5 Detroit Lions players to watch during joint practices vs. Jaguars

After two days of joint practices last week heading into the preseason opener against the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions will do the same routine this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars with joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday before Saturday's game at Ford Field.

This will be an important week of work for some Lions players, to keep momentum going in a battle for a roster spot or turn bad momentum around. Head coach Dan Campbell noted the step up in up in raw talent the Jaguars are, and the added challenge they are, compared to the Giants.

"These guys as a whole have more length, particularly in the front, they can run pretty good in the backend and the skillset on offense of these receivers is pretty good,” Campbell said. “The receivers, the tight ends, they create some issues. It’s explosive, this halfback they’ve got, and then obviously the quarterback to be able to get it to him, his ability to run and throw."

- Dan Campbell

During the practices against the Jaguars over the next two days, these five Lions players will be worth watching.

5 Detroit Lions players to watch during the joint practices against the Jaguars

5. OT Taylor Decker/OT Penei Sewell

Lumping the Lions offensive tackles into one here. In these joint practices Decker is lined up to see plenty of Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen, who had 68 pressures, 22 quarterback hits and seven sacks last year. Those individual matchups are lined up to be interesting, physical and occasionally toe the line of evolving into a fight.

After going against Kayvon Thibodeaux last week, Sewell will now likely see a good dose of another second-year man in 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker.