Lions training camp winners and losers from the early days in pads

The first week (and change) of Detroit Lions training camp is in the books. Head coach Dan Campbell has presided over a lot of action to start his third training camp at the helm in Detroit.

Three of the last four practices featured full pads and contact. Those are the most important ones for evaluation purposes.

Here are the players who stood out to me as winners and losers in the padded practice sessions at the start of Lions training camp.

I have not witnessed Decker lose one single rep in any of the three padded practices. The veteran left tackle pitched a shutout in the pass rush/protection drill on Saturday, almost effortlessly stymying any and every defender who tried to get to the quarterback.

Decker has also thrived in team drills. His range in getting to the second level and making run blocks in space has never been better. Decker doesn’t do any of this with sizzle or fanfare; he just gets the job done — very well — every single rep.

Barnes is in the competition for a starting LB role entering his third season in Detroit. It’s obvious Barnes has put in the offseason work and dedication to giving it his best shot.

The college EDGE has seen more looks rushing the passer than he did in his first two training camps. Barnes is also showing quicker play recognition and block avoidance, two things that needed to develop for him to Barnes to remain in the LB rotation. So far, so impressively good.

Okwara enters his fourth NFL season firmly perched on the Lions’ roster bubble. If the first few padded practices are any indication, that bubble has already popped.

Okwara is consistently repping with the third-team and fourth-team defense. While DC Aaron Glenn would admonish against reading too much into who is repping where, the fact that Okwara isn’t winning reps against reserve offensive linemen who might not even be practice-squad worthy is not a good sign for No. 99.

The team’s new starting safety/slot returned from an injury scare on one Monday to emerge as the best player on the field the following Monday. Gardner-Johnson was all over the field making plays in both the run and pass defense.

Two things stand out with “CJGJ”: how quickly he reads plays and how hot his motor runs. Even in a press conference, Gardner-Johnson brings intensity and focus. As he noted in the presser after Saturday’s practice, he is indeed infectious — in a way the Lions defense needs him to be.

This is Stenberg’s fourth training camp. If things don’t improve radically, it will be his last.

Even when the Lions were without three starting OL in one practice, Stenberg still repped almost exclusively with the bottom group. Perhaps the most telling moment came in Sunday’s unpadded walkthrough. Playing left guard on the third unit, Stenberg quite obviously held reserve DT Benito Jones on a run play. Preventable penalties have been a major issue for Stenberg dating back to his college days at Kentucky, when he led the nation in penalties as a senior. He’s not grown out of that despite years of NFL coaching.

The third-round rookie from Western Kentucky still shows some technical rawness at times, but Martin has also flashed very real ability in camp. On the very first team rep in pads on Friday, Martin beat Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow and slammed RB David Montgomery in the backfield.

Martin had another big win on Monday, pushing through a down block and beating RB Jahmyr Gibbs to the expected hole between the LG and LT. Martin didn’t make the play, but he created the TFL for LB Malcolm Rodriguez. That epitomizes what the Lions want from the defensive front in run defense — creating opportunities for the LBs and DBs to make big plays. Martin is further along than advertised back at draft time.

Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey sits on the field after training camp on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Allen Park.

Dorsey is in the competition for one of the reserve defensive back/special teams roles. He had done little to stand out either positive or negative in the first few days. Then came a fateful Monday.

On one early rep in the red zone drill, Dorsey got beat by WR Maurice Alexander on a jerk route where the young CB would have been flagged for a holding penalty. The coaching admonition was immediate,

“Go make a (censored) play.”

Dorsey tried a little too hard to do that, unfortunately.

On a subsequent rep, Dorsey went low on tight end Shane Zylstra on a swing pass. It resulted in what appears to be a major injury to Zylstra.

Injuring a teammate is never a good look for a roster bubble player.

Much of the attention on undrafted rookies has focused on DBs Starling Thomas and Steven Gilmore, but there’s one offensive UDFA that merits more attention. Wideout Dylan Drummond from nearby Eastern Michigan has stepped up nicely in the wake of the Tom Kennedy injury.

Drummond and backup QB Nate Sudfeld have shown a real connection in practices. Sudfeld looks for Drummond whenever he needs a play to be made, and No. 83 has frequently delivered. Sticky hands, smooth routes, impressive quickness immediately after a catch — Drummond has shown all that every day in practice. He’s also had some positive moments in special teams drills, both as a punt returner and in kick coverage.

Detroit Lions cornerback Steven Gilmore warm up at the Detroit Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park on Sunday, July 23, 2023.

These players all earned consideration as either winners or losers but didn’t quite make the cut.

Winner: CB Steven Gilmore

Winner: DL Josh Paschal

Loser: TE Brock Wright (drops)

Winner: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson

Winner: OL Brad Cecil

Loser: RB Mohamed Ibrahim (can’t lose fumbles!)

Winner: WR Trinity Benson, for special teams

Loser: LB Anthony Pittman

Winner: Kalif Raymond, the clear leader to be the primary beneficiary of Jameson Williams’ six-game suspension

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