The first week of padded practice for Detroit Lions' training camp is over, and they'd had nine camp practices in total. Now they have a couple days off, before two days of joint practices (Monday and Tuesday) against the New York Giants and the preseason opener for the two teams is on Thursday night.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell values joint practices very highly, as they serve as competition against another team that's not much different than a preseason game in intensity. Last Friday's practice took on a scrimmage format to ramp things up. Campbell said he wanted that final practice of the week to feel like a preseason game for the players.
While the starters will see more action on Monday and Tuesday than they will on Thursday night (some is more than none, after all), the entire coming week will be important for a lot of Lions players as things shift some. Some players need to keep early camp momentum going in a push for a roster spot, while others will try to turn things around or find consistency.
The list could be longer, but these five players stand above the rest as Lions players to watch during joint practices against the Giants this week.
5 Lions players to watch during joint practices vs. the Giants
5. RB Jermar Jefferson
It has been easy to forget about Jefferson. He has not played in a regular season game for the Lions since his rookie season in 2021. He spent the 2022 season on the practice squad. Then an injury last preseason put him on IR, and after an injury settlement he landed back on the Lions' practice squad.
Campbell was asked about Jefferson before last Friday's practice.
“I almost don’t want to answer it because I feel like it’s the same thing, I say something about a guy and I feel like it’s the kiss of death because the next practice is......"Jefferson is in a really good place right now, He’s in a really good place. Really good place.”
Dan Campbell: "(Jermar) Jefferson is in a really good place right now. Really good place."
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) August 2, 2024
(Next question begins)
Campbell: "REALLY good place."
Jefferson followed that by scoring two touchdowns in the scrimmage, including a 50-yarder against the first-team defense.
Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit has a piece about Jefferson, where he talks about the physical and mental work he's doing. He's got a serious uphill climb to earn a spot in the Lions' crowded backfield, but the coming week against the Giants is a good opportunity for him to keep the positive momentum going.