The Detroit Lions held their first practice of training camp this morning. Below is a rundown of news from the practice.
- Today's practice was forced to move indoors because of the bad weather that rolled through Michigan last night. As a result, season ticket holders were unable to attend, so they will be invited to another practice at a later date.
- The practice was "crisp" despite it being the first one of training camp.
- Alphonso Smith's foot injury happened three weeks ago during a workout. Although he is currently on the PUP list because of the injury, he expects to be good to go for the start of the regular season.
- Amari Spievey started at safety alongside Louis Delmas during today's practice, and Jason Fox was starting in place of the injured Jeff Backus at left tackle. Other personnel things worth noting (via Tom Kowalski): Johnny Culbreath was the second-string OT; Lawrence Jackson was starting in place of the unsigned Cliff Avril; Zack Follett and Isaiah Ekejiuba started at outside linebacker; and the starting cornerbacks were Aaron Berry and Nathan Vasher.
(More after the jump)
- Speaking of Berry, Jim Schwartz said he "looked outstanding." I think he will be a player to watch during training camp.
- By all accounts, Jason Hanson practiced very well and showed no signs of last year's injury.
- Calvin Johnson said despite it being the first practice, Matthew Stafford is already testing him. By the sounds of it, the two are already showing off their on-field connection.
- Mikel Leshoure said the first practice was a "little tough" for him because he had to take his conditioning test right before it, but he added that it will get easier from here.
- Schwartz apparently said the playbook for the defensive line is about half a page long and only has two words: "kick butt."
- Schwartz also joked that with how busy Ndamukong Suh's offseason was, there were more sightings of Suh than big foot.
- The Lions' official site has audio from Stafford, Schwartz, Suh and Fairley.
- Dave Birkett reports that there are nameplates in the Lions locker room for Bobby Carpenter and Turk McBride, and there is also one for somebody named Pitcock (possibly Quinn Pitcock). Perhaps that's an indication that they will be signed soon.