ten receptions for 106 yards through two preseason games. Reisman thinks it’s a debate on whether Isaiah Williams should make the roster.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Sam LaPorta continues to miss practice due to a hamstring injury. The Lions will likely keep at least four tight ends on the roster and use many two-tight end sets due to the state of the wide receiver room. LaPorta and Brock Wright are locked in as the No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. According to John Maakaron, the competition at No. 3 and No. 4 tight ends has recently seen James Mitchell fall behind Parker Hesse and Shane Zylstra. Mitchell may make the roster if the Lions keep five tight ends.
Preseason Updates: Kickers
New kicker Jake Bates missed an extra point attempt but made all four field goal attempts in the win over the Chiefs, including a 55-yard kick and a 43-yard kick to win the game. He has secured a very fantasy-friendly kicker job and should be a top priority if you wait until the last round to take your kicker.
Preseason Updates: Defense
The top three cornerbacks are missing practice due to injuries. Terrion Arnold suffered a pectoral injury but isn’t expected to miss any regular season games. Carlton Davis III is dealing with a hamstring injury, and Ennis Rakestraw has an ankle injury. Brett Kollmann produced a fun video showing how Aidan Hutchinson wins on the football field. Alim McNeill returned to practice this week after recovering from an injury. Defensive Coordinator Aaron Glenn has seen growth in Jack Campbell, saying, “...just the taking over the huddle and starting to take that jump to be that guy.” Brian Branch closed on a football with a surprising punch, rip, and interception in practice. Josh Paschal had a strip sack towards the end of the game, which is nice to see production from a promising young player who has battled injuries early in his career.
Preseason Updates: Offensive Lines
Simply put, the Lions' offensive line reflects the personality of their head coach. This group is one of the few that can take over and win a game. The Lions have two All-Pros in right tackle Penei Sewell and center Frank Ragnow, and both players are flat-out dominant. The team added another Pro Bowler with right guard Kevin Zeitler arriving from Baltimore. Even their non-stars, like left tackle Taylor Decker and left guard Graham Glasgow, are good players in their own right. The team rewarded Decker with a three-year contract extension this offseason. The Lions rank 1st overall, best in the land.
Updates from Week 2
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's Preseason Insights: What You Need To Know This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Jared Goff produced strong performances through the air in joint practices against the Giants. Goff recently discussed his growth after being traded from the Rams, saying, “I think it’s allowed my perspective to be much better on what it is, and the relationships are important, and it is family, and you love your guys. But at the end of the day, you do know that there are powers that be that will do what is in their minds best for the team.” According to USA Today’s Russell Brown, Nate Sudfeld wasn’t efficient in the first half of the preseason game against the Giants. Sudfeld held the football too long after extending plays and was sacked. Hendon Hooker was the starting quarterback for the second half and led an impressive touchdown drive but suffered a concussion on the following possession. Jeff Risdon believes the Lions will only keep two quarterbacks on the active roster despite the game-day roster emergency third quarterback rule.
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
David Montgomery is looking to improve in the receiving game after catching a career-low 16 receptions last year. He made a play in a scrimmage against the Giants by catching a wheel route for a touchdown. Russell Brown’s film review of Montgomery’s 2023 campaign revealed “a simplistic but tough running style that is a joy to watch in this offense.” According to Conor Orr, Jahmyr Gibbs will “completely change the offense” in 2024 because of the defensive attention he earns, which will free up his teammates. John Maakaron echoed Orr’s sentiments, saying Gibbs adds an “irreplaceable dynamic to the offense.”
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
After practicing against the Giants, Amon-Ra St. Brown said, “Pretty physical two days, but we needed it. Little hot. Adrenaline is kind of high, so feel like your heart rate is going faster, you get tired a little quicker, but it was good work.” Jameson Williams continued his strong training camp with a good performance against the Giants in practice. Williams burned the Giants secondary for multiple touchdowns as he continues to improve chemistry with Goff. Daurice Fountain joined St. Brown and Williams in three-receiver sets, indicating he is leading the battle for the No. 3 receiver job. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Isaiah Williams was the first player Dan Campbell discussed after the game. “Isaiah Williams showed up,” said Campbell. “I mean, he made some plays out there, and that was clear.” St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, and Fountain may have locked up roster spots. However, the battle for the No. 5 receiver job will be between Isaiah Williams, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Tre’Quan Smith, Maurice Alexander, and Antoine Green. For now, Isaiah Williams has a lead in earning that job. Mike Payton wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions traded for a wide receiver.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Sam LaPorta was forced to sit out multiple practices this week with a hamstring strain, but it’s not considered a serious injury. The Lions may end up keeping four tight ends on the active roster. Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson said of the Lions tight ends, “That room, the competition is lights out right now.”
Preseason Updates: Kickers
New kicker Jake Bates redeemed himself after a rough week of practice by making a 53-yard field goal in less-than-ideal conditions during the preseason opener loss to the Giants. Bates continued to build momentum by hitting a 64-yard kick to end Sunday’s practice. While he’s far from guaranteed to make the roster, Bates is emerging as a solid choice for a last-round kicker pick.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Emmanuel Moseley suffered a pectoral injury in Monday’s joint practice and is out indefinitely. Coach Campbell said of Brian Branch, “Branch will just get some [individual work], and seven-on-seven, he’s not going to get any team reps.” Branch is recovering from an injury, so the coaches are still ramping him up. Alim McNeill was dominant in drills against the Giants. Lions General Manager Brad Holmes recently said of McNeill, “He’s part of the foundation.” He continued about a contract extension for McNeill with, “So he’s another one that, it’s about time. So, we’ll get talks going at some point and hopefully try to get something done.” David Bada suffered a torn Achilles during the preseason game against the Giants. James Houston made a few plays in the preseason game but is now dealing with a bone bruise. Multiple fights occurred during the joint practices with the Giants. The biggest altercation was between Kerby Joseph and Malik Nabers after Nabers' head slap. Each team was fined $200K for the altercations. One concern from the joint practices is the Lions' secondary. Sports Illustrated’s Patricia Traina said, “The Lions defensive secondary is a work in progress; still has a way to go. The Giants receivers were not only getting open, but they were also beating the defensive backs consistently.”
