Notes: Lions TE Logan Thomas and family overcome heartbreak, appreciate ‘miracle’ son

One of the perks of this time of year is opportunity to get to know some of the players you might not always see in the headlines.

This beautifully told, powerful and emotional story about Detroit Lions tight end Logan Thomas is one of those opportunities. As the Lions wrap up OTAs and minicamp, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press painted a portrait of this family’s tragic, then inspiring and uplifting story for Father’s Day.

With Thomas expected to serve as Detroit’s third tight end and working to secure a roster spot, it’s a good time to get to know someone at a position that has drawn so much attention after the Lions selected T.J. Hockenson with their first pick. Not to mention signing Jesse James in free agency.

It’s also true that we often forget players are people with their own stories, not just helmets on a field. I don’t want to tell you too much more here but it felt like it needed a main spot on our page today, read the whole story here.

• Pride of Detroit was asked to weigh in on “Why each NFC North team will go over and under their Vegas win total in 2019.” Here’s what we had to say.

• Inject it into my veins — best sights and sounds from OTAs and Minicamp.

• Dave Birkett selected some winners of the Lions offseason workouts, including Teez Tabor.

• A hearty congrats to Eamonn Reynolds, Dustyn Blindert and the crew for their Michigan Emmy.

• A short get-to-know defensive tackle PJ Johnson, in which he states about football: “I just like coming down and hitting people.” I dig it.

• Pro Football Focus explains just how running back Kerryon Johnson made a major impact last season, despite having to sit out a few games.

• The Lions got a fantasy analysis, CBS Sports’ Chris Towers naming which players he believes will be a sleeper, a breakout and a bust.