During the Detroit Lions second padded practice of training camp, defensive tackle Alim McNeill dominated line drills, while under-the-radar contenders like Nick Whiteside and Tyler Lacy made strong bids for roster spots at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park.
The Detroit Lions wrapped up the first week of training camp with a lengthy, intensive padded session at the Meijer Performance Center. With starters battling through early camp rust and depth players fighting to crack the 53-man roster, Tuesday’s practice provided coaches with a clearer look at positional battles across the depth chart.
Alim McNeill and Defensive Standouts Dominate Line Drills
Defensive tackle Alim McNeill set the tone early during Tuesday’s workout, knifing into the backfield on consecutive run plays. McNeill swam around Cade Mays to halt a run for a loss before immediately beating Blake Miller’s down block on the very next snap to disrupt the backfield again.
Starting right guard Tate Ratledge, who spends practice lined up directly across from McNeill, praised the defensive lineman’s transformation.
“Man, Alim. I told somebody the other day how excited I am to get a full camp against him when he’s 100 percent, because he’s really good. Obviously what I saw from him last year at practice, he’s completely different player now. He’s explosive, strong. So he’s getting me better every day.”
Tate Ratledge, Detroit Lions starting right guard, via Prideofdetroit
Alongside McNeill, defensive lineman Tyler Lacy is carving out a role as a versatile interior presence. Originally viewed as a longshot for significant snaps, Lacy showcased unexpected pass-rush juice by bull-rushing rookie tackle Blake Miller into the quarterback during 1-on-1 drills.
Nick Whiteside and Camp Underdogs Press for Roster Spots
Cornerback Nick Whiteside is continuing a remarkable climb up the depth chart. Initially viewed as a roster bubble candidate, Whiteside has made a play every single day of training camp according to head coach Dan Campbell. During Tuesday’s 1-on-1 sessions, Whiteside matched up against the team’s top wideouts, battling Amon-Ra St. Brown and locking down a crucial rep against Isaac TeSlaa. He later earned reps with the first-team defense during a situational drill, helping shut down a late-drive scoring attempt by covering Jameson Williams on fourth-and-10.
Running back Jacob Saylors is similarly capitalizing on expanded opportunities. With Jahmyr Gibbs sitting out team work and Sione Vaki sidelined by a broken nose and a freak eye poke sustained in practice, Saylors stepped into first-team reps. Saylors recorded two major touchdowns—one on the ground and one through the air—covering 40 to 50 yards apiece.
Jake Bates and the Offense Find Momentum in the Run and Kick Game
Kicker Jake Bates delivered a flawless performance on Tuesday, hitting field goals from 39, 44, 46, 51, 51, and 59 yards. His first 51-yard attempt cleared the uprights with such force that it struck the roof of the indoor facility roughly 20 yards behind the goal post.
The offensive unit also showed improved rhythm in the run game after struggling during Monday’s practice. Head coach Dan Campbell and the offensive staff have emphasized returning to a dominant ground attack after averaging 120.1 rushing yards per game in 2025, which ranked 14th in the NFL. Tuesday saw the offensive line open cleaner holes, allowing multiple rushing attempts to break into the second and third levels.
Tight end Sam LaPorta rebounded from a quiet start to camp, which had been managed under a perceived pitch count. LaPorta caught an explosive 30-yard corner route in 11-on-11 drills and capped off a 55-yard drive by finding a soft spot in the zone for a 5-yard touchdown reception.
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