Grant Stuard – Lions Lowdown

Lions Dan Campbell remains optimistic about offense after coming up short against Eagles

After a rough outing in the 16-9 loss at the Eagles, Lions coach Dan Campbell still believes in his offense and, in particular, the offensive line.

“I believe in these guys, I do. I just think the more they play together and they mesh and we do things we do well,’’ Campbell said on Monday.

The Lions averaged just 3.5 yards per carry in the run game. “That’s not enough for us, that’s everybody that’s all inclusive,’’ Campbell said.

The Lions were 3-of-13 on third downs and 0-of 5 on fourth downs – not exactly a winning formula. Although due to the weather conditions, a field goal was not viable on three of those. And on one of them they ran a fake punt and Grant Stuard failed to advance.

“It was really a combination of missed throws, we had some pressures, tipped balls, a couple of drops and there was a couple of bad calls by me,’’ said Campbell who made the offensive playcalls for the second straight game. “There’s some calls I want back, bad.’’

The Lions dropped to 6-4 and third place in the NFC North, but there are seven games left and neither the Packers, Bears or Vikings are a lock to win the division.

Against the Eagles’ defense, Jared Goff was 14-of-37 for 255 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He targeted Amon-Ra St. Brown a dozen times but he only caught two of them.

Campbell remains positive about his team. He takes his share of the blame but has faith his guys will be ready to get back to work to face the N.Y. Giants on Sunday, the first of three home games in 12 days.

“I just go back to I believe in these guys, I think they’re good enough, they know how to play together, we’ve just got to be a little more consistent in areas,’’ Campbell said. “It takes everybody. We’re so close. We can be so potent. Jamo is taking off, Gibbs is taking off. I’m not worried about the connection with Saint and Goff, that thing’s coming, it’s always there, it was just one of those days yesterday,’’ Campbell said. “We all elevate a little bit, including myself we’re going to be just fine.”

Campbell said they still haven’t quite played their best game in all three phases.

“Once we get there I think there’ll be no looking back,’’ Campbell said.

UP NEXT: N.Y. Giants (2-9) at the Lions (6-4), 1 p.m. on Sunday at Ford Field.

Lions at Packers: Five things to watch in the season opener; plus prediction

For so long the Lions could not find a way to beat the Packers at Lambeau Field.

In fact, that streak stretched for 23 seasons from 1992 to 2014. However, coach Dan Campbell is 3-1 at Green Bay’s shrine to football, winning there for three straight seasons.

The two teams kick off the season there at 4:25 p.m. today. Campbell can’t wait.

“We love Lambeau, it’s awesome. It’s one of those places on the eighth day the good Lord made Lambeau,’’ Campbell said.. “… If you love football you love going to play there so our guys look forward to it.”

The Lions’ last loss there, 35-17, was on Sept. 20, 2021. They finished 3-13-1 that season. Since then the Lions have won 24-14 (2024), 34-20 (2023) and 20-16 (2022).

As NFC North champs for the past two years, facing a key division opponent to open the season is crucial.

“Man, you want to win the first one, right. It just – you feel like you get off on the right foot and you get that first win under your belt. I just think that’s big for anybody. For us – you love it,’’ Campbell said. “I mean this is, I bring it up, the problem is not getting too excited too early right now. Division opponent at Lambeau, nationally televised game. I mean this is – we love this stuff, we live for this, so this is good, this is exciting. Listen, any win sets you up for the season, helps you. And that’s really what it’s about.”

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH:

ONE: Changes on Detroit’s offensive line could be a factor but the talent-rich position is expected to remain a strength. Graham Glasgow takes over at center (Frank Ragnow retired) while rookie Tate Ratledge has earned the start at right guard and Christian Mahogany will start at left guard. “Obviously Frank is such a great player and it’s hard to replace him in any capacity. But Graham is a great player in his own right as well and has done a hell of a job stepping into that role, and even last year at times when he needed to step in there,’’quarterback Jared Goff said. “ He’s been great. I mean he really has. He’s taken a lot of the responsibility on his shoulders and I thought today was great by him, and he’s been a lot of fun to work with.”

TWO: Expect the best from the defensive line with the return of Aidan Hutchinson and the addition of rookie Tyliek Williams. Campbell said veteran D.J. Reader had a “kick-ass” camp and that edge rusher Marcus Davenport doesn’t have to show him anything any more. “I tell them, ‘We’re not friends here, we’re family.’ You’re going to go through things together, and we’re still going to be family after. Friends, you kind of separate and it is what it is. We are family here, and that’s what you’re going to see displayed on the field is a family out there fighting together down in and down out,’’ defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said.

