The Detroit Lions have held their starters out of preseason games in recent years, but a recently announced plan for training camp could bring a significant change for Jared Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
As SI.com’s Christian Booher reported, the Lions have decided to forgo the joint practices they have held in recent years. Head coach Dan Campbell used these as a prep for the team’s starters, who could now see some additional time in the preseason as a result.
Lions Could See More Jared Goff Time
As Booher noted, Campbell utilized the team’s joint practices as the testing ground for starting players, which allowed the team to focus on the bottom of the roster in actual preseason games. The loss of joint practices could mean less time to evaluate the bottom of the roster and more pressure on the starters.
“In past years, the Lions have matched up against at least one opponent in the weeks leading up to the regular season,” Booher wrote. “Detroit had two sets of joint practices last year, one for two days against the Miami Dolphins and then one practice session against the Houston Texans.
“By doing these joint practices, the Lions have held their starters out of preseason games. Instead of getting game action, Campbell has devoted these joint practice sessions to getting starters the equivalent of what their workload would be in preseason games.”
Booher suggested it could have an impact on players like Goff and Penei Sewell.
“With no joint practices this year, it’s unclear what impact this will have on how the Lions typically approach preseason games and whether or not starters such as Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell will play in preseason games,” Booher wrote.
Lions Made Change to Jared Goff’s Contract
The Lions reworked Goff’s contract this offseason, converting $40 million of his base salary into a signing bonus in order to free up $32 million in cap space for the upcoming season.
As The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy noted, the team was in need of some cap space in order to address soft spots on the roster.
“This is a crucial offseason for Detroit, after a fourth-place finish in the NFC North at 9-8,” Pouncy noted. “The organization believes it isnât far off, but to regain contender status, itâll need serious reinforcements in free agency and the NFL Draft. The Lions could still be in the market for help at tight end, edge, defensive tackle, safety, cornerback and the offensive line, as free agency unfolds and the draft approaches.”
The Lions have already made some moves, trading running back David Montgomery in a move that freed up the backfield for Jahmyr Gibbs.
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