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- ESPN listed their top 25 breakout “prospects” for 2017 (insider required). The list is defined as “a list of players that have a strong chance to make an impact in the NFL despite their lack of draft stock and the fact that they weren't immediate NFL starters.”
Detroit Lions safety Miles Killebrew made the list at No. 19. Here’s a portion of what they had to say about him.
A rangy, hard-hitting safety in the Deone Bucannon "safety who is really a linebacker" mold, Killebrew projects to see plenty of time in Detroit's secondary going forward. Glover Quin is getting closer to 30, and under Teryl Austin, the Lions have been open to dime defenses, going with them 18 percent of the time in 2016.
Interestingly, running back Dwayne Washington was also named as an honorable mention on the list.
- When facing pressure last year, Matthew Stafford didn’t have one, specific safety valve he relied upon:
With QB under pressure, Stafford to Tate was the lowest targeted QB to WR1 combo. Stafford the distributor. @ScottBarrettDFB
— Brett Whitefield (@BrettWhitefield) August 3, 2017
- While many Detroit Lions have been focused on how well rookie wide receiver Kenny Golladay has looked in camp, TJ Jones has been turning heads, too. He has caught the eye of both MLive’s Kyle Meinke and the Detroit Free Press’ Carlos Monarrez.
- Former Lions defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker is a free agent after a sexual assault allegation caused the Rams to cut him. All NFL teams were notified Thursday that Walker has now been cleared of all chargers:
A La Grand Jury heard allegations of sexual assault against ex-#Rams DL Tyrunn Walker & returned “a no true bill.” Cleared of all wrongdoing
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 3, 2017
DL Tyrunn Walker, who was released by #Rams after allegations after the fact, is a free agent. Teams were informed of his situation today
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 3, 2017
- Pride Of Detroit did a couple of extra radio spots this week. First, Ryan Mathews joined Matt Dery to break down Tuesday’s practice and talk Stafford’s contract:
Later, I joined Ann Arbor’s WTKA to preview the upcoming season:
- Dave Birkett thinks the Lions cannot mess around, they need to sign Stafford now, before he becomes more expensive next year.
- Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski handicapped the odds for each NFL team to win their division. The Lions come in with a decent 4:1 odds to win the NFC North, but that’s behind the Packers (1:1) and the Vikings (3:1).
- A few Red Wings stopped by Wednesday’s practice:
.@sportstori talks w/ @DetroitRedWings players Luke Glendening & Riley Sheahan about their visit to #LionsCamp.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 3, 2017
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