The Detroit Lions open 2025 training camp with Dan Campbell's 'finish what we started' mantra, but face early injuries to Onwuzurike and Rakestraw. Read more.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The pads are on, the air in Allen Park is thick with anticipation, and the message from Head Coach Dan Campbell is ringing loud and clear: The 2025 Detroit Lions are here to 'finish what we started.' As training camp kicked into high gear Tuesday, the team's Super Bowl aspirations were front and center, but so was the harsh reality of the NFL grind, with several key players already dealing with injuries. It's the perfect first test for a team built on resilience.
We're here to finish what we started.
Dan Campbell didn't mince words in his first major press conference of camp. He radiated the same intensity that has defined his tenure, emphasizing that last year's NFC Championship appearance was a stepping stone, not the destination. 'It's all about mindset,' Campbell stressed, hammering home the need for daily focus and effort. This isn't a team resting on its laurels; it's a team carrying the weight of unfinished business, and the coaching staff is making sure every player feels it from the very first snap.
While the spirit is willing, the flesh is already being tested. The Lions' defensive line depth took an immediate hit with Levi Onwuzurike being placed on injured reserve, a tough blow for a player who has battled so much. Adding to the concern, rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw went down with an injury during practice. The team is also without Joshua Paschal, while Sione Vaki and Roy Lopez are nursing minor ailments. It's a stark reminder of how quickly a team's depth can be challenged, and it puts the spotlight on the health of new anchor D.J. Reader, who thankfully reported he 'feels really, really good to be healthy.'
Amidst the talk of new seasons and high-flying offenses, Campbell made a point to single out a foundational piece: David Montgomery. The coach acknowledged that with Jahmyr Gibbs' explosive rise, Montgomery might have felt like 'the forgotten man' at times last year, especially while injured. Campbell quickly squashed that notion, reaffirming Montgomery's critical role as the thunder to Gibbs' lightning. Expect the powerful one-two punch to remain the engine of this offense, with Montgomery handling the tough, between-the-tackles work that wears defenses down.
There were no surprises at the top of the depth chart. Jared Goff is the undisputed QB1, with Hendon Hooker securing the backup role over Kyle Allen. The backfield is set with the Gibbs-Montgomery duo, followed by reliable depth in Craig Reynolds. At wide receiver, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams lead a group bolstered by the veteran presence of Tim Patrick and the ever-dependable Kalif Raymond. Raymond echoed the team's mental focus, noting their goal is to 'remove all doubt,' a sentiment that seems to be the core principle of this 2025 campaign.
It's only day one of padded practices, but the narrative for 2025 is already taking shape: a team fueled by the bitter end of last season, facing immediate tests of its 'next man up' philosophy. The energy is high, the goal is clear, and every rep from now until the preseason kickoff in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31 against the Chargers is a step toward finishing the job. The road to Green Bay on September 7 starts now, with grit, determination, and a whole lot of Honolulu Blue Kool-Aid.
