The Detroit Lions' 2nd round pick from the 2025 NFL Draft appears to be ahead of schedule as it pertains to finding a role within the team's depth chart.
Tate Ratledge, a guard who was asked to first try out playing at center in mini camp before getting moved back to his rightful spot at guard, just got major praise from head coach Dan Campbell ahead of another day of joint practice with the Miami Dolphins.
Campbell told reporters that Ratledge "looked like a starting NFL guard yesterday and it fired me up" regarding his play during the Lions' first joint practice session with the Dolphins. That session has been lauded as the best one so far for the Lions offense so far in training camp.
Ratledge earns pointed praise from Campbell ahead of another joint practice
Ratledge played 15 pass block reps and allowed just one pressure in the Lions' preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons per team reporter Tim Twentyman. He's been getting starters reps in training camp alongside Graham Glasgow, Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, and Christian Mahogany. His NFL debut against the Falcons was also extremely promising as it pertains to blocking for the Lions' expectedly potent run game.
As mentioned, it's been a weird start for Ratledge in his NFL career and with the Lions. With the retirement of Frank Ragnow, he was asked to slide over to center to see if one of he or Graham Glasgow could solve the issue of a major hole now formed as a result of Ragnow's departure.
READ MORE: How John Morton will pay off early promise about Lions' offense is crystal clear
While it seemed for a bit like Ratledge might've won that role from Glasgow, the team has seemingly decided to place Glasgow at center - a position he has experience playing at in the NFL - and Ratledge at guard. That's his most comfortable position, and the team is clearly trying to set the rookie up for success.
Ratledge earned this "starting guard" praise from Campbell after just one great joint practice, so those comments in relation to Ratledge's actual final landing spot on the team's depth chart should be taken with a grain of salt. However, if Ratledge manages to piece together even more elite pass blocking work for the Lions over their final two preseason games, it feels like a safe bet to assume he'll be slotted in as the starting right guard to begin the year.