David Montgomery likes the give and take of practice.
The veteran running back prefers hitting defenders than being hit, but both are important parts of his workouts that prepare him for the start of the Detroit Lions' season.
Montgomery was on both sides of the action Tuesday in a spirited practice with pads.
It wasn't the same as being in a game, but it was close.
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11), Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Charles Harris (53) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Brady Breeze (35) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Steven Gilmore (36) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Tight Ends Coach Steve Heiden during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end James Mitchell (82) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Defensive Line Coach John Scott Jr. during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Antoine Green (80) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Chase Cota (88) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman John Cominsky (79) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Connor Galvin (76), Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Christian Covington (52) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson (73) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Cameron Sutton (1) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (0) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions General Manager and Executive Vice President Brad Holmes during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Brandon Joseph (40) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (50) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Anthony Pittman (57) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34), Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Benny Snell (38), Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (50) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dylan Drummond (83) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Starling Thomas (49) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34), Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34), Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97), Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55), Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs (39), Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs (96) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Dylan Drummond (83) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) during practice at the Lions training facility in Allen Park, MI on August 22, 2023. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
"It's as close as you can be," Montgomery said after practice. "We were tackling. Coach (Dan Campbell) did a great job of giving us quarters. We had halftime.
"Just being able to simulate that was as close as we can get. The defense kind of gave it to us a little today."
Montgomery is an important part of the Lions' new running back duo along with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery came to the Lions as a free agent after four seasons with the Chicago Bears. Gibbs was drafted 12th overall in the first round.
"I think we're going to be lethal," Montgomery said. "We're going to be deadly."
At 5-11 and 224 pounds, Montgomery has the ability to run with power and be elusive in the open field.
"Every day he gets more and more comfortable with what we're doing," head coach Dan Campbell said.
Montgomery wanted to make sure that his comments about contact were not misunderstood.
"It's not as much about me getting hit," he said. "It's me hitting somebody. Let me rephrase that. It's just to wake up a little bit."
Montgomery likes the depth the Lions have at running back with Craig Reynolds, Jermar Jefferson and others competing for roster spots.
"Those guys are making it hard for the guys up on top to make the decision on who's going to be here and who's not," Montgomery said.
"We're all competing in that room."
