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5 Storylines to Watch During Lions’ Mandatory Minicamp

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5 Storylines to Watch During Lions’ Mandatory Minicamp


For the first time this offseason, the Detroit Lions will conduct mandatory team workouts.

From June 4-6, the Lions will host their mandatory minicamp at their Allen Park facility. The team will be out in full force, as many veterans who sat out the optional period will be required to participate. As a result, it will offer a full look at what the Lions have to offer.

For Dan Campbell’s group, it is a chance for the team to take its first steps toward their hopes of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Here are five storylines to follow throughout the Lions’ three-day mandatory minicamp.

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Open opportunities

The Lions won’t have their roster in full force for mandatory minicamp, as some players will sit out while rehabbing injuries. Namely, the safety position could have an interesting look with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph sidelined.

As a result, some unheralded players could get a bigger look during the three-day event. Players such as Brandon Joseph and undrafted rookies Loren Strickland and Chelen Garnes could be the beneficiaries and spend some time on elevated defensive units.

No roster spots will be won in June, but players can certainly begin to form impressions on the coaching staff with a strong performance during minicamp.

Jamo’s growth

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Campbell spoke about Jameson Williams being the team’s most improved player ahead of the start of OTAs. Yet, he has had up-and-down performances during the two open sessions of OTAs.

With minicamp offering the opportunity for reporters to get a thorough look at the practices, this upcoming week should create a strong look at what Williams has to offer for the Lions in 2024. Is he going to simply be a deep threat? Or will he have more to offer for the offense.

Williams should statistically improve on last year’s numbers, but the opportunity is available for him to be a big time contributor for the offense. He can take more steps in the right direction with a strong performance at minicamp.

Extended look at Hendon Hooker

Much like Williams, Hendon Hooker is a player who has garnered a lot of attention throughout the offseason. After missing most of his rookie year to rehab a torn ACL, Hooker is getting his first taste of a full NFL offseason.

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He has been spotty in open practices to this point, so the three-day evaluation period should allow for more concrete observations as to his status. The Lions will give Hooker opportunities to claim the backup job, but he must perform in order to earn it.

Hooker has a ways to go before training camp, so minicamp should provide the baseline for his development heading into the final week of OTAs.

Cornerback rotations

The Lions have a revamped cornerback room, and as a result they have several ways they could combine their pieces. Carlton Davis appears to be the number one option, but the team has several ways it could go.

This is a luxury that defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has not had since coming to Detroit. It will be intriguing to see how the Lions mix and match their options including Davis, rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, Emmanuel Moseley and free agent Amik Robertson.

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Additionally, incumbents Kindle Vildor, Khalil Dorsey and Steven Gilmore will also be fighting for reps. It should be a very competitive three days for this position group.

Undrafted standouts

One storyline to follow throughout the offseason pertains to the undrafted rookies. In each of Campbell’s first three seasons, at least one undrafted rookie has made the final roster out of camp. As a result, the odds are with someone within this year’s crop making the team.

Could it be kicker James Turner defeating Michael Badgley in the kicking competition? Or one of three undrafted centers edging out a young offensive lineman for a depth spot? There’s also plenty of intriguing defensive players.

One other player to keep an eye on is Illinois’ Isaiah Williams. The undrafted wideout profiles as a slot receiver, but could also be of impact in the return game with the new kickoff rules.

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Detroit Pistons easily dispatch shorthanded Indiana Pacers, 121-78

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Detroit Pistons easily dispatch shorthanded Indiana Pacers, 121-78



Duncan Robinson and Cade Cunningham each scored 16 points in limited minutes as the Detroit Pistons routed the shorthanded Indiana Pacers 121-78 on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena.

The 43-point margin matched the ninth-biggest win in Pistons franchise history.

The Pacers played without their four leading scorers, with Pascal Siakam resting and Benedict Mathurin (thumb), Andrew Nembhard (back) and Obi Toppin (foot) dealing with injuries. T.J. McConnell, who is sixth on the team in scoring and second in assists, also sat out with a knee problem.

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Jalen Duren had 15 points and eight rebounds for Detroit, which got points from 13 players, as the Pistons won for the fifth time in six games.

Jarace Walker led Indiana with 13 points and Tony Bradley added 12. The Pacers had won four of five.