THREE: Jared Goff was kept safe and sound on the sidelines during the preseason games, but he excelled during training camp. The passing game, always a strength, gets a boost with a stronger Jameson Williams and rookie Isacc TeSlaa, a third-round pick, who won a roster spot during camp. Amon St. Brown is well, Amon-Ra St. Brown. “I’ve been looking forward to it. Certainly in a division game on the road, I’ve always said these ones feel like they count for two wins and whenever you’re able to go out and get to somebody else’s place and get a W, it’s important and that’s what we want to try to do,’’ Goff said. “These guys are a good team and I think we’re a good team and it’ll be fun.”

FOUR: Don’t expect big changes in the offense with new coordinator John Morton. He’ll add a few new wrinkles but it won’t be a major overhaul. Getting running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery on the field together could be a new twist. Perhaps it will be the biggest adjustment for Goff. “I feel great with him though right now. … He sees the game very similar to the way I do, and really very similarly to the way that I was taught in L.A.,’’ Goff said.

FIVE: Don’t overlook special teams ace Grant Stuard who is in his first season with the Lions. Voted a captain, the veteran linebacker has been a standout through camp and the preseason games. He’s a bulldozer on kick returns, actually on every play he’s on the field. Also expect to see plenty of TeSlaa on special teams. “(TeSlass is) a good body type, he’s got some size and some length, he’s got some speed, so that’s huge. I mean for us on special teams, sometimes there’s just nothing you can do if a guy can just flat run and a guy just can’t run, it’s hard for the guy who can’t run to match the guy who can run,’’ special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said. “And he can run, so that gives him a chance to play some of these positions on the outside, gunner, hold-up guy and some of that stuff.’’

PICK: Lions 27, Packers 23.

UP NEXT: Chicago Bears at Lions, 1 p.m. on Sept. 14. Former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returns to Ford Field as the Bears head coach.

Lions versatile LB Grant Stuard checks the boxes with kick return skills

ALLEN PARK — Grant Stuard has never turned down an opportunity on the football field. It started in high school and when he played in college at Houston. It’s no different now with the Lions, starting his fifth NFL season and first in Detroit.

He describes it as a “mad random” deal. He was moved to fullback in his first year (2022) with the Colts and moved around in college and high school.

He’s officially listed as a linebacker on the Lions’ roster but he excels at special teams. He played 73 percent of the Colts special teams snaps in 2024.

Since signing as a free agent with the Lions in the offseason, a new wrinkle has been added to his special teams chores. He’s been working as a kick returner with four returns totalling 112 yards in two of the first three preseason games.

Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp was on the lookout for the position and after watching Stuard’s film from college, decided to give him a shot.

“Anytime you bring a player in, you kind of watch everything they’ve done in the history that we have on film. There was some film from him at Houston where he was running the ball, and I was like, ‘Wait a minute, like this looks pretty good right here,’’ Fipp said on Tuesday.

“So that’s what really started the idea and I was like, ‘Man, I’m not sure who the guy is going to be.’ This is a bigger body guy, physical. Looked like he had some natural skillset to do it, and then we fumbled the opening kickoff,’’ Fipp said.

Indeed Stuard fumbled and lost the ball on the opening kickoff of the preseason Hall of Fame game, opening the door for a quick Chargers’ touchdown. After that score Fipp threw him back in and he returned that next kickoff for 36 yards, holding on tight.

“He showed a bunch of great things and then it said to us, ‘OK, now we got to invest more time in him, to be fair to him and help him with ball security, and stuff like that.’ But it’s now worth the investment because of what he’s shown,’’ Fipp said. “So, we’re excited about him.”

In turn Stuard has embraced the role.

“The longer I play football, the more I understand the threat of a dynamic guy with the ball in his hands. Me knowing, as a cover guy or defensive guy, I’d kind of rather play the guys who want to get sideways because, 1, I’m fast, but 2 if you have a guy who’s as fast as Ja (Jahmyr Gibbs) and he’s slicing through your defense, now he’s at the second level immediately,” Stuard said. “I kind of have that same mentality with the ball in my hand as far as if I can slice through, slice through, slice through, eventually I’m going to get through one-on-one with the safety with all my momentum, it should be something good for the Detroit Lions.’’

He’s gotten plenty of work in training camp, noting that he loves how much time the Lions spend practicing special teams.

“I think just my experience, just as a player, and being around guys who are super-talented and guys who are super-skilled has allowed me to just understand what coach wants from me with the ball in my hands,’’ said Stuard who is 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds.

He thinks the new kickoff rules suit his game.

“If the goal is to get to the 30 I believe in myself getting to the 30 every time just off momentum,’’ Stuard said. “I can run into you at the 20, we’re going to go that way because I’m not running soft or too timid or too visiony, I might take that first gap. I’m trying to mature my game now to where maybe that first gap is tempting, but it’s meant to go here so keep on going over there even if it takes a little longer.’’

UP NEXT: The Lions will hold a joint practice with the Houston Texans on Thursday, before their final preseason game at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Ford Field.