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Lions WR Marvin Jones Jr., a former Jaguar, is in familiar situation at joint practice

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams down with injuries

ALLEN PARK — It’s like old home week at the Detroit Lions facility this week for wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr.

Wednesday was the first of two joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars before their preseason game on Saturday.

Jones is wearing a Lions jersey – number 0 to be exact – but for the past two seasons he’s played for the Jaguars. Of course, previous to that he had his first stint (2016-20) with the Lions.

It’s not just players on both teams – he knows coaches, trainers, you name it.

“The environment is great. I hear ‘Hey’ out there after every play … I’m like I’ve got to get in the huddle,’’ Jones said. “It’s fun to see them. Obviously we’ve been through a lot over there. It ended great there and I’ve been here too. It’s the same. Just good to be around.’’

Jones sees plenty of similarities between the two teams that both finished 9-8 last season.

“I saw a lot of parallels last year after we came here and they whooped our butt. I don’t think we lost another game. And vice-versa,’’ Jones said. “We were on the trajectory at the same time. Definitely, definitely similar. I think both are going to be successful.’’

From the day he signed as a free agent, Jones had said how happy he is to return to Detroit.

“I love (the vibe). It was my vibe for five years – going on the field, hearing the same songs, the tunnel. It’s all good,’’ Jones said.

On Wednesday during one of the special teams drills, he had a few words on the sidelines with Jaguars coach Doug Pederson.

“I love him as a coach for sure,’’ Jones said.

Pederson had kind words for Jones too.

“I can’t say enough great things about Marvin. What a great leader. Helped us get into the postseason last year, came up big,’’ Pederson said. “Well liked in the community. I know he’s been here and fits in really well. Wish him the best.’’

Of course, now he’s playing for Dan Campbell and it puts a smile on his face.

“He’s been great. He’s a fiery guy, it’s easy for him to hype us up. He’s a former player who knows how to do it. Knows the flow of what we should be doing and where we should be at,’’ Jones said. “It’s been great.’’

NOTES: It was a one-two gut punch for wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams on Wednesday. St. Brown went down with an apparent ankle injury and did not return to practice. Williams was going for a deep ball when he pulled up holding his right leg on what could be a hamstring injury. He also did not return to practice. Williams already missed 4 days early in camp with a leg injury. Dan Campbell wants to give him a lot of playing time in preseason contests since he will miss the first six weeks of the season due to an NFL gambling suspension.

Lions win preseason opener with rookies and backups leading the way

DETROIT — With most of the starters watching from the sidelines, the Detroit Lions won their preseason opener 21-16 over the N.Y. Giants on Friday night before an exceptionally boisterous preseason crowd at Ford Field.

The teams held a pair of joint practices at the Lions’ facility earlier in the week, giving many veterans plenty of reps against an opponent. Coach Dan Campbell’s plan was to give younger players more gametime reps.

“I felt like those young guys came out, I didn’t think it was too big for them. They made plays and the vets who were out there for us did a good job too,’’ Campbell said. “It always feels good to win. We’ve got a lot to clean up, but it’s a good first start.’’

Detroit quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who will battle for the No. 2 spot with Teddy Bridgewater, started and played until there were 23 seconds left in the third quarter.

His first snap was an attempted pass to wide receiver Jameson Williams that was intercepted. Campbell said Nate was getting hit as he threw. Sudfeld’s other interception was also on a pass to Williams, but Campbell said that one was on both of them.

Williams, who only played in the last six games last year, is under much scrutiny. He’s a first-round pick (2022) with speed to spare, but he hasn’t been able to show much on the football field at least yet.

“I told him this, I’m not worried. I didn’t go into this game saying Jameson needs to have 10 catches and 180 yards. That was not what I wanted,’’ Campbell said. “I just wanted him to get lined up, urgency, route definition, detail, finish. I thought for the most part he did that.’’

