ALLEN PARK, Mich. — It was scrimmage day for Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions. He was as giddy as you’d think about.
“This can be good, it’ll be aggressive,” Campbell mentioned this morning. “First probability to get a reasonably good dose with out it being scripted. Right here we go, man.”
Campbell mentioned he wished to get the starters and key reserves nearly all of the workload since they gained’t play in Thursday’s Corridor of Fame Sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. The primary-team offense and protection confronted each other for seven drives, with the second-team getting three.
Right here’s what we noticed.
Scrimmage recap
This recap focuses on the beginning reps, since that’s what the Lions tried to do. Listed here are the seven drives that includes the beginning offense vs. the beginning protection (with some reserves blended in).
Drive No. 1:
• Jahmyr Gibbs takes a handoff from Jared Goff to the left. Terrion Arnold and Brian Department are there for the sort out.
• Jack Campbell blitzes and sacks Goff, blowing up Gibbs alongside the way in which.
• Aidan Hutchinson ends the collection with a sack vs. Dan Skipper. Three-and-out for the offense.
Drive No. 2:
• David Montgomery with a brief run to the best. Campbell with the sort out.
• Montgomery with one other run, making the most of a gap created by Graham Glasgow and Tate Ratledge, who sealed off Tyleik Williams for a achieve of 14.
• Goff finds Amon-Ra St. Brown on a fast out for a achieve of 4.
• Montgomery with a run for no achieve. Ran right into a pile, but it surely regarded like one of many DTs (both Williams or DJ Reader) shed Glasgow and made a play.
• False begin.
• Goff appears for Tim Patrick over the center, however the go is incomplete.
• Jake Bates misses a 54-yard area objective to finish the drive.
Drive No. 3:
• Goff appears for St. Brown on a crosser over the center, however Department is correct on him. Makes a diving play to pressure an incompletion.
• Gibbs with a run to the left. Department with the cease after a achieve of 4.
• Goff appears for Sam LaPorta down the left sideline, however the go is a bit out in entrance. Three-and-out for the offense.
• Dominic Lovett with a really good punt return. Shifty in house and evades some would-be tacklers. Crowd roars.
Drive No. 4:
• Goff finds LaPorta on a play-action go, tackled by Zach Cunningham after a achieve of 10 to start out the drive. First down.
• Goff throws the ball away with Department barreling down on a blitz. LaPorta didn’t decide him up.
• Goff finds Montgomery on a swing go, tackled by D.J. Reed for a reasonable achieve.
• Hutchinson sacks Goff to finish the drive. 4-and-out for the offense.
Drive No. 5:
• Gibbs with a run to the best. Rock Ya-Sin pushes him out of bounds after a five-yard achieve.
• Gibbs takes a toss to the left. There’s an preliminary gap there, but it surely’s shortly stuffed by Department for a brief achieve. Third-and-short.
• Goff finds St. Brown for a achieve of 5. Reed with the sort out. First down.
• Gibbs takes a handoff to the left and picks up six on the run.
• Goff finds LaPorta for a achieve of six. Morice Norris makes the sort out.
• Gibbs takes a handoff to the left for a achieve of 21. Good blocking on the sting, with LaPorta sealing issues for Gibbs. Lions are within the pink zone.
• Montgomery with a run up the center, breaking by a Department arm sort out. A few 10-yard achieve.
• Landing, Montgomery. Takes a handoff up the center for a rating — the beginning offense’s first of the day.
• Bates’ PAT is nice.
Drive No. 6:
• A number of communication earlier than the snap. Seems like Campbell is signaling one thing to the protection. Goff appears like he alters the play shortly thereafter. He finds Jameson Williams on a bubble display, choosing up 4 or 5 yards earlier than he’s taken down by Reed.
• Gibbs with a brief rush, breaking a sort out by Department earlier than getting blown up by Marcus Davenport. A violent hit from No. 92. Gibbs pops proper again up.
• Goff drops again and is sacked by Hutchinson, beating Skipper on the play. Lions accept a area objective.
• Bates nails a 60-yard area objective.
Drive No. 7:
• Montgomery runs right into a pile for a achieve of 4 yards.
• Montgomery takes a fast toss and shakes Reed for a achieve of about eight. Very good run for Montgomery.
• Goff finds LaPorta for a achieve of seven yards.
• Goff fakes a swing go to Gibbs to the left, then works to his proper and finds Montgomery to arrange a display go with blockers in entrance. Acquire of about eight on the play. Inventive stuff to reap the benefits of each Gibbs and Montgomery.
• Goff finds Williams on a brief go. A bit off beam, however Williams manages to haul it in for a achieve of 1. Hutchinson will get by and believes he has a sack, however the play isn’t blown useless by the teaching employees. Beats Penei Sewell on the push. (Observe: I’d give Hutchinson the sack.)
• Goff finds St. Brown on a brief checkdown. Acquire of about 5 – 6. Lions are within the pink zone.
• Gibbs picks up the primary down on a brief however powerful run up the center, contained in the 10-yard line. RBs coach Tashard Alternative offers him some love for conserving the drive alive.
• One other Gibbs run up the center, for a achieve of three or 4 yards. Reed with a pleasant sort out, anticipating the run. He’s a superb tackler for a cornerback.
• Goff with a play-action faux to Montgomery, rolls to his left, waits and finds Patrick behind the tip zone for a landing on the ultimate drive of the day.
