Redemption season: Fourth-year defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike has caught my eye a couple times this spring. He's finally past the back injury that limited him his first two seasons. He's gained 15 pounds this offseason and has expanded his duties to play a little bit on the edge at the big end as well as inside. He made a really nice play Wednesday in the backfield that blew up a drill when he got to quarterback Hendon Hooker for a sack.
First-time duo: It was good to see veteran cornerback Carlton Davis III and rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold on the field together for the first time this spring. They were the two outside cornerbacks with the first-team defense most of the day Wednesday and have a good shot at being Detroit's Week 1 starters on the outside. Arnold continues to impress. He made a nice play knocking down a Jared Goff pass on a 3rd & 7 that forced a field goal try for the offense in a situational drill.
Jamo making plays: I thought wide receiver Jameson Williams had a nice day Wednesday. He made a lunging catch along the right sideline early in practice in a team drill. In the same drill, he made a contested catch over the middle. Later, Goff launched a deep ball down the right sideline in a 7-on-7 period and Williams made a nice over-the-shoulder grab after a little bit of hand fighting on tight coverage from Davis.
Better day for Hooker: After an up and down first minicamp practice on Tuesday, I thought Hooker had a much more consistent day Wednesday. There was a stretch early in practice where he connected on back-to-back touchdown throws to tight end James Mitchell and wide receiver Maurice Alexander. Then he launched a deep ball down the middle to wide receiver Kaden Davis, who made a great diving catch. He also made a terrific 16-yard touchdown throw in a tight window to wide receiver Kalif Raymond in the back of the end zone in a situational period. It was a good day for Hooker overall Wednesday.
And keep an eye on Davis come training camp. He's made some nice plays over the last couple days.
Kicking competition: Michael Badgley and James Turner got a chance to make a number of kicks during team situation periods. I had Badgley missing his first two kicks wide left from around 55 and 54 yards (I was under the goal posts). He made his next three kicks from shorter distances. Turner made all five of his kicks on the afternoon.
Competition raised: Head coach Dan Campbell put the offense in a tough spot down 34-28 with 15 seconds on the clock and the ball at the 16-yard line. A short completion to Williams got the ball to the 10-yard line with 11 seconds left. After a little scuffle between tackle Dan Skipper and linebacker Derrick Barnes, Goff threw high to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the end zone with six seconds left. The final play of the drill was Goff going back to St. Brown in the end zone for a touchdown. Skipper was sure to let Barnes and the rest of the defense know it was a touchdown too. I like to see that kind of competitive spirit this time of year.
View photos from Day 1 of Detroit Lions minicamp on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 in Allen Park, Mich.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Loren Strickland (48) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions long snapper Hogan Hatten (49) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Mitchell Agude (50), Detroit Lions safety Brandon Joseph (40), and Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Brodric Martin (99) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jake Funk (36) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jalon Calhoun (80) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator Ben Johnson during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kaden Davis (88) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (2) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kaden Davis (88) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (6) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during veteran minicamp at the Lions Training Facility in Allen Park, MI on June 4, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Passes defended: One quick observation on veteran cornerback Amik Robertson is he has a terrific ability to get his hand on the football. He's not the biggest (5-foot-8) or longest cornerback you'll see but he made a couple great plays knocking footballs out of the hands of St. Brown and Williams on Wednesday. I've noted a couple other times he's done it this spring. He competes hard and has a knack for getting his hand on the football.
Injury report: Cornerback Khalil Dorsey had his second straight pick-six off Hooker in as many days, but he left practice late with a lower leg injury that was being evaluated for severity after practice.
