The Detroit Lions did not have an opportunity to conduct joint practices with another NFL team last season. With head coach Dan Campbell working his way through his first season at the helm, the team did not get together with another club to work in training camp against a different opponent. Speaking ahead of the rookie minicamp activities Saturday, Campbell announced the team will conduct joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts during training camp. The team last conducted joint workouts with the Colts back in 2017, which ended up being Jim Caldwell’s final season coaching the Lions. Detroit’s opponents in the preseason have been officially announced and includes the Colts, the Atlanta Falcons and the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I just think you get two real good (days of practice). First off, it’s a change in intensity because you are going against another opponent,” Campbell said. “Sometimes, even as intense as you try to make your own practices, just to be able to go against a different opponent, just levels the stakes.” Scroll to ContinueRecommended Lions ArticlesCampbell continued, “The competition, just to raise the stakes a little bit goes a long way for your guys. To be able to get two really good days against them and certainly the preseason game, I think it changes up training camp, but it also raises the intensity and competition.”Detroit plays the Colts in Week 2 of the training camp and concludes with a matchup against the Steelers. Join the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .
Detroit Lions NFL roster news waive Javon McKinley Jalen Elliott
Prior to rookie minicamp, the Detroit Lions needed to make room for their undrafted free agents. After releasing six players earlier this week, the team announced on Thursday morning that two more players are no longer on the roster. It was announced that safety Jalen Elliott and wide receiver Javon McKinley were waived. A total of eight players have been waived since the start of the week. Elliott saw action last season after getting elevated from the practice squad. He handled 16 snaps on special teams in the Lions loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The following week, Elliott played 24 defensive snaps, the first of his NFL career, in a blowout loss to the Eagles. With the addition of rookie safety Kerby Joseph and veteran DeShon Elliott, the 23-year-old’s position on the roster became less and less likely. Scroll to ContinueRecommended Lions ArticlesMcKinley had a similar journey last season, as he spent the majority of the season on the practice squad. The former Fighting Irish wideout signed with the Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent, after not being drafted. Many NFL pundits believed it was going to be a challenge for McKinely to crack Detroit’s lineup in his rookie campaign. With the addition of DJ Chark in free agency and Jameson Williams added in the draft, McKinley’s chances of earning playing time were diminished. Join the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .
Detroit Lions Aidan Hutchinson rookie contract details NFL salary cap
The No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft is often rewarded with a hefty rookie contract that also includes a healthy signing bonus. In 2021, the No. 2 overall selection, New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, secured a rookie contract worth $35.1 million over the four years, including a $22.9 million signing bonus. Hutchinson is expected to sign a similar rookie contract, projected to be worth approximately $35.7 million over four years, according to Spotrac.The 21-year-old defensive lineman joked at his opening press conference in front of Detroit media and his family that he was planning to live in the basement of his parents home, since they are not located too far from the practice facility. ”It’s been discussed. I think I’m going to live in the basement,” he joked. “No, it’s definitely going to make the transition easier. I don’t know where I’m going to live yet. I found out a couple hours ago that I’m going to stay in Detroit. I’ve got to go house hunting real quick. I’m excited. Just being home is definitely going to make this transition to the NFL easier.”Scroll to ContinueRecommended Lions ArticlesJoin the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .
Detroit Lions NFL news not interesting in trading for Baker Mayfield
The Detroit Lions appear content at the quarterback position. While rumors continue to swirl that general manager Brad Holmes could take a chance on Liberty quarterback Malik Willis in the upcoming NFL draft, it is almost certain Jared Goff will be Detroit’s signal-caller in 2022. At the recently concluded owners meetings, Holmes expressed the front office will do all it can to put the 27-year-old veteran quarterback in the best position to succeed in 2022. According to the MMQB’s Albert Breer, it does not appear Detroit will get in the mix for Baker Mayfield. It is being reported the Browns may be forced to eat a large portion of his contract and release him, since the trade market has been quiet. The Browns decided to sign Deshaun Watson to a massive five-year, $230 million guaranteed contract; thus, making Mayfield available. Scroll to ContinueRecommended Lions Articles”More and more, it looks like the Browns are going to have to pay a very significant percentage of Baker Mayfield’s $18.858 million option for this year to get anything back for him,” Breer wrote. “You can call it buying a draft pick if you want. I think it’s more of a tax for what they did to get Deshaun Watson.”If Cleveland’s willing to do that, I still think Seattle makes the most sense. I’ve been told neither Carolina nor Detroit has much interest in Mayfield, so the potential landing spots are dwindling.”Join the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .
Detroit Lions NFL free agency news Arden Key signs with Jaguars
The Detroit Lions had an opportunity to bolster their defense by signing former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Arden Key. Key, 25, had a stellar season in 2021, as he recorded 6.5 sacks, 36 pressures and 17 quarterback hits in 17 games. Unfortunately, it has been reported my multiple outlets Key signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday morning. A former third-round pick of the Raiders back in 2018, Key did not live up to the lofty expectations coming out of LSU. After playing three seasons for the Raiders, Key found his way to the bay and had much more success. The 49ers were able to benefit from Key’s improved pass rush and versatility, as the PFF 18th ranked pass-rusher in the league lined up at several positions along the defensive line. The Lions’ defense are expected to play more from a four-down front in 2022, which steadily increased in the second half of last season.Scroll to ContinueRecommended Lions Articles”I just think it fits our personnel better,” head coach Dan Campbell said at the scouting combine. “Look, we’ll still have elements of what we originally did last year, so I don’t want to say that this is a 100% wholesale change, it’s just, we’ll be a little bit heavier that way. It just, I think with what we’ve got, I think it just fits us a little bit better if you will. Gives us more flexibility in the front.”Despite losing out on Key, Detroit still has plans to add more free agents, according to general manager Brad Holmes. Detroit’s second-year general manager understands the nervousness of fans due to the approach the team took in free agency this year.“I understand (the angst about the team’s approach), and it’s totally fair,” Holmes said. “I’ve said it all along, we had a plan, and we stuck to it. You can call it we chose to kind of take a little bit of a hard road last year. I talked to you guys at the end of the season about it, just we kind of held back from adding all these veteran free agents to maybe help us get another win or so, and we kind of took the time to develop our young guys. Well, I do think that plan started to crystalize as the season progressed, and I think it ended on a good note.”Join the AllLions CommunityBecome a premium AllLions member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and gets you a FREE subscription to Sports Illustrated! Click on the link below for more.BECOME A MEMBER .