Hutchinson impresses
Hutchinson, as you possibly can see above, did some injury on Tuesday. He recorded a minimum of three sacks (4 when you depend the ultimate collection) and had a run cease as properly. In the event you’re desperate to chalk this as much as reps vs. second-team sort out Skipper, it’s best to know that Hutchinson beat Sewell in Tuesday’s apply and has gone toe-to-toe with Sewell and gained all through coaching camp. Probably the most notable takeaway right here is that Hutchinson appears phenomenal. There’s no rust, no hesitation, no restrictions in place. He appears just like the man who led the league in pressures, sacks and win charge earlier than his damage. And that’s all you could possibly need as a Lions fan.
The Lions held a scrimmage this morning. Beginning offense and protection received the majority of the work.
Aidan Hutchinson was one of the best participant on the sector.
Had him with three sacks (with a fourth the group did not credit score). He appears phenomenal.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) July 29, 2025
Gibbs is the brand new No. 1?
Gibbs wished to put on No. 1 this 12 months. That went to Williams, with Gibbs taking over No. 0. He’ll need to accept being the No. 1 again as an alternative.
One factor that’s been clear as these practices have unfolded is that Gibbs is normally the primary again on the sector with the starters. In previous years, you’d usually see Montgomery get the primary bulk of carries earlier than Gibbs takes the sector. There was a transparent pecking order in apply, and that usually translated to video games. Perhaps it’s nothing to learn into, however there are just a few components to think about.
• Gibbs’ remaining three video games of the common season had been outstanding. He totaled 487 scrimmage yards and 6 touchdowns with Montgomery injured. He couldn’t be stopped.
• The Lions have been open about wanting to make use of extra 20 and 21 personnel — two-back appears. Morton says it’s about getting their finest 5 on the sector. We’ve seen Gibbs line up at receiver with Montgomery within the backfield, and each within the backfield at different instances.
• It’s 12 months 3 for Gibbs, and maybe the employees is recognizing he’s too gifted for a real 50-50 cut up.
This doesn’t imply Montgomery gained’t be used. He’s regarded phenomenal himself. Nevertheless, it appears the Lions need Gibbs on the sector as a lot as doable, whereas sustaining a good workload for every. One thing to observe.
Department excels
In the event you do a command-F search of this text, you’ll most likely discover Department’s identify littered all through the scrimmage recap. He was in every single place. In the event you advised me you thought Department was one of the best participant on the sector, I wouldn’t argue it. He hung out within the field, again deep at security and within the slot at nickel. His PBU vs. St. Brown was one of many performs of the day — in man protection, requested to cowl an All-Professional WR who wins routinely — and did it with out a lot bother. He shot out of a cannon for a sack on the fourth drive.
It’s July 29. If Department stays wholesome, he’ll be an All-Professional this 12 months. Verify again on this in early January.
Information, notes and observations
• Lions CB Terrion Arnold left the scrimmage with a hamstring and didn’t return. Arnold gave the impression to be in good spirits after apply, strolling off the sector with out assist at a standard tempo. Hamstrings are inclined to linger, although, so it’s important to assume the Lions can be cautious with him.
• Nickel Amik Robertson didn’t take part within the scrimmage. It’s unclear what he’s coping with, however Robertson advised me after Monday’s apply that he’s nice.
• Campbell mentioned security Kerby Joseph is coping with “knee irritation.” He’s missed the final two practices. Campbell hopes to have him again by Saturday for the group’s walk-through.
• I’d say the protection had a greater day than the offense. These boys look locked in. It took 4 drives to essentially get the offense going. I don’t assume it’s something to be involved about — the protection is usually forward of the offense within the first week — but when something, it’s an indication of how good this unit will be. Kelvin Sheppard is moving into an incredible scenario.
• One factor value mentioning: The downfield throws haven’t hit fairly often in pads. It’s one thing Morton mentioned he’s testing proper now, however the protection has been so good, it’s been arduous to guage it. Different instances, Goff hasn’t discovered the contact. We all know it’s in there, although. Camp is for ironing issues out.
• Ratledge and Christian Mahogany had some good reps right now. You’ll be able to inform Ratledge, specifically, is far more pure at guard proper now. To not say he can’t play heart, however Campbell mentioned he likes what he’s seen from the road with Glasgow at heart and Ratledge at guard. The inside offensive line created some good lanes on Tuesday.
• Each Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen regarded sharp in coaching camp and had been strong once more. Nothing loopy, however on-time throws to receivers in stride. Allen has introduced one of the best out of Hooker, and it’s straightforward to see why the Lions signed him. He’s received beginning expertise and might rifle it. Hooker, in the meantime, is delivering the ball a lot quicker and on rhythm. Backup QB play has been a pleasing shock.
• Bates had an inconsistent day. He missed from 54 and 51 yards, however hit from 60. Oddly on-brand for him in these practices.
• Some second-teamers with sacks within the scrimmage: Anthony Pittman, Nate Lynn, Trevor Nowaske, Keith Cooper/Pat O’Connor.
• One other good day for Isaac TeSlaa and Lovett. Lovett’s punt return received the beat buzzing. TeSlaa had a pleasant catch over the center for a achieve of 16 in the course of the first drive for the second-team offense.
(Photograph of Aidan Hutchinson: Junfu Han / USA Right now Sports activities by way of Imagn Photos)
