We've got NFL action in two days. That's an amazing feeling if you're a Detroit Lions fan looking to watch the team bounce back from their heartbreaking 2024 season. With training camp in full swing, it's also going to be a great chance to watch what we've seen on the ground reporters share with fans with our own eyes.
While camp is far from over - the team is just taking a hiatus to travel and practice in Canton, Ohio ahead of their Hall of Fame game matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers - there were some definite winners and losers from Tuesday's last session prior to that travel day.
Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Tuesday that he won't be playing some of the more highly touted rookies in this week's game against the Chargers, Tate Ratledge and Tyleik Williams. That means we should be getting a look at rookies like Isaac TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett, and Ahmed Hassanein, though.
Here are just a few of the standouts - and duds - from Tuesday's last training camp session before the Lions' first preseason action of 2025.
Standout: Aidan Hutchinson
Hutchinson has been getting nothing but scarily rave reviews from essentially anyone who has seen him in action this year. Bouncing back from a broken leg suffered in 2024 could be tough, but clearly not for the fourth year pass rusher.
REPORT: Detroit Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson just had his SECOND sack of the day in the scrimmage and actually took down QB Jared Goff
— Crunch Time Sports (@officialctpod) July 29, 2025
THE HUTCH HYPE CONTINUES 🔥#OnePride pic.twitter.com/GeD5A1CaEZ
Per multiple reporters on the ground, Hutchinson had an electric Tuesday training camp. He managed to make life difficult for Jared Goff during first team reps, so much so that Goff reportedly looked upset while running through plays down the field. Hutchinson was dealing with Dan Skipper in these reps with Taylor Decker out, but still, it was a seemingly another impressive day for the potential Defensive Player of the Year.
Dud: Dan Skipper
Transversely, we have to place Skipper on the dud list for Tuesday's camp. He couldn't contain Hutchinson at all, leading to a ridiculously dominant morning for the teams' first defense. Skipper, the sixth year veteran offensive lineman, will need to do a much better job with Decker on the Physically Unable to Perform list for Detroit.
READ MORE: John Morton already impressed with Lions' top strength heading into 2025 season
The team also has Giovanni Manu and Jamarco Jones waiting in the wings if Skipper is unable to hold his own at left tackle, but he's their best option as of now while the team waits for Decker to fully recover at some point this season.
Standout: Tate Ratledge
Just a bit prior to training camp on Tuesday, head coach Dan Campbell essentially confirmed to reporters that Ratledge would be remaining at right guard while veteran Graham Glasgow would be taking over at center moving forward. That's a great decision to make not just for Goff's stability in the pocket, but for Ratledge. The rookie has avoided the highest pressure positional change possible.
Regardless of him "losing" that competition, he was locked in during training camp reps on Tuesday. He not only had a great rep against fellow rookie Tyleik Williams to get David Montgomery free for a run, but he apparently just tossed him to the ground on one of their final reps for the day. He's obviously comfortable, and strong, at right guard.
Dud: Tyleik Williams
Again, this is just transverse reaction, but Williams obviously looks defeated as a result of Ratledge's reported dominance in camp on Tuesday. The rookie has had to work back from injury this offseason, so he should be cut some slack. However, it's clear his strength and readiness are night and day at the moment compared to that of Ratledge.
Williams has had an up and down training camp with the Lions so far. He just had an off day against Ratledge, and he's getting some rest on Thursday with him and Ratledge out.
Standout: D.J. Reed
Reed is coming off an excellent tenure with the New York Jets, where he was often the head of the snake for their defense and secondary. While he never really got to enjoy the fruits of his labor with New York, he's set to do that with Detroit as he's landed with a winning team, finally.
Reed apparently looked silky smooth in coverage on Tuesday, keeping the talented Jameson Williams from gaining any yards after a catch during the Lions' first team scrimmage.
Reed is known for his run stuffing and ability to kill short passes with his great tackling, and that was on display Tuesday. Reed finished up last season graded 42nd overall amongst cornerbacks per PFF, with 55 solo tackles and seven pass breakups. It's wild to imagine him being added to an already stacked secondary, but that's what the Lions are getting.