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Eric Woodyard
DETROIT — Detroit Lions proper deal with Penei Sewell hasn’t spent this summer season sulking round about final season’s early playoff exit.
After his top-seeded Lions’ stunning 45-31 house loss to the Washington Commanders within the divisional spherical, the All-Professional offensive lineman was admittedly upset for a couple of days, however mentioned he was capable of put it behind him shortly after.
“Actually, who cares about what occurred?” Sewell mentioned. “We’re taking steps ahead, and each 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, towards the Los Angeles Chargers (8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock). It will mark Detroit’s fourth look within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Recreation and the primary since 1991.
And there’s 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 great have a look at their rookies in sport motion.
Coach Dan Campbell is more likely to sit most of his starters all through preseason, as he has finished in earlier years, for worry of harm, however mentioned the Lions will use the chance in Ohio this week to get higher.
“They need us there and we’ll be there,” Campbell mentioned. “We’ll 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 acquired effectively thus far 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 employees. He began teaching the skin linebackers earlier than guiding the linebackers room for the previous three seasons.
“I need to give credit score to Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, as a result of it is precisely what I believed it will be,” Sheppard mentioned. “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 a substitute, he is bringing his personal aptitude to the employees.
In 2024, beneath 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 nervous in regards to the previous or feeling any strain, and gamers are following his lead.
“He is been superior,” Lions broad receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown mentioned 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 type of making his personal offense.”
Battle for QB2
Jared Goff, the beginning quarterback for the Lions, is coming off a season through which 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 beneath his belt since getting into the league.
Hooker instructed ESPN he feels his camp has been “common,” with some issues to wash up. Nevertheless, he stays assured in his means 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 mentioned. “So long as I do my job and care for the ball and win video games that is all that issues.”
Rookies searching for roles
On paper, Detroit’s rookie class of 2025 wasn’t as eye-popping as in earlier years.
As a substitute, Lions common 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 mentioned 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. Additionally 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 seen 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 ultimate two picks on Georgia security Dan Jackson and Georgia receiver Dominic Lovett within the seventh spherical.
TeSlaa and Lovett have each been making massive performs all through coaching camp. Each additionally might contribute on particular groups.
“I’d assume plenty of the rookies would get plenty of alternatives [in the preseason],” mentioned TeSlaa, a lifelong Lions fan and native of Hudsonville, Michigan. “So, for us, it is our first motion on the market, going towards somebody that is not our protection, so we’re actually placing every little thing into place and ensuring we received the playbook and staff chemistry.”
Retooled offensive line
Campbell set the tone and made the message clear on Day 1 of camp that his eyes will probably 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 instantly. 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 present on the lively/PUP listing.
“Confidence is vital in the case of soccer. If I used to be to return out right here and did not consider in myself, I most likely would not have superb days,” Ratledge mentioned. “So, in my eyes, I really feel like I’ve to return out right here and consider 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 gradual presence main the group throughout this time of roster change and competitors.
With the departures of Ragnow and Zeitler, the Lions must substitute 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 will probably be no simple process. Even with all of the modifications, 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 modifications for anyone,” Sewell mentioned. “You have to are available understanding that you have to come up and execute to that customary.
“It has been in place by the fellows earlier than us, and it is our obligation and it is our duty to uphold it.”
