Detroit Free Press

Dan Campbell wanted to give Detroit Lions fans a show. Monday marked the first day in full pads at the Lions’ training camp. It was also the first day the camp was completely open to the public. Previously, only season-ticket holders and VIP members could attend practice in Allen Park. Campbell was determined to make

Trinity Benson made minimal impact in his first season with the Detroit Lions last fall, but two plays in Monday’s practice showed why the Lions remain optimistic Benson can be a weapon for them this fall. In the final team period of the day, Benson beat Amani Oruwariye on what appeared to be a simple

Two of the Detroit Lions’ top three draft picks have yet to take the field this summer because of injury. In their absence, two of the Lions’ final three draft picks have caught head coach Dan Campbell’s eye. Asked to share his early impressions of his rookie class before practice Saturday, Campbell singled out seventh-round pick

A few months after signing him to a $25 million contract, the Detroit Lions came to Tracy Walker about playing a new position. Walker, entering his fourth season as a Lions starting safety, worked as Jack Fox’s personal protector with the No. 1 punt team this week, a role he said was the brainchild of special

Tyrell Crosby was standing in his shower, the water running over him a couple hours before heading to the airport early Tuesday morning, when it dawned on him just how different this trip was. A Detroit Lions offensive tackle in 2018-21, Crosby was traveling to Michigan for the fifth straight summer, only this time he

Jameson Williams jogged over to a bag on the sideline, unzipped the rectangular case as his teammates stretched a few yards away and pulled out a football. He squeezed the ball, but didn’t quite like its feel so he grabbed another instead. That ball wasn’t quite right either, so Williams, the rookie receiver from Alabama, fiddled

After limiting D’Andre Swift’s workload last summer because of a groin injury, the Detroit Lions are trying a different approach with their No. 1 running back this training camp. Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday he still will be careful managing Swift’s reps, but he wants to increase Swift’s workload to help him build up enough body

Amon-Ra St. Brown used the disappointment of falling to the fourth round of last year’s NFL draft as motivation for his big rookie season. This year, the Detroit Lions wide receiver is drawing his inspiration from something new. St. Brown said Friday he “definitely” is motivated by people who doubt he can repeat his rookie-year production and

The Detroit Lions closed their third practice of training camp with a two-minute drill Friday, pitting their first-team offense against their first-team defense in a situational period that will be a point of emphasis all summer. Lions coach Dan Campbell has said going back to spring he plans to ramp up his team’s work in

Former Detroit Lions safety William White has died after a six-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the team announced. White, who was 56, played for six seasons in Detroit after being drafted in the fourth round of the 1988 NFL draft out of Ohio State. “I loved William,” Lions special assistant to president/CEO Chris Spielman said in

Two players fighting for back-end roster spots suffered injuries on Day 2 of Detroit Lions training camp that will keep them out of practice Friday. Lions coach Dan Campbell said undrafted rookie running back Greg Bell hurt his back and hip on the second-to-last play of Thursday’s seven-on-seven session. Bell was injured running a pass

Dan Campbell doesn’t just know what “Same Old Lions” means. He’s lived it. In fact, the former tight end joined the Detroit Lions in 2006 partly because of it. Is that crazy? Not in Campbell’s eyes: “For me, it was one of the reasons I wanted sign here because man, who doesn’t want to come

Will Harris had a rocky first 2½ seasons in the NFL, but something clicked when he moved to cornerback midway through last year. Harris, who played the first 42 games of his career at safety, embraced the challenge of being on an island where it was sink or swim against some of the best athletes in

Mount Rushmore: To most, it is a monument located in the western part of South Dakota. Recently, that term has become shorthand for the top four in any given subject, and thus, a means of debate. From sports to hip hop — and even movie theater snacks — everything under the sun is subject to a

Things change, and I suppose that’s just the nature of life. The Detroit Lions, for instance, have been trying to change things forever. Change the uniform, change the culture, change the logo, change the culture again, and maybe you’ll finally change the outcome. Training camp kicked off Wednesday with a change in the weather as

As the Detroit Lions make their way through training camp, they could be looking for help for their defensive line. Specifically, a bigger body to help stop the run. Lions coach Dan Campbell acknowledged Thursday that a lack of size in the front seven is one of his team’s shortcomings as they transition to a new

They don’t have a nickname — yet. And if they did, it might defeat the purpose. But every day after practice, a group of Detroit Lions waits their turn for one of a few JUGS machines set up to give players extra reps catching passes. On Wednesday, undrafted rookie Josh Johnson was the last player

Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Shawn Windsor and Carlos Monarrez • Producer: Andrew Hammond • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Guest: Jason Reid, ESPN and Andscape • Email: swindsor@freepress.com On this episode: Carlos and Shawn are reunited and it feels…well, you know the line. This week, they are joined by Jason Reid of

Even when his personal life was spinning out of control, when his mother died from lymphoma six days after he left for Ohio State, Jeff Okudah took solace in knowing football came easy. He was a high school All-American in talent-rich Texas and a star for the Buckeyes who tied Shawn Springs in 2020 as

It’s “Forward down the field” for former Detroit Lions coach Buddy Parker’s Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy. Parker advanced another step Wednesday, as the two-time NFL champ was one of 12 coaches and contributors to make the final 12 under consideration by the Hall’s Coaches/Contributors committee. Parker coached the Lions for six seasons (1951-56),