Quarterback Jared Goff will never be confused for a mobile quarterback, but in each of Detroit's first three games he's made a huge play with his legs, running for a first down.
Goff scrambled for seven yards on a 3rd & 6 in the fourth quarter of the Lions' Week 1 win over the Rams. He had a 3-yard run on a 3rd & 2 late in the first half of their Week 2 loss to the Buccaneers. Goff closed out last week's win over the Cardinals with an 8-yard bootleg keeper on 2nd & 7 that allowed the Lions to end the game with kneeldowns.
"The one run, it was just absolutely amazing," Lions assistant head coach and running backs coach Scottie Montgomery joked Thursday. "You don't get a chance to see many runs like that. I know the run you guys think I'm talking about. I'm talking about Jared Goff's run at the end of the game.
"Closing the game with a big-time throw and a big-time run like that, I gave the backs hell like, 'How can you be outdone in that section right there by JG?' And he did, he did a hell of a job right there and he got down. Probably the only thing that was more impressive was that first-down signal that he threw up right there. I've never seen him show that type of emotion in that setting."
Goff ran 4.82 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the scouting combine coming out of Cal but said this week he does run and work on maintaining speed in the offseason.
"That's right, I've been hiding it for eight years and now in my ninth I've decided to pull it out," Goff said with a smile this week. "No, we do joke about it, but I do think if I can get one a game, one first down with my legs a game, maybe it's two, that's kind of a big thing for us on third down if I can scramble and pick one up. I've gotten one in the first three games, so I try to do that every game, find a way to get one. It certainly helps us."
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson likes the playmaking Goff has brought to the offense with his legs and is eager to find out just how fast Goff is in his ninth season in the NFL.
"I've been challenging him for three years now to race me after practice and he just declines to do so," Johnson said Friday. "So, we'll see if he comes through. You guys have to challenge him on that, see if we can see how fast he really is."
PASCHAL WORKLOAD TO INCREASE
Head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn both talked this week about how excited they are for the opportunity that sits in front of third-year defensive lineman Josh Paschal now that he's expected to see his role increase significantly with the loss of veteran edge rusher Marcus Davenport for the season.
"Well, they're two totally different people and body types, but the one thing that I do think that they're similar, they are both able to rush with power," Glenn said this week. "Obviously, Davenport's the longer guy so he has a couple more tools that he can use than Paschal, but Paschal is more squatty, to the ground, so he's able to use his spin moves and things like that to win. But they both have advantages between each other that they can go out there and be successful."
Paschal battled injuries his first two seasons but is healthy now, and Glenn said he's seeing growth from his young defensive lineman every week. Paschal played 18 snaps last week after Davenport went out. He didn't find the stat sheet, but Glenn liked what he saw on tape with Paschal setting up some others to make plays.
"When he's playing injury-free, he's been able to play for us because we do know there's growth there," Glenn said. "So, the more that he plays, we know the more he's going to grow. So, I'm excited about seeing that player go out there on a day-to-day, on a down-to-down, and be able to improve and play for us."
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Thursday, September 26, 2024.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
A Lions helmet during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jake Fromm (18) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3), Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman DJ Reader (98) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker (2) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal (93) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (44) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Isaac Ukwu (45) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Michael Niese (62) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on September 26, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
LAPORTA BACK AT PRACTICE
Second-year tight end Sam LaPorta injured an ankle in last week's win over Arizona that significantly limited him in that contest. He finished the game with two catches for 36 yards. LaPorta sat out practice Thursday but was back as a full participant on Friday.
LaPorta has just eight receptions for 94 yards without a touchdown through three games, but it's just a matter of time before the Pro Bowler is a big part of the game plan. If he's able to play Monday night, that comes against a Seattle defense that ranks 24th in the NFL defending tight ends through the first three games of the season.