Preseason Updates: Returners
Khalif Raymond will continue to field punts in 2024, while Craig Reynolds is the favorite to handle kickoff returns.
Updates from Week 1
If you're in a hurry, check out Joe Bryant's What You Need To Know From Every Team This Week.
Preseason Updates: Quarterbacks
Jared Goff isn’t letting a busy offseason, including getting married in June and signing a contract extension in May, distract him from the details that lead to success. Goff audibled into a new play that resulted in an 80-yard touchdown to Daurice Fountain. According to Mike Payton, Goff was red-hot at one practice and looked like he was throwing with more power than usual. Hendon Hooker’s rookie season was lost as he recovered from an ACL injury, but this season is quite different. Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson said this of Hooker: “We’re coaching him hard, which means we’re throwing a lot on him, and when he makes a mistake, we’re letting him know about it, and that’s what we believe in.... because if he can handle that, then once he gets to these preseason games, it’s going to be a cinch for him.”
Preseason Updates: Running Backs
The first padded week of practice didn’t go well for the Lions' run game. Head Coach Dan Campbell said the run game is “a work in progress.” David Montgomery’s successful first year with the Lions hasn’t led him to rest on that performance. Montgomery referenced losing to the 49ers, saying, “If anything, for me, I’m taking it a little bit more personal, just because I know it wasn’t enough, and I want to (be) better than what I was last year.” Amon-Ra St. Brown has a proposition for Jahmyr Gibbs: if he can rush for 1,000 yards and record 1,000 receiving yards, St. Brown will buy Gibbs anything he wants. Gibbs could be used more in the passing game, as coordinator Johnson said, “We’ll see what we can get to over the next few weeks because we had some ideas in mind of how we wanted to use him in maybe a unique fashion.”
Preseason Updates: Wide Receivers
Amon-Ra St. Brown is picking up right where he left off. Tim Twentyman says “St. Brown and Goff have great chemistry, and it still amazes me how open St. Brown gets time after time despite every defense knowing what’s coming.” Last season, the Lions signed Teddy Bridgewater as quarterback insurance, but another dividend could be Jameson Williams’ development. Coach Campbell said, “He would come in, the day before the game, and he would take those young receivers out, go through the whole game plan.” Williams agreed, saying, “Teddy came in, and he got my mind so focused on what I needed to do.” Bridgewater said about Williams, “He’s a guy I really want to see have a long future in this league because we all know he was a first-rounder for a reason. I just want to challenge him to be the best player he can be, be a true pro.” The progress from last season has only been building for Williams, as coordinator Johnson said, “We started feeling it towards the end of last year, and he’s taken that to another level in the springtime and so far here in training camp. He prides himself on bringing some juice to the offense, and we certainly feel it out there.” Donovan Peoples-Jones has been inconsistent in camp.
Preseason Updates: Tight Ends
Coach Johnson had this to say about the tight ends: “Yeah, listen, it’s the best room that I’ve been around in 13 years now from top to bottom....” Sam LaPorta is doing the little things to improve in his second season. He worked with Goff in the offseason to get extra reps and learned at TEU. However, he felt the love from veterans there, too. LaPorta said about the event, “It was cool to have peers, other tight ends across the league recognize me and say, ‘Hey, you had a fantastic year this year.’”
Preseason Updates: Kickers
Michael Badgley went down with a torn hamstring early in camp, setting up UFL standout Jake Bates to have one of the potentially highest-scoring kicker jobs in a stadium that he electrified with a 64-yard field goal as a member of the Michigan Panthers, one of three he made from 60+ yards while going 21 for 28 overall on field goal attempts. Bates hasn’t locked up the job in camp, only going 8 of 14 on field goal attempts in practice on Friday, and many speculated that the Lions would be in the market for another kicker after the performance. Stay tuned.
Preseason Updates: Defense
Marcus Davenport has a lengthy injury history, and he missed all of the offseason training program rehabbing. However, he’s flashed in camp enough to get Detroit excited about what he can do opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Speaking of Hutchinson, he’s in peak form, causing disruption, and was so fast with a spin move that he accidentally hit quarterback Hendon Hooker in the pocket. D.J. Reader was a prized offseason signing, but he’s on the PUP list, and the season opener is in doubt. Brodric Martin has shown steady improvement while filling in for Reader. John Cominsky tore his MCL, and he’s done for the season. The revamped secondary is one of the biggest storylines on this team. ESPN’s Dan Graziano visited camp and noted: “The plan is to start (Carlton) Davis and (Terrion) Arnold, with (Ennis) Rakestraw as the top backup. The nickel spot is a competition between veteran Emmanuel Moseley, free agent signee Amik Robertson, fourth-year man Ifeatu Melifonwu, and perhaps 2023 second-round pick Brian Branch, though it sounds like Branch is slated to play more safety this season alongside Kerby Joseph.” According to Christian Booher, Rakestraw has been one of the biggest risers since players have put on pads.