Williams, who started and played until late in the third quarter, was targeted seven times and had two catches for 18 yards. While it won’t be found in the stats, he made a nice block on a 32-yard play by tight end James Mitchell.

Sudfeld completed 15 of 28 passes for 194 yards, settling down a bit after that first pick.

Early in the third quarter he completed a 2-point conversion on a pass to Williams (who made a one-handed catch) after a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown by Maurice Alexander.

“That was an outstanding return, I thought that was a long kick, he fielded it and I thought we blocked well and the rest was up to him,’’ Campbell said. “He broke a couple of tackles, kept going, he got some blocks downfield. I think what was awesome is what we preach all the time, that’s not even our first unit, but it showed the development of guys.’’

Adrian Martinez came in at quarterback with 23 seconds left in the third and led an 11-play drive that ended with a quarterback keeper for one yard and a touchdown that proved to be the game-winner.

Campbell said the young quarterback was composed, efficient and unfazed. He will likely get fewer reps next week against Jacksonville because Teddy Bridgewater, who signed Thursday and didn’t play Friday, will be in the mix.

Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs, a first-round pick, looked like he belonged with six runs for 19 yards and an 18-yard catch in his limited time in the first half. It wasn’t a surprise, it’s what he has been showing at training camp.

The Lions backup defense held the Giants to just 215 net yards, with 81 of those on the ground.

Defensive ends Julian and Romeo Okwara combined for four sacks, with Julian getting three of them.

“It was nice to see the two brothers go in there and crush the can. That was good,’’ Campbell said. “I thought for the most part we had pressure all day.’’

Nine defensive players had tackles for losses.

Rookie linebacker Jack Campbell did not start, but had four tackles and one pass defense.

“Obviously it always feels good to win, I thought the guys came out, we just wanted to cut it loose and play, keep it plain and simple,’’ coach Campbell said. “They knew what we were facing because we faced them for two days now.’’

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Lions will host joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars and then face them in a preseason game at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 19, at Ford Field.

Lions rookies make standout plays in workouts against Giants

RB Jahmyr Gibbs displays his bursts of speed

ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions’ two joint practices with the N.Y. Giants this week provide quality reps against an actual opponent. While valuable for veterans, the work may be more beneficial for the rookies and younger players.

Many of the Lions’ young players stood out on the first day of work on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs impressed with a pair of touchdowns — the first to the right, the second to the left.

“You guys have all seen, he’s got big bursts. He can get to the second level and make the guy miss and get to the third level and maybe hit a home run,’’ left tackle Taylor Decker said. “It’s nice to have a yin and yang at the running position, not to say David (Montgomery) can’t change speed at the second level.

Decker said based on what he’s seen Gibbs will be used in the pass game and screens.

“He’s definitely got a unique skill set. He’s going to be a good player,’’ Decker said.

Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta continued with a solid day on Wednesday with a touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone in team drills.

Rookie WR Dylan Drummond, the undrafted free agent from Eastern Michigan, continued to make the case that he belongs on the roster.

“It was good to see (everyone) and I think ultimately that’s what you want — you want to see growth,’’ coach Dan Campbell said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “There again you’re not looking for these massive jumps, you just want to know with a different level of competition and everything goes up and they continue to grow and take another step up. I felt that with some of our young guys which is encouraging.’’

He reeled off five rookies that made an impression on him Tuesday. The list started with LaPorta and included Gibbs, Drummond, defensive back Brian Branch and cornerback Starling Thomas. Of the five, Thomas is also an undrafted free agent.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys, I feel like are growing,’’ Campbell said.

The Lions face the Giants in the preseason opener at 7 p.m. on Friday at Ford Field. Next week the Jacksonville Jaguars will be at the LIons’ facility for joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday.

NOTES: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer attended Wednesday’s practice. She was wearing a Lions’ shirt. … The Lions signed RB Devine Ozigbo and waived WR Avery Davis. … WR Denzel Mims returned to practice.