Lions training camp report dates announced

Last year, in his first season as head coach of the Detroit Lions, Jim Caldwell changed up the team's training camp schedule a bit. There were a lot more practices later in the day than usual, and the Lions were actually the last team to report for training camp. Caldwell decided to give his veterans a few extra days of vacation before they returned to Allen Park to open camp.

This year, Caldwell appears to be sticking with the same plan. I say that because the NFL has announced the report dates for all 32 NFL teams, and the Lions are once again the last franchise to open training camp. Specifically, here are the report dates for the Lions' rookies and veterans:

Rookies: Tuesday, July 28
Veterans: Sunday, Aug. 2

Aside from the Lions, only the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles are having their veterans report in August; all of the other teams' vets will report by the end of July. Interestingly enough, the Colts and Eagles aren't having their rookies report until August, either. For the Lions, their rookies will be in town nearly a full week before the veterans.

The Lions are expected to officially open training camp with their first practice on Monday, Aug. 3, but an actual schedule hasn't been released at this point.