The Detroit Lions will begin training camp before we know it, as rookies are set to report to Allen Park next Wednesday and veterans will report on July 22.
Heading into a season with big expectations, we can probably set a big chunk of the Lions' 53-man roster right now and have it be right when late-August comes. But there will be some interesting battles for back end roster spots and the pecking order on the depth chart in some spots, and we already know there will be no favoritism for anything other than who is the best player.
Anyone who watched the "Hard Knocks" episode Amon-Ra St. Brown chose for his NFL Network "Player's Choice" on Tuesday re-saw linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard calling out the rest of the position group as then-rookie Malcolm Rodriguez was standing out. In all 37 players who are currently on the 90-man roster won't be on the final 53 heading into Week 1, with accounting for injury recovery (Hendon Hooker) or suspensions (Jameson Williams), as some may wind up back on the practice squad.
The "Hard Knocks" cameras won't be on the ground in Allen Park for training camp this year, though it isn't because the Lions weren't asked to do it again. But the developments from camp will still be interesting, with an eye on some particular position battles.
Here are the five biggest position battles to watch during 2023 Lions training camp.
5 biggest position battles to watch in Detroit Lions training camp
5. The No. 3 RB
David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are the Lions' top two running backs, which isn't breaking news. But there has been a place for a third guy to make a difference at times, as we remember Craig Reynolds effectively serving as the Lions' lead back for a bit during the 2021 season.
Reynolds might be somewhat penciled as the No. 3 running back right now. But undrafted rookie Mohamed Ibrahim is coming for the job. The Lions' reportedly giving him $100,000 guaranteed, to make sure they got him amid interest from other teams as a UDFA, means he should get every chance to make the 53-man roster.
Jermar Jefferson has been tabbed as someone to watch in the battle to be the Lions' No. 3 running back. The Athletic's Colton Pouncy (subscription required) revealed sentiment that Dan Campbell wanted to get the 2021 seventh-round pick into games last year, but it just didn't work logistically.
Preseason games, with Montgomery and Gibbs lined up to see little action as the starters, will be just as important as training camp practices in the battle to be the Lions' No. 3 running back.
4. Starting LB alongside Alex Anzalone
For better or worse, Alex Anzalone is locked in as one of the Lions' starting linebackers in base nickel. And yes, nickel (five defensive backs) is their base defense (75 percent of the time last year, fourth-highest rate in the league according to Sports Info Solutions). So those who have liked to say it can go ahead and park the "they'll start three linebackers" talk. The NFL is a passing league, with a lot of three-wide (or more) sets, and nickel is a primary defense to matchup with it.
So the battle is for who will start alongside Anzalone. Rookie first-round pick Jack Campbell is easy to anoint as the guy, but he is obviously not going to be guaranteed anything. And it's not as if Malcolm Rodriguez is some pushover stiff, after putting up 87 total tackles last year as a rookie. Derrick Barnes got first-team reps during OTAs, as Rodriguez dealt with a minor injury, and he shouldn't be forgotten in the battle for the starting job.
It's fair to assume there will be room for Campbell, Rodriguez and Barnes to make an impact on the Lions' defense this season. But there will be a natural pecking order, starting with who earns it in camp and stands out among his peers.
3. Who will be the kicker?
Reporters on the ground at OTAs and minicamp had a general consensus. Michael Badgley, simply by not being part of it, benefited from the kicker battle between John Parker Romo and Riley Patterson.
The re-addition of Patterson in May, via a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, was a little odd. He lost the kicking battle in Lions' training camp last year, to Austin Seibert. Seibert eventually gave way to Badgley, who stabilized the kicker situation for the Lions after taking over last season. Patterson kicked well for the Lions late in the 2021 season (13-for-14 on field goals, with a long of 49 yards and the long miss from 50-plus yards out), but it was telling he couldn't beat out Seibert. But it does appear the Lions were a bit seduced llast preseason by Seibert having a stronger leg.
The idea of a notable addition to either compete with or outright replace Badgley has been easy from from the outside. But it appears the Lions aren't interested in someone of that ilk (Robbie Gould, Mason Crosby), as they've chosen to sign an XFL kicker in Romo after a rookie minicamp tryout and go back to the well to add Patterson as "competition".
Badgley will probably either have to be injured or fall completely flat on his face to not win the Lions' place kicker job. But it is a battle to watch when training camp starts, as reports come in over who's doing what and how well (or poorly).
2. Who will be the starting RG?
The Lions have notably not had who they expected to be their starting five offensive lineman for a single snap over the last two seasons. Halapoulivaati Vaitai missed all of last season with a back injury, and he apparently briefly weighed retirement during his down time at home. "Big V" is easily penciled back in as the starter at right guard right now, as he played well in 2021 and has been a mentor to Penei Sewell.
After the Denver Broncos made him a cap casualty, as had been speculated to happen, the Lions brought back Graham Glasgow on a one-year deal in free agency this offseason. He brings needed experience and interior line versatility to the mix, as the replacement pivot for the departed Evan Brown. He is also stern competition for Vaitai at right guard, after the spot was a real weak spot in games Brown missed last year.
Glasgow is glad to be back with his "buddies" Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker, and back with the Lions. If he isn't the starting right guard, he will be valuable as the backup to Ragnow as the two-time Pro Bowl center deals with a lingering toe issue.
No matter who wins the starting job at right guard, the Lions' offensive line will be better for it. It's convenient to hand it to Vaitai, on a "you shouldn't lose your job strictly due to injury" note, but Glasgow will make a run at the gig.
1. The starting CB opposite Cameron Sutton
Cameron Sutton has the salary and recent resume (however under the radar for some in the latter sense) befitting a No. 1 corner as the first move in the Lions' offseason overhaul of the cornerback room. Emmanuel Moseley, coming off a torn ACL with the San Francisco 49ers last season, was also added to the mix.
Via Colton Pouncy of The Athletic (subscription required), general manager Brad Holmes has acknowledged how Moseley's injury situation helped put him in a better price range for the Lions in free agency. That's not a knock on Moseley, it's just the reality of how he became a more palatable signing.
Jerry Jacobs has publicly acknowledged how good he thinks the Lions secondary can/should be this year. Part of that will come in an "iron sharpens iron" battle for the starting outside cornerback spot opposite Sutton, between he and Moseley.
By all accounts, Moseley's rehab from his torn ACL is going well. However, there is a chance (maybe even a good chance) he starts training camp on the PUP list, even if it's only for a couple days before he's fully cleared. Once he's good to go, from the start of camp or a little bit into it, then there'll be a legit competition between he and Jacobs.
Based on how well he played after returning from his own torn ACL last season, and seeeng starter reps during OTAs, Jacobs is the favorite right now to be the Lions' No. 2 cornerback. But Moseley won't be pushed aside easily once he's able to practice without restriction.