Lions Lowdown

Andrew Luck won’t participate in the joint practices between the Lions and the Colts in Indianapolis on Thursday and Friday.  Luck’s shoulder injury will keep him out of  Sunday’s preseason opener too.

The Colts will miss him much more than the Lions will.

His absence doesn’t matter one iota to the Lions’ defense.

“It doesn’t change what we’re trying to get done, obviously it changes who we’re going against,’’ Lions safety Glover Quin said on Wednesday.

“I don’t know how it changes what they’re doing and how their offense will run. For us the goal is the same to go out, compete it doesn’t matter who they have out there, just go out and compete, get better, work on our stuff, focus on us and see what happens.’’

This is the second straight year the Lions have had joint practices away from their facility in Allen Park. Last year they spent a few days near Pittsburgh working against the Steelers.

Coach Jim Caldwell spent 10 seasons on the Colts’ coaching staff which could have played a role in the decision to head to Indianapolis this week.

“First of all, I think you practice against people that you have like mindedness in terms of how you practice, what you want to get accomplished and things of that nature, so I’ve been knowing Chuck (Pagano) for a while and I think we’re going to be able to have a couple of really good sessions and then obviously the game in itself,’’ Caldwell said.

“But No. 1, it’s a great evaluation tool. The proximity is good for us obviously, and the great thing is it’s our first ball game so we get the chance doubly look at our team against another team as opposed to one day. Because you can’t always get everything you want to see in the actual game in itself in terms of number of guys in, things of that nature, because some things are unpredictable in terms of timing. But in a practice setting, you can set up a lot of evaluations and really take a real good close look at some guys,’’ Caldwell said a few hours before the team boarding the flight to Indianapolis.

The players are looking forward to facing opponents other than their teammates.

And the joint practices give the coaching staffs more information about the 90 players they each have on the roster.

Sometimes joint NFL practices can get a little chippy with a skirmish here or there.

But Quin does not expect that will happen. The Lions are a disciplined team under Caldwell where it’s extremely rare for a fight to break out.

“We went to Pittsburgh last year, competed and didn’t have any issues. We know how to practice we should get two good days of work and keep moving,’’ Quin said.

ALLEN PARK >> When he’s not an NFL tight end, Tim Wright is busy at his barber shop — The Wright Cut — in Piscataway, N.J.

Luckily, he has a team in place to take over the hair-cutting duties because he signed with the Lions on Wednesday and was back on the practice field.

Wright, 27, played nine games with the Lions in 2015 and was placed on injured reserve in May 2016 with a torn ACL. He said his knee is now 100 percent.

It’s unclear what his chances are of making the 53-man roster since he is one of seven tight ends. He certainly has a good shot and, if Wednesday was an indication, he’ll get plenty of first-team reps. (Eric Ebron has not been practicing due to an undisclosed injury.)

Much of Wright’s success will depend on how well he looks in camp and the preseason games.

“He has some familiarity with the system, so we’ll try to bring him along,’’ coach Jim Caldwell said.

Here are five things to know about Wright:

1. He knows the offense and said not much has changed since last year. That could be one reason he was taking reps with the first team in practice. “I’m a true veteran and I’m a pro. I’ve been around a great organization and this is a great organization,’’ Wright said. “So I know what to expect and where to pick up where I left off.’’

2. While he had feelers from other NFL teams, he’s happy to be back in Detroit. “My heart is here. All the stuff in my drawers is Lions stuff, all the other teams I’ve been on, that stuff is in storage and I’m ready to be a Lion again,’’ said Wright who is wearing No. 82.

3. He was not just cutting hair this summer. His NFL dreams were not dead. “I was working out man, posting stuff on Instagram so people could see it,’’ Wright said. “Fortunately the coaches had checked in, they saw how I look and brought me in. I dominated the workout and they saw me.’’ He said the Lions had been in touch with his agent over the past few months. “I’m sure they had me on their radar, I felt it, so I was preparing myself. When the time struck, the opportunity came, I was ready for it. I was focusing on getting better every day.’’

4. In 2015 with the Lions, Wright had nine catches for 77 yards. Two of those nine receptions were touchdowns. In 2014 with the New England Patriots he had six touchdowns in 16 games  and in 2013 with Tampa Bay he scored five times. “The touchdowns and catches are good for the books,’’ Wright said. “It’s a new year, I’ve got that under my belt. I know how I did it, my teammates know how I did it, hopefully (Matthew) Stafford knows how I did it. I’m trying to go out there and collect a few more.’’

5. The Lions were to leave for Indianapolis on Wednesday afternoon. They’ll have joint practices with the Colts on Thursday and Friday leading up to their first preseason game on Sunday at Indianapolis. “I’m excited. The last two times I was traded, the next day I was into a game either starting or playing full speed. That’s what it is tomorrow at Indy. I’m ready to go rip it up,’’ Wright said.

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.