Detroit Lions Training Camp Observations: The final practice changed my mind, Gibbs had a bizarre day, and a defensive strength may be back

Detroit closed training camp with a full-team scrimmage that produced one of the strangest Jahmyr Gibbs stat lines you’ll see and one final push from Sione Vaki.

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) practices during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Monday, August 10, 2026. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

That’s it. It’s over. The Detroit Lions had their final day of training camp on Thursday, and they ended it with a full-day scrimmage. We tracked the entire thing, and here are some of the big takeaways from the day.

The defense may have returned to form on stopping the run

Last year, the Lions were 13thin the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game. It had a major effect on the team’s ability to defend everywhere else. In 2024, they were sixth, and the defense was much better. The Lions wanted to make sure they got back to that, and I think you really saw that come to life in this scrimmage.

Gibbs had a weird and bad day

I don’t know how this happened, but Jahmyr Gibbs ran for a 59-yard touchdown and then ended the entire scrimmage day with just 58 total yards. It was a rough day for sure, and it makes you wonder a bit about the Lions’ run game. Ultimately, the team scored 24 points in this scrimmage, and Gibbs did have the big day. But the run game has to be way better than this.

Notable players who got reps with the first team

  • Keith Abney
  • Skyler Gill-Howard
  • Roger McCreary
  • Malcolm Rodriguez
  • Ennis Rakestraw
  • Sione Vaki
  • Levi Onwuzurkie

The player I’m feeling the most wrong about right now

I’ve gone back and forth on Sione Vaki all summer, and at this point, I may have to rethink my 53-man roster again because I think I may have overthought the significance of some of his injuries. The Lions clearly see value in him. Especially from the special teams side of things. Now, with Isiah Pacheco’s status up in the air, it makes a lot of sense that Vaki makes it.

Let’s get into the scrimmage

First Drive

  • 1st-and-10 at own 1 — Pass to Williams — 21-yard gain to own 22
  • 1st-and-10 at own 22 — Run — NO GAIN
  • 2nd-and-10 at own 22 — Pass to LaPorta — 14-yard gain to own 36
  • 1st-and-10 at own 36 — Loss of 2
  • 2nd-and-12 at own 34 — Incomplete to Williams — 0 yards
  • 3rd-and-12 at own 34 — Short pass to Williams — 18-yard gain to opponent 48
  • 1st-and-10 at opponent 48 — Gibbs run — 1-yard gain to opponent 47
  • 2nd-and-9 at opponent 47 — Pass to St. Brown — 22-yard gain to opponent 25
  • 1st-and-10 at opponent 25 — Gibbs run — 2-yard gain to opponent 23
  • 2nd-and-8 at opponent 23 — Pass to TeSlaa — 14-yard gain to opponent 9
  • 1st-and-goal at opponent 9 — St. Brown — 3-yard gain to opponent 6
  • 2nd-and-goal at opponent 6 — Gibbs run — 1-yard gain to opponent 5
  • 3rd-and-goal at opponent 5 — Maddox PBU in end zone on TeSlaa — 0 yards
  • 4th-and-goal at opponent 5 — Williams touchdown — 5-yard touchdown

The best part of this is what happened after the Williams touchdown. First, he tried to do the St. Brown headstand thing, and it definitely did not work. That had everyone laughing.

Chuck Clark then ran the Lions’ social media manager to check the video because the defense felt he was out. Turns out he was in and maintained control of the catch.

Second drive

  • 1st-and-10 at 24 — Pass batted down by Tyleik Williams — 0 yards
  • 2nd-and-10 at 24 — Gibbs run — No gain
  • 3rd-and-10 — Williams gets enough for the first down, but holding wipes it out
  • 3rd-and-20 — Big play from St. Brown, but short of the first down

Third drive

  • 1st-and-10 at own 29 — TeSlaa — 12-yard gain to own 41
  • 1st-and-10 at own 41 — Gibbs touchdown run — 59-yard TD

Gibbs flew right through the hole on this one, and the defense never had a chance. Especially when he got into space. It was over.

Fourth drive

  • 1st-and-10 at own 45 — LaPorta — 18-yard gain to opponent 37
  • 1st-and-10 at opponent 37 — Gibbs runs for a Loss of 4 to opponent 41
  • 2nd-and-14 at opponent 41 — St. Brown — 12-yard gain to opponent 29
  • 3rd-and-2 at opponent 29 — Avonte Maddox hits Gibbs for a five-yard loss

Fifth drive

  • 1st-and-10 at 45 — Gibbs run — NO GAIN
  • 2nd-and-10 at 45 — Incomplete to TeSlaa
  • 3rd-and-10 at 45 — Rodriguez sacks Goff

Sixth Drive

  • 1st-and-10 at opponent 40 — Gibbs run — 7-yard gain to opponent 33
  • 2nd-and-3 at opponent 33 — Gibbs run — 2-yard loss to opponent 35
  • 3rd-and-5 at opponent 35 — Holding
  • 3rd-and-15 at opponent 45 — Gill-Howard sacks Goff

Seventh drive

  • 1st-and-10 at opponent 40 — St. Brown catch— 14-yard gain to opponent 26
  • 1st-and-10 at opponent 26 — St. Brown catch — 7-yard gain to opponent 19
  • 2nd-and-3 at opponent 19 — Gibbs run — 1-yard gain to opponent 18
  • 3rd-and-2 at opponent 18 — St. Brown catch — 3-yard gain to opponent 15
  • 1st-and-10 at opponent 15 — Conklin catch — 1-yard LOSS to opponent 16
  • 2nd-and-11 at opponent 16 — St. Brown touchdown — 16-yard TD

Overtime

At the end of the scrimmage, the Lions reset everything and ran a situational overtime drill. In this scenario, they get the ball back at the end of the extra quarter down 23-20 with 1:38 left. Here’s what went down.

  • 1st-and-10 at opponent 25 — LaPorta catch — 3-yard gain
  • 2nd-and-7 at opponent 22 — Gibbs run — 6-yard gain
  • 3rd-and-1 at opponent 16 — St. Brown touchdown — waived off by Chris Spielman and Brad Holmes. Yes, you read that correctly. It was an unreal catch over Roger McCreary, but it was waived off. We weren’t able to tell why.
  • 4th-and-1 at opponent 16 — Gibbs touchdown — 16-yard run
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