Detroit Lions OTA report: Participation, Hendon Hooker, Michael Badgley

The Detroit Lions are having their second week of voluntary OTAs this week, Wednesday-Friday. Thursday's practice was open to the media, which helps fuel the appetite for football in late-May as those on the ground in Allen Park report back their observations.

Starting off, via reports from John Maakaron of SI.com and Jeremy Reismam of Pride of Detroit, here are the players who were not in action on Thursday.

Taylor Decker,
Kevin Zeitler
Frank Ragnow
Jahmyr Gibbs
Antoine Green,
Christian Mahogany
Carlton Davis
Craig James
Marcus Davenport
Kerby Joseph
DJ Reader
Brian Branch
Alex Anzalone
Kayode Awosika
James Houston
Kyle Peko
Emmanuel Moseley

While not all have been firmly reported, some of these absences look to be injury/injury recovery/surgery recovery related to some degree based on what we do know-including Decker, Joseph, Branch, Reader and Moseley.

We know Joseph is out until training camp after offseason hip surgery. Branch is likely out until camp too after having what seems to be left ankle surgery. Reisman noted that Branch was not on a scooter Thursday, and was walking with both feet during practice despite a boot on his foot.

Detroit Lions' OTA report: Hendon Hooker has mixed day, Michael Badgley takes reigns in kicking competition?

Via on the ground observations from Maakaron, Reisman, Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire, Tim Twentyman of Lions.com and others, here are some other notes from Thursday's practice.

-As can be common during OTAs, a couple fights broke out during Thursday's practice. Head coach Dan Campbell halted the session. as Aidan Hutchinson chalked the fights up to "trying to change the mindset" on defense.

-Rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold made what by all accounts was a nice play to intercept Jared Goff, drawing acknowledgement from the Lions' signal caller.

-Campbell noted before practice that Hendon Hooker had a great day on Wednesday. Based on reporters' observations things seemingly were far more mixed on Thursday, with the expected up and downs. After practice, he noted how he needs to just shut his brain off and play some times.

-Michael Badgley seemed to take the reigns in the kicking competition as currently consituted, as expected. Maakaron and Risdon were more complementary of his performance on Thursday, which apparently included a 61-yard make, while Twentyman noted misses from 54 and 52 yards during team periods in labeling it a "rough day" for the Lions' No. 1 kicker.

Maakaron and Risdon both noted the possibility the long snapper battle is heating up, with Scott Daly having multiple bad snaps on Thursday while undrafted rookie Hogan Hatten was perfect in fewer opportunities.

-Jameson Williams had one of highlights of the day, beating Kindle Vildor and Ifeatu Melifonwu on a post route to catch the deep pass from Goff in stride.

Please check out the aforementioned earlier links from Maakaron, Reisman, Risdon and Twentyman for more notes from Lions' practice on Thursday. We've just offered some highlights here.