As the NFL offseason moves on, here is the Detroit Lions OTA and minicamp schedule.
There’s never much of an offseason in the NFL, with some teams having their rookie minicamps this coming weekend and voluntary offseason work having started in April. The Detroit Lions aren’t one of them who will have their rookie minicamp this weekend, but the rules say it has to happen on the first or second weekend following the draft.
So we know when their rookie minicamp will happen, with their eight draft picks, 14 undrafted rookies and any tryout players they might invite. It’s the first opportunity for them to wear an NFL uniform, and for the undrafted guys it’ll be the first chance to make a strong impression on the coaching staff.
On Thursday, the league released the offseason workout schedules for all 32 teams.
Detroit Lions offseason OTA and minicamp schedule
Here’s the offseason schedule for the Lions (subject to change at the team’s discretion):
Rookie Minicamp:
May 12-14
OTA Offseason Workouts:
May 23-25, May 31-June 2, June 12-15
Mandatory Minicamp:
June 6-8
The league’s rules regarding contact during OTAs and minicamps are strict, in Phase 2 and Phase 3 as they are labeled. As in, contact is strictly prohibited. But a few teams seem to get busted, and fined, for having/allowing contact during OTAs every year.
Here are the spelled out rules for Phase 2 and Phase 3.
"Phase Two consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as “perfect play drills,” and drills and plays with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, conducted at a walk-through pace. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.Phase Three consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs”. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted."
The one mandatory minicamp that is allowed, per the the Collective Bargaining Agreement, must occur during either week three or week four of Phase Three of the offseason program.
It should be noted that no team-organized offseason work is mandatory for NFL players other than that minicamp in June, and they can be fined for skipping it. So any player absences other than for that minicamp on June 6-8 should not be alarming to Lions fans.