Detroit Lions: 5 most interesting 2022 training camp battles

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 26: Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks with quarterbacks Tim Boyle #12 and David Blough #10 during the second half of their game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Thelen/Getty Images) /

3 of 5

Credit: Detroit Free Press-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Linebacker

The prevailing angle here has been nothing should be promised to anyone in the Lions’ linebacking corps heading into camp or surely into the regular season. Alex Anzalone feels locked into a starting job, for better or more likely worse, but there is more depth around to create viable competition (second-year man Derrick Barnes, Jarrad Davis, Chris Board, rookie Malcolm Rodriguez).

The reviews on Barnes and Rodriguez out of offseason work have been good, and Board got some run with the starters during minicamp. Davis could be regarded as firmly on the roster bubble right now if he doesn’t clearly earn a defensive role, but camp will ultimately tell that tale.

No matter what the mix looks like and who wins starting jobs (likely two), it’ll be hard for the Lions’ linebackers to be worse than they were as a group last year.

Campbell has called the competition for the Lions at linebacker a “bloodbath”, and that will certainly continue and ramp up during training camp.

Home/Lions Depth Chart