Change up: The Lions took part in a night practice at the Meijer Performance Center Monday starting at 6 p.m. It was a padded, physical practice with some live tackling periods.
"The schedule fluctuates so much, particularly over last year to this year, and so just kind of changing things up to where they have to acclimate and it's something different, start the day a little bit later, and as the sun's going down, we're out there practicing, and so we'll get some good work out there," head coach Dan Campbell said before practice.
Practice report: There were a few players who left practice due to injury. Cornerback Terrion Arnold (upper body) got tangled up with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in a one-on-one period. Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (ankle) and running back Jahmyr Gibbs (leg injury) also left practice and did not return.
A few other key players who didn't practice Monday were cornerback Carlton Davis III, guard Kevin Zeitler, defensive lineman Alim McNeill, tight end Sam LaPorta and edge rusher James Houston.
Double duty: Before leaving practice to be evaluated for that leg injury, Gibbs was pulling double duty in individual periods with the running backs and receivers. The Lions want him to be a bigger part of the passing game this year. He needs the reps at receiver. His eight drops on 71 targets last season were a bit high. For comparison, St. Brown was also credited with eight drops but on 164 targets.
Tackling drill: The team worked on tackling Monday and a few players stood out to me. Running back David Montgomery is starting to convince me he's the hardest player on this roster to tackle. Gibbs had a great spin move to avoid a Kerby Joseph tackle. Craig Reynolds stood out on both sides of the drill, running and tackling. After tight end Parker Hesse put a pretty nasty stiff arm to linebacker Alex Anzalone to avoid a tackle, Anzalone came back strong with a great play to stand up tight end Brock Wright.
Hands team: Brian Branch made a heck of a play in one-on-one drills with receivers matched up with Kaden Davis. Davis ran a nice route breaking it off at the sideline and caught a beautifully thrown ball, but Branch reached in and got a hand on the ball, jarring it loose from Davis and then tipping it to himself for the interception. Branch had three interceptions as a rookie, second most among rookies last year.
Catch of the day: Speaking of great hands, safety Brandon Joseph made the catch of the day on a tipped pass. Cornerback Kindle Vildor tipped a long pass down the right sideline intended for wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and Joseph dove in and snagged the ball with one hand. It was Joseph's second interception in as many practices.
Best on best: The first-team offense and defense squared off Monday in a live goal line period. Montgomery scored on a 1-yard run on the first play running right. It looked like Montgomery was just short of the goal line from the 3-yard line on the next play, but it was close and there were a lot of bodies in the mix. The third play was a terrific one-handed catch by tight end Shane Zylstra in the corner of the end zone.
View photos from Day 12 of Detroit Lions training camp on Sunday August 11, 2024.
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3), Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Parker Hesse (43), Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70), Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (43), Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23), Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Parker Hesse (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) Detroit Lions wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end James Mitchell (82) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11), Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kaden Davis (88) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Plowing the way: In a team period later in practice, Montgomery broke through the line of scrimmage and found himself in space behind All-Pro center Frank Ragnow, who helped plow the way for Montgomery into the end zone. It must be a welcome sight for Lions backs breaking into space and seeing players like Ragnow and Penei Sewell in front of them.
Situational drill: The team ended practice with the offense starting a drive on their own 44-yard line with one minute and 38 seconds on the clock and trailing 24-21 with three timeouts. Quarterback Jared Goff did a great job working the offense down the field with completions to St. Brown (3) and Wright and a nice 9-yard Reynolds run mixed in there. St. Brown's third catch got the offense down to the 5-yard line with 19 seconds left and the use of their last timeout. An incompletion to wide receiver Jameson Williams on first down was followed by a drop by wide receiver Daurice Fountain that would have been a touchdown with 11 seconds left. On third down after the drop, defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson was credited with a sack and the offense had no timeouts left to stop the clock so the defense won the drill.
