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Detroit Lions energized in first joint practice with N.Y. Giants

Jared Goff, Alex Anzalone appreciate the competition

ALLEN PARK — Bringing in the N.Y. Giants  for joint practices had a positive effect on Detroit Lions training camp on Tuesday.

After offense going against defense for a few weeks, having an actual opponent upped the tempo and competition at the Lions practice facility.

It wrapped up with a goal-line drill featuring each team’s starters against each other, twos vs. twos and then the third groups. 

“I thought that was a cool drill to get us all on the same field, get to root for each other and see each other make plays,see each other, see each other score touchdowns. I thought it was a good day,’’ Lions quarterback Jared Goff said.

Neither team dominated, both scored a few touchdowns and had a few stops.

“I feel like not going against our offense was nice. Not having to cover (RB Jahmyr) Gibbs out of the backfield was nice. It made my day a little less stressful even though I had to cover (TE Darren) Waller a little bit,’’ Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone said.

The Lions and Giants will practice again on Wednesday and then play in a preseason game on Friday night at Ford Field.

Tuesday was the 12th day of training camp practice for the Lions, a team with big expectations this season. 

“We’re trying to challenge ourselves to the highest degree, really push our tempo and push our computing ability in some ways at every position,’’ Anzalone said. “I think it’s a good thing. Once we get to game week it won’t quite be the same way but right now it’s good to be stressed a little and work through things.’’

While the defense struggled last season, ranking 29th in team defense, the offense had a better season, ranking fifth in the NFL in team offense.

At this point, Goff thinks the offense is “much further along” of where it was last year in camp.

“If last year was 101, we’re in 201, it’s our ability to do things at the next level and it’s challenging for me as well, making sure every day that I know what my rules are and my checks but I know everyone else is doing the same thing,’’ Goff said on Tuesday.

Teddy Bridgewater will compete for the Detroit Lions No. 2 QB spot

Veteran QB won’t participate in camp until next week

ALLEN PARK — Teddy Bridgewater has not arrived to Detroit yet, but coach Dan Campbell is fired up about adding him to the Detroit Lions roster.

Campbell and Bridgewater worked together for two years at the New Orleans Saints in 2018 and 2019. The coach has not hidden his appreciation for the veteran quarterback who is expected to compete with Nate Sudfeld for the No. 2 quarterback spot.

“When you’re with somebody for two years you get a really good feel of what they’re capable of and the way they’re wired, the way he thinks. I’ve seen him work, I’ve seen him run the offense, I’ve seen him in critical moments, I’ve seen him develop talent, the receivers,’’ Campbell said on Tuesday before the first joint practice with the Giants.

“We lost Brees, he goes 5-0. He went in there and kept the ship afloat and kept it heading right where we needed it. That means a lot to me,’’ Campbell added. “That’s all we need, to me that’s one of the reasons I wanted him here, but he’s not here yet.’’

Campbell said he didn’t see Bridgewater doing anything with the team until next week. The Lions have joint practices with the Giants today (Tuesday) and Wednesday, followed by a preseason game on Friday at Ford Field. Next week they have practices with the Jaguars on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by a preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 18, at Ford Field.

The coach specifically mentioned how Bridgewater excelled at working with the young receivers in New Orleans.

“He would come in the day before the game and he would take those young receivers, go through the whole game plan. Tell them what they’re looking for, here’s the coverage, here’s what I’m thinking, how are you running this, I don’t like that,’’ Campbell said. “He ran the scout team, he was competitive, running cards. It was awesome, man. He’s that type of guy, he’s an unbelievable teammate, he’s a pro, he’s a vet, he handles his business.’’

Bridgewater, 30, was with the Miami Dolphins last year where he played in five games with two starts, throwing four touchdown passes and four interceptions.

It will take him some time to catch up with the Lions.

“The bad news, it will be new terminology for him. So it’ll take a minute to get up to what we’re saying. The good news is that Teddy has been in every system you can imagine right now,’’ Campbell said. “He’s been through probably six different verbages, offenses, he’ll know the concepts — it’s just you call it this, I’m able to do this. That will take a little bit. But listen, Teddy’s a pro, he’s going to study the heck out of it, he’ll pick it up. He’s going to pick it up pretty fast. I’m not concerned. It will take a little bit.’’

Getting Bridgewater to work next week is key. Campbell said he needs to see if he’s still got it.

Lions handle expectations with Giants coming in for workouts

ALLEN PARK — With expectations high for the season and Ford Field season tickets sold out for the Lions’ season, coach Dan Campbell does not feel more pressure.

“I don’t feel weight, I feel the wind under my freaking wings,’’ he said on Saturday as he spread his arms like he was going to fly. 

“I love this man, this is outstanding. I love our fans, they feel it like we feel it. This is not a burden, this is not pressure, this is not weight, this gives me inspiration is what it does for me and our guys,’’ he added.

Campbell was preparing for the team’s last big practice on Saturday prior to the joint practices with the N.Y. Giants on Tuesday and Wednesday at the team’s practice facility.

He learned a few things from last year’s joint practices at the Indianapolis Colts.

“I love what we did. There were a couple of things, maybe a couple more team periods here and there, maybe we come together more. That was one of the things I loved,’’ Campbell said. “At the very end we were all on the same field, our offense was watching our defense. Then we switch it. We’ll do some of that at the very end of both days, which I like. I think it’s important that your teammates see what’s going on on the other side of the ball.’’

The combined practices allow Campbell some flexibility in who will get the reps in the preseason contests.

“There’s going to be a few players where this is their game reps. That was part of the allure for me too,’’ Campbell said. “We can really load our guys up with great looks, a lot of volume and intensity, then they might sit in games.’’

The Lions and Giants will open their preseason with a game on Friday, Aug. 11 at Ford Field.

The next week the Jacksonville Jaguars will come to Detroit for joint practices on Wednesday, Aug. 16 and Thursday, Aug. 17, with a preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Ford Field.