Allen Park — During a full-team red-zone period at Detroit Lions training camp on Tuesday, quarterback Tim Boyle, who was under duress and on the move, slung an end-over-end pass to wide receiver Tom Kennedy.
Kennedy came down with the pass in the end zone, tapping his toes along the sideline for a touchdown. In celebration, Boyle bent down and imitated a skeet shooter.
“That was an inside joke we used to do in Green Bay that I kind of just whipped out of nowhere,” Boyle said. “… I always say to the quarterbacks, ‘There are no pictures in the stat book.’ So it’s a touchdown, there’s no picture of the ball as it’s in the air.
“It wasn’t a great ball, but I realized Tom caught it and I was like, ‘Oh, that was a duck.’ I said it to the defense. So I just got on a knee and shot it down. Shot down the duck. Just having some fun, you’ve got to keep it light, got to to keep it humorous. So that was my attempt at it.”
Light is probably an adjective Boyle would also use to describe the quarterback room as a whole. Although he and David Blough are competing for the backup spot, there’s no bad blood or animosity between the two.
Even with Jared Goff, the room from top to bottom gets along well, according to Boyle.
“The cool part about the three of us is we’re all within a year of each other, so we’re all kind of going through the same process of life right now,” Boyle said Tuesday. “Obviously, David is married, Jared got engaged, so they’re kind of working that next phase right now where we can have mature conversations. We can talk football, but also be in the quarterback room and just talk about life.
“I’ve been in a quarterback room where Aaron Rodgers is 11 years older than me and there’s a disconnect of interest, just because of an age gap. … (We) support each other and love each other and we have great conversations. We build off of each other and we compete every day and we love it.”
It’s the second consecutive year with the trio on the roster, and Goff said it’s the first time in his career where the top three quarterbacks on his team all have returned.
“It’s been fun with those guys,” Goff said. “They keep it light, they keep it fun. They’re both extremely competitive and it’s fun for me to have guys like that with me on the field.”
For Blough, he’s happy with the continuity.
“Man, it’s been an awesome room,” he said. “I know that was a big part for (general manager) Brad (Holmes) and (head coach) Dan (Campbell), to bring us all back and be in there, sit in there with Jared (and) help Jared. And then Tim and I help each other, also.”
Both of the backups saw action last season, with Boyle making three starts and Blough making an appearance in one game — against Philadelphia in Week 8. Blough also started the final five games of the season for the Lions in 2019.
A backup quarterback’s responsibilities extend well beyond the field, though.
“I think there’s a lot of things that go into it,” Blough said. “It’s seeing looks. I got to see Chase Daniel do it for a year as the second guy (in Detroit). He was as prepared as our starter was. He studied. … I think if I can help on one play in a game that’ll go for an explosive (play) or create a first down or create a touchdown, that’s a big part of the job. It’s a collective effort.
“While one guy is on the field, we’re all working together throughout the week to put the best product on the field. … It’s about getting better. it’s about being a better player than you were yesterday, and I believe in that wholeheartedly.”
Goff is the starter, that much is clear, but Campbell isn’t comfortable naming a No. 2 without seeing his backups in live situations. Until then, the competition continues.
“I feel like they’re both better than they were in the spring,” Campbell said. “I would just say it’s somewhat early in camp and until we get in these preseason games, I think that will tell a lot for us.”
rsilva@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Rich_Silva18