DETROIT — The Detroit Lions are scheduled to conduct their first practice of training camp on Wednesday. Here’s a closer look at a few storylines.
Most impactful offseason addition: DJ Chark: Surprisingly, the Lions didn’t make many offseason additions, even after a 3-13-1 season. However, they did address a huge need with Chark, who is primed to be a big target for quarterback Jared Goff. At 6-foot-4, Chark adds size and speed to an offense that desperately needs a game-changer. The biggest concern is Chark is coming off an injury-plagued 2021 season, when he missed 13 games with an ankle injury, but his one-year, “prove-it” type deal is a low-risk scenario. At his best, Chark made the Pro Bowl in 2019 and is only 25 years old.
The player with the most to prove: Jared Goff. Goff is 3-17-1 (.167) with a 33 Total QBR in his career with anyone other than Sean McVay as his head coach (42-20, 55 QBR with McVay). Lions head coach Dan Campbell has praised Goff throughout this offseason for being more comfortable running the show, and new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has worked with him to be in sync with the system. Detroit didn’t draft a quarterback, further showing its confidence in Goff. Now, he’s got a chance to prove he can be the quarterback of the future in Motown.
The player with the most to prove Part II: Jeff Okudah. It’s been a rough start for Okudah. Not entirely because of production, but due to injury. The former Ohio State All-American was drafted third overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, but has only played in 10 total games entering his third season. Okudah is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury, and he's had to overcome not only the physical hurdle of recovery, but also the mental aspect. Can he live up to expectations? Only time will tell. Okudah shares a close relationship with defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant and has contacted NBA players DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall for advice on how to recover from the injury. All eyes will be on him if he’s able to participate.
Camp prediction: No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson will live up to the hype. There's obviously high expectations for the Plymouth, Michigan, native entering his first training camp, but throughout the offseason, the coaching staff and his teammates have been impressed with his work ethic and ability to adjust to the new surroundings. Hutchinson was an All-American at Michigan, but the Wolverines defense struggled on the national stage in the Orange Bowl against Georgia. Can he become an elite talent in the NFL ranks? Detroit could've gone in a number of different directions in a draft featuring several quality pass-rushers, but the feeling here is Hutchinson will meet -- or exceed -- expectations.