Detroit led by as many as 44 points in the third quarter, around the time that Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff pulled his starters for the night. Duren led the starters with 23 minutes and Cunningham and Robinson were the only others to reach 20.

Indiana started the game looking like a team using a G-League roster. They missed 10 of their first 11 shots and turned the ball over five times as Detroit built a 24-2 lead in the first seven minutes.

It was 59-25 at the half, thanks to the Pacers shooting 23.3% (10-43) from the floor, including 6% (1-18) on 3-pointers, and missing seven of 11 free throws. Cunningham (11), Robinson (10) and Duren (9) outscored the Indiana roster 30-25.

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The 25 points was Detroit’s best defensive half by 11 points and Indiana’s worst offensive half by nine points.

Up next

Indiana: Play their third game in four nights on Monday in Philadelphia.

Detroit: Host the Boston Celtics on Monday.



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Detroit fire veteran who died after shift presumed line-of-duty death

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Detroit fire veteran who died after shift presumed line-of-duty death


Patrick Trout (Photo: Detroit Fire Department)

A Detroit Fire Department veteran who died at his home hours after completing a shift earlier this month is presumed to have died in the line of duty.

What we know:

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Patrick Trout, 47, worked an overnight shift before going home, where he died suddenly on Monday, Jan. 5.

Detroit Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms announced at Trout’s funeral Monday that his death is considered a presumed line-of-duty death, pending the results of the medical examiner’s final report, according to a Detroit Fire Department spokesperson. The spokesperson said the classification is new for the department and is based on information indicating Trout may have suffered injuries during a fire in the shift prior to his death.

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What they’re saying:

The Detroit Fire Department shared a message about his death on social media saying: 

“We are heartbroken by the loss of Firefighter Patrick Trout.

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A proud member of Squad 4, Firefighter Trout was known for his compassion, service and sense of humor. His dedication to this department and the people of Detroit will never be forgotten.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, son, loved ones, and his brothers and sisters here in the Detroit Fire Department during this difficult time.”

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Washington Township rig dressed up as the Memorial Rig drives by. (Detroit Fire Department)

The backstory:

Trout was a senior firefighter assigned to Squad 4 and had served with the department for more than 11 years. He was also a decorated retired U.S. Army sergeant who previously served in the National Guard and Army Reserve.

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Trout is survived by his wife, Shannon, and their son, Jackson. 

(Detroit Fire Department)

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What you can do:

A fundraiser through The Yard Foundation has been established to support his family.

The Source: Information for this story came from a Detroit Fire Department spokesperson and the Detroit Fire Fighters Association. 

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Dylan Larkin’s tiebreaking goal in 3rd period sends Detroit Red Wings to 4-2 win over San Jose Sharks

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Dylan Larkin’s tiebreaking goal in 3rd period sends Detroit Red Wings to 4-2 win over San Jose Sharks



Dylan Larkin scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the surging Detroit Red Wings beat the San Jose Sharks 4-2 on Friday night.

Marco Kasper scored his first goal in 37 games and added an assist to help Detroit win for the fifth time in six games. Alex DeBrincat scored his team-high 25th goal and J.T. Compher had the other goal for the Red Wings.

Lucas Raymond had three assists and James van Riemsdyk added two. John Gibson made 20 saves.

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Will Smith scored for San Jose in his return from an upper-body injury that cost him 13 games. Collin Graf had the other Sharks goal and Macklin Celebrini, the NHL’s third-leading scorer with 72 points, added an assist. Celebrini has 32 points in his last 18 games.

Yaroslav Askarov stopped 21 shots for the Sharks, who had won seven of nine.

Detroit converted on its first power play when Raymond set up DeBrincat, who ripped a one-timer from the left circle into the net.

Smith tied it midway through the first period after Celebrini’s shot from the high slot tumbled over Gibson and rolled toward the goal line. Smith tucked the puck into the net.

Graf tipped in a pass from Nick Leddy at 1:58 of the second to give the Sharks the lead. Kasper’s pass through the legs of a defender set up Compher’s goal five minutes later, tying it 2-all.

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Larkin jammed the puck between the post and Askarov’s pad at 4:41 of the third to give the Red Wings a 3-2 advantage. Kasper ended his scoring drought on an empty-netter with 1:32 remaining.

Sharks: Visit the Florida Panthers on Monday.

Red Wings: Host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

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