Fans add juice: Saturday's practice at the Meijer Performance Center was the first open to the public and the Lions faithful certainly brought the energy level up. Maybe it's because Sunday is a day off for the players or maybe it was the added element of the fans, but Saturday was certainly the most spirited and competitive practice of camp so far. A number of players talked after practice about how the energy level goes up a significantly when the fans are watching and getting involved with what's going on in front of them.
Tempers flare: Linebacker Derrick Barnes has been the most physical player in camp this first week for the defense. Offensively, right tackle Dan Skipper is never one to shy away from contact. Those two forces met after the whistle in a team period Saturday and the result was a short scuffle with a number of offensive and defensive players coming to defend their guy.
"Everyone is hot, everyone is tired, we are out there competing our (butts) off," Skipper said after practice. "Things spill over sometimes. Me and Derrick, love the guy, we're good. Good to go."
The funniest part about the scuffle, however, was safety Kerby Joseph hanging back on the outskirts of the scrum dousing water on the pile. He laughed after practice and said he was trying to cool off the situation.
Jake Bates show: After Michael Badgley was lost for the season Friday with a hamstring injury, Bates had a chance to take all the kicks in some pressure situations on Saturday. It was an up-and-down day for him. He made his first three field goals early in practice from 54, 51 and 48 yards. In his second set later in practice he missed from 60, 56 and 46 and made from 43 yards. He ended a situational drill with a 39 yarder to win the drill for the offense.
Fan favorite: The biggest cheer from the crowd Saturday was directed toward rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold after he ran step for step with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown on a deep ball down the left sideline and knocked the ball away. Chants of 'Defense, Defense' rang out from the crowd. St. Brown had fun with it too, running back to the huddle behind the celebrating Arnold and fellow teammates with his thumb down.
WR watch: It seems like every day we get a new receiver who is fighting for one of the last roster spots stepping up and having a big day. Early in camp it was Daurice Fountain and Jalon Calhoun. Saturday, Maurice Alexander made a couple great catches down the field and he drew an interference penalty on Steven Gilmore deep down the field on a free play after the defense jumped offside. Alexander also has some return ability on special teams. He's trying to put himself in the mix for one of the final roster spots.
Catch of the day: Alexander may have had the most consistent practice among the group of receivers fighting for a roster spot, but the catch of the day belonged to undrafted rookie Isaiah Williams, who made a one-handed catch over the middle of the field on a 3rd & 5 pass from quarterback Hendon Hooker that drew some oohs from the crowd and his teammates.
View photos from Day 3 of Detroit Lions training camp on Friday July 26, 2024.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Kingsley Eguakun (65) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (59) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Josh Schuler during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jermar Jefferson (28) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight kicker Jake Bates (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Daurice Fountain (12) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Maurice Alexander (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) and Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (2) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Steven Gilmore (24) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on July 26, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions)
Situational football: The team ended practice with a situation drill pitting the second-team offense vs. second-team defense. The offense had the ball at their own 49-yard line with one minute, nine seconds on the clock and the score 10-10. Quarterback Nate Sudfeld led the second-team unit Saturday and completed passes to Antoine Green, Tom Kennedy and Kaden Davis to move the offense down to the 21-yard line setting up Bates for a 39-yard field goal, which he knocked right through the center to win the drill for the offense.
