Detroit Lions Mailbag: Could two players be holding out to start camp?
Just one more week until the Detroit Lions head into training camp, and there are some questions to answer. Let's answer them. To be honest, I don't know at this time. I personally find it hard to see Anzalone holding out, but you never know. What we do know is that when Lions head coach […]
Just one more week until the Detroit Lions head into training camp, and there are some questions to answer. Let's answer them.
To be honest, I don't know at this time. I personally find it hard to see Anzalone holding out, but you never know. What we do know is that when Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked about potential holdouts during OTAs, he was not concerned about it.
“No. I think what’s great is that any player that I talk to, I have a relationship with, and there’s an open line of communication. Whatever I say to those players, I’m not going to say to you guys. I never will. There’s, communication that has been great, so I’m not. Listen, I’m not worried about anything. I know this, we’re in late May. Is it even June yet? I don’t even – we’re not even in June. So, life’s good. We’re going to be just fine.”
We haven't really seen or heard any reason to believe that Anzalone will hold out, but we are a week away, and no new deal has been agreed to just yet. We'll see.
While not related to the Anzalone question, Tate Ratledge is someone to really keep an eye on. He is one of 30 second-round picks who have still not signed their rookie deal yet. If he doesn't, have it signed by the 16th, he can't participate in training camp.
This is one I'm really intrigued to see. At the league meetings in April, Campbell talked about the possibility of trying Manu at guard. Soon, we're going to see if that is a move they actually wind up doing.
Part of me thinks that it doesn't happen. When he said that, it was before the draft when the Lions drafted two interior offensive linemen. They may shift their focus to just making sure those guys are ready to go, along with the other young guy, Christian Mahogany. It might be best to stick with Manu at the tackle spot.
I think it has to be a big year where he stays healthy and stays out of trouble, and then tops 1,000 yards, and he gets the extension. Anything less than that and I question it happening. Receiver is an expensive position, and the Lions are going to want full confidence before they make a move.
With that said, I have confidence that he can do all that stuff and get the bag.
What are your expectations for Dan Jackson?
— Big Daddy Drix ?️? (@bddrix.bsky.social) July 7, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I think it's a tough spot to be in for him, but he makes the roster. The Lions are set at safety with the best duo in the league in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. Then they have Avonte Maddox, who could start for half the league tomorrow. Jackson is going to be in that fourth spot, and he's going to have to spend most of his rookie year on special teams.
If he's solid, there's no reason to think he couldn't bump up the depth chart in the future and get more snaps on defense. It's just hard to see anyone getting time over Joseph and Branch.
Do you think the Lions make a swing for a guy like Trey Hendrickson?
— Fire Yzerman-Train (@mackletrain.bsky.social) July 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I don't. At one time, I thought it might be possible, and I thought it was the best move for Detroit if they were going to trade for a big-time edge. Now I think it's kind of impossible.
From the Lions' side of things, they want to make sure that they can afford all their guys, and this puts a big damper on that, and from the Bengals' side, they've got their claws in him, and they refuse to let him go unless they get some insane trade value. They're not getting it. I think they eventually get a new deal done.
If we’re expecting the dominant narrative for the season to be “how much will losing BJ and AG affect the scheme/performance of the offense and defense?”, what signs, if any, would we expect to see in training camp, and when? Scrimmages? Vibes?
— Bernie Hendriks (@berniehendriks.bsky.social) July 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
You should start seeing some signs about how things are going right away. Especially when guys get into pads. We'll see how the play call is coming along, how players respond to the coaches, and then how the play call looks in the preseason.
We won't see the rest of the world really take note until midway through the season, though. This is going to be the storyline for broadcasts, whether we like it or not. It's just going to be the thing everyone is going to want to talk about.
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