Detroit had one of the most balanced and explosive offenses in the NFL last season.
There were top five in points scored (5th), total offense (3rd), rushing (5th) and passing (2nd). They set the franchise record for most total yards in a single season (6,712).
They return offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, quarterback Jared Goff and all their core players including All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell.
With so much familiarity coming back, how does Johnson continue to evolve this offense?
"Geez, (can't) give you all the secrets," Goff said Tuesday. "There's little wrinkles, of course. There's new things. There's things that we were getting better at last year that I think we've gotten a lot better at through the offseason and training camp.
"There's things we are trying that are brand new. There's all sorts of different things. We'll unleash some of them, but we know what our identity is, and we'll stick to that."
With none of the offensive starters playing at all in the preseason, it will be fun to see what kind of new wrinkles Johnson, Goff and the 2024 version of the Lions' offense has in store for the Rams Sunday night.
"I think that's where Ben (Johnson)'s done a great job every year now, is innovating, being creative, doing things maybe that haven't necessarily been done before or we haven't seen on film but trying it just for sake of trying it and for the sake of, he thinks it's a good idea," Goff said. "Sometimes it works at practice, sometimes it doesn't, we shelf it and try it again later, but that creativity and that innovation is so important to stay on the cutting edge."
PRACTICE REPORT
The Lions are pretty healthy heading into Week 1. Reserve safeties Ifeatu Melifonwu and Loren Strickland were the only players not at practice Tuesday for the open portion of practice to the media. The Lions will release the first injury report of the week Wednesday afternoon.
"Yeah, Iffy (Melifonwu) will be the only one right now who's still not sure, still not sure on him," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said this week. "We're going to try to get him moving around a little bit (Monday) and (Tuesday) and see where he's at. Everybody else we're good.
"It's really something that's just been lingering, even before (the preseason game vs. Kansas City). It's slow moving, that's all. It's slow healing and take it as it comes."
The Rams are in a little bit different situation, however. They will be without starting left tackle Alaric Jackson, while tackle Rob Havenstein's status is still to be determined, per therams.com. Rams head coach Sean McVay said there's a 'good possibility' Jonah Jackson starts at center instead of Steve Avila. Los Angeles is piecing together their offensive line heading into Sunday.
HUTCHINSON, D-LINE READY TO UNLEASH
Aidan Hutchinson wasn't too concerned with all the shuffling expected along the Rams' offensive line. Hutchinson said whoever is in front of him, his approach doesn't change.
Hutchinson is excited to see this revamped Lions defensive line face live fire for the first time Sunday night. Between some key additions and the natural maturation of some young players, he thinks they have a chance to be a pretty special unit.
"I think we've gotten a lot better personnel-wise," he said. "We've upgraded in that department. I think a lot of our young players have gotten a lot better – myself, Mac (Alim McNeill). You have years in the same system, and you bring in a great D-line coach (Terrell Williams), it's a formula for a lot of success. With all those things being said, I think we're going to have a lot of success this year. Then when DJ (Reader) comes back, we're going to have a unit out there."
Hutchinson, who made his first Pro Bowl last season, is looking to top the 11.5 sacks, 23 quarterback pressures, 67 quarterback hurries and 101 total pressures from last season, which trailed only Dallas' Micah Parsons (103).
GIBBS FEELING GOOD
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs returned to practice last week after sitting out a couple weeks in training camp with a hamstring injury. Speaking to reporters after practice Tuesday, Gibbs said: "I'm good."
Asked how he's a better football player heading into his second season, Gibbs talked about his overall comfort level within Johnson's scheme and what's being asked of him.
"Just think faster and play without thinking," he said. "Just reactionary."
That's scary to think of Gibbs playing even faster after he made quite the mark as a rookie, finishing second in the NFL to only Arizona's James Conner with 10 rushes of 20-plus yards. Gibbs is looking to improve on the 945 yards (5.2 avg.) and 10 touchdowns rushing he put up as a rookie along with 52 receptions for 316 yards (6.1 avg.) and one more touchdown.
