Tag: jared goff

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.

WR Marvin Jones sees first action at Detroit Lions training camp

ALLEN PARK — Wide receiver Marvin Jones had his first day of action at Detroit Lions training camp on Monday.

Jones was sidelined with a non-football related injury since camp started. Every day he could be seen running along the sideline with trainers..

“When you’re on the sideline looking at everybody having fun you’re like, ‘Ah.’ I knew it was going to come soon,’’ Jones said. ‘So yeah, it felt good overall to be out there, being in the flow, listening to the plays and all of that stuff.’’

It’s Jones’ second time-around with the Lions. He played in Detroit from 2016 to 2020, finishing with 36 touchdown catches in those five seasons. He then signed as a free agent with Jacksonville where he played two seasons. The LIons snapped him back up in the offseason with a one-year, $3 million deal.

The 33-year-old Jones thinks he’ll be a fit the same way he was during his first stint.

“Whatever the team needs for me, if that’s big plays, third downs, Red Zone obviously,’’ Jones said on Monday. “I plan on doing the same thing that I’ve done when I was here. I’m just excited — excited to be here with this team. Obviously it’s a new look from a while ago and it’s a great look. I’m just excited.’’

The vibe is different then it was when he left. The Lions appear to be a team on the way up, not struggling to a 5-11 record like in 2020.

“Everybody is just together, the camaraderie is there, (from) coaches on down. So it’s good to be a part of, it’s fun to be in meetings,’’ Jones said ‘So overall it’s just a great time.’’

He and quarterback Matthew Stafford had a good relationship and that’s something he hopes to build with Jared Goff who he appreciates.

“Just the plays that he makes, he knows where he wants to go with the ball. When you’re running your route you better turn your head around because he has great anticipation, that’s one thing that really sticks out,’’ Jones said. “That’s a great attribute to have as a quarterback obviously. His dedication to the game — you see it in the meeting rooms and it translates out here.’’

It’s only June, but Lions’ secondary shows signs of improvement

ALLEN PARK — While it is just June – three months away from the Lions’ season opener – even quarterback Jared Goff has noticed that it’s tougher to find an open wide receiver during mandatory minicamp.

Coach Dan Campbell credits defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and his staff for the improvement so far.

“The additions that we do have — there again it’s early, we’re in spring. There’s a reason why we got Cam Sutton, there’s a reason why we got (Emmanuel) Moseley, there’s a reason why we got C.J. (Gardner-Johnson)  because we believe they certainly upgrade us production-wise and they’re also football guys,’’ Campbell said on Wednesday. “They fit everything that we’re about — the way they go about their business, they’re veteran guys, they’ve got skins on the wall, they come from winning programs and they play the game the right way.’’

Campbell feels like the team is way ahead of where it was two years ago and sees the biggest difference in the secondary.

“That’s without Moseley right now being out there. Once we get him back and he’s healthy and obviously getting Tracy (Walker) back that’s a big transformation with depth and competition,’’ Campbell said.

Of the new guys, Gardner-Johnson has been a standout on the field for his talkative style.

Defensive lineman Romeo Okwara said the secondary is noticeably louder. 

“I think it’s huge for the guys back there, especially the young guys. (Gardner-Johnson) brings a lot to the table. I think we’ve totally got better in the secondary and the defense of course.’’

Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, entering his third season, is one of the younger guys picking up on playing with the more experienced additions to the defensive backs room.

“(Gardner-Johnson) is very vocal, very talkative but in a good way though,’’ Melifonwu said. “It comes from a good place. He wants to see all of us be great and push each other so it’s good.

His energy and just the energy of the (defensive backs) room in general rubs off on everyone.’’

Melifonwu made the switch to safety last season, but was limited to 10 games due to injury. He came back and played in the final eight games mostly on special teams but the final three at safety.

“I was just really coming back. It was my first real game reps at safety,’’ Melifonwu said. “I never had played the position before, but I feel that helped coming into this year.’’

He and the other younger defensive backs are benefiting from the more veteran players which could help boost the defense. The new guys have fit in seamlessly.

“We all want to see each other be great and be successful as a team. It all comes from a good place. We have a lot of older guys in the room, so it’s like our meetings might be a lot of people giving different perspectives,’’ Melifonwu said. “The way one guy says something might resonate with a younger guy better than the other one said it. It’s like we have a lot of vets and leaders in the room so everyone listens and, obviously, to the coach, I think it helps.’’

Melifonwu has switched jersey numbers from No. 26 to No. 6. He said he wanted No. 2, but Gardner-Johnson got it. That’s OK with him. “Six is my second-favorite single digit,” Melfionwu explained.

The Lions wrap up the mandatory minicamp on Thursday and finish their OTAs next week.