ALLEN PARK >> Sunday was another typical day at Detroit Lions training camp with a few twists.
Here are five notes of interest:
1. Running back Ameer Abdullah did not work for the first time since training camp started a week ago. Abdullah is coming off ankle surgery which forced him to miss the final 14 games in 2016.
“I guess it’s a vet day, only my third year I get a vet day,’’ Abdullah said.
In other words, the coaches gave him a day off, being careful to not overwork him.
He was good with it.
“I can get after it every single day. I feel good. I was telling coach I’ve turned the corner, I don’t really think about it any more. I’m out there competing at a high level, back to my old self and I’m happy with the progression I’ve made,’’ Abdullah said.
2. Rookie wide receiver Kenny Golladay continues to flash. On Sunday he made some nice catches in red zone drills.
A media scrum with Golladay was briefly interrupted by veteran Golden Tate. (See photo above.) He had a few words to say: “Timeout — this boy can ball, you all have been seeing it, this guy can ball,’’ Tate said.
Tell us something we don’t know.
Golladay also got praise from Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson who visited camp on Friday.
“He said keep on working. He said you have a bright future — you’re big, physical and you can run. I just take advice from a guy like that. Fuel to the fire — it just stokes me to come out and work,’’ Golladay, the third-round draft, pick said.
3. Cornerback Teez Tabor has had an up-and-down camp which is not unusual for a rookie.
When he was drafted, he said he was going to attach himself to Darius Slay to learn the position. He’s been true to his word.
“He’s learning from me, I’m still learning myself more, just trying to get him better,’’ Slay said.
He said Tabor is improving when it comes to asking the right questions.
“To be honest he’s probably one of the smartest ones in the (cornerback) room. He really understands the game. I think that helped him a lot in college because he understood the game real good. I think he’s going pretty good,’’ Slay said.
4. Punter Sam Martin is on the active/non-football injury list with an ankle issue. Unlike most of the other injured players, he has not been on the field at practice.
He is around, though.
Kicker Matt Prater said it’s weird not to have him on the field.
“I’m with him all day anyway. He’s just not at practice but he’s here everyday working getting healthier, better stronger,’’ Prater said. “We’re excited for an opportunity for Kasey (Redfern) to showcase what he can do in camp. We all know what Sam is capable of, he’s obviously one of the best to ever do it but Kasey has done a nice job filling in.’’
5. Theo Riddick continues to wear the red cautionary jersey but it didn’t stop him on Sunday from juking and making plays like we’ve seen before.
“We just want to give him enough to make certain he was ready. We started out where he wasn’t do any catching just running, then he started catching a little more during certain phases. He’s doing more catching and a little more activity. … He’s been released (by doctors) to play but we’ll take our time,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said. Riddick is coming off surgery on both wrists.
Abdullah calls Riddick one of the most underrated player in the NFL.
Caldwell won’t argue.
“He’s one of the most difficult guys to cover in the National Football League. Now the minute you say that they’ll double-team him, triple-team him, take him away from you but we have other guys to get the ball to. He is a real threat out of the backfield in a number of different ways,’’ Caldwell said.
Lions Lowdown 