Detroit Lions players meet with the media on July 29 | 2025 Training Camp Day 8

Detroit Lions players meet with the media on July 29 | 2025 Training Camp Day 8

What have you kind of learned from from guys like Aiden, Marcus, uh DJ that have helped you kind of grow your game so far these last couple? I’ll say their their work ethic for sure. Aiden, he like don’t stop running. Uh DJ, all those guys, they always continuing to get better and I think, you know, it’s going to help me from, you know, you know, taking plays off and stuff like that. Just keep going. Is there a level of of confidence that you’ve grown in yourself just coming out here? Like I’m sure you knew what you were capable of, but to finally hit somebody in another NFL uniform, is there a little bit of a boost that you’ve gotten over the last few days? Uh, I say I always had the confidence. Of course, it feels good when, you know, hit somebody like again since it’s been a while since I put pads on, but like I said, I’m just out here trying to get better with my teammates. I know you’d probably love to get the regular season going, get the games going. Is there part of you that wishes you could play in that Hall of Fame game this week? Uh, I’m not playing. I think that’s what pushed it, right? The ones. Oh. Oh, I didn’t even know that. But, uh, I mean, it’s another opportunity for the guys on the team to get better. I didn’t know I wasn’t playing, but of course I want to play, you know, help the team, but if they don’t want me to play, then that’s what it is. What’s the most important thing that you feel like you’ve learned so far through the first week plus of camp? Uh, take care of your body for sure. Uh, from here to, you know, college is different. Uh, the practices are a little harder, so hydration, sleeping, stuff like that is definitely big. What about as far as from a playbook perspective and just about getting your work in, watching film, listening to guys? Uh, I’ll say you definitely got to, you know, work on your own. You got to, they don’t, you know, tell you got to be at meetings. You got to, you know, look stuff up, your workouts and all that. You’re always by yourself. So, you got to get the work in by yourself. And if you don’t, then you’re going to be behind. How valuable has it been to have DJ next to you and his veteran presence in the room? Uh, I love DJ. Like I said, he’s my he’s my big brother. I ask him for any advice, for any play, anything. I mean, we’re out there talking to each other every every play. So, definitely a big help. I know the P just came on a few days ago, but have you had a welcome to the NFL type of moment yet? Today, actually, yeah. Uh Tay got me pretty good today. I don’t know if y’all seen it, but he he got me pretty good today for sure. Tell us about that play. I mean, it just uh he you know, it’s a long drive and he just came off the ball, you know, he hit me. So, you know, iron sharp is iron, so we’re going to have my good plays. He’s going to have his good plays and he got me today for sure. It’s nice to have like teammates like that. doesn’t that you guys can really learn from each other and how much do you talk about what kind of things you’re looking at how to exploit, you know, um defenses vice versa? Yeah. Uh like I said, I’m always in contact with him. Uh we’re pretty close. Um like I said, today he just he got the better of me for sure, but we’ve been going back and forth throughout the camp for sure. You want to speak to your uh level of comfortability in this offense? I mean, it looks pretty sharp out there for first, second, and third. Uh yeah, I think it’s a high volume offense, but um I think we’ve done a really good job of installing it and I think just as the day goes on, I get more and more comfortable with it. So um it’s been good. I like it a lot. Obviously when we uh we talk more, we hear that they’re going to do a lot of something golf like what in this offense do you like? What fits you and your skill set? I I think as a backup quarterback, you got to kind of like what the starter likes in general because that’s what they’re going to call. But fortunately for me, I think me and me and Jared play a similar game. you know, he’s obviously one of the best in the league, but I think from a timing perspective and, you know, getting the ball out, finding your outlets, and letting your skilled players work, I I see the game the same way he does. How would you describe your camp so far? How do you think you played so far? And just how much you enjoy the competition aspect of it? I mean, just competition every year for me. So, it’s it’s a it’s a norm and it’s it’s a good part of it. Brings the best out of everyone. And um um it’s been good. I think we’ve all just been getting better every day and and just trying to hone in the offense in general and and just just keep getting better. defense every day. Yeah, I mean they do a good job of hiding it, you know. I think um for us it’s more of just let’s try and figure out when it’s coming and and where they’re coming from, but it’s tough, man. They they do a really good job of disguising it. Um they do a good job of getting home and when we even when we’re going the right way and trying to pick it up. So, um it’s been good. It’s been good for us as an offense, too, to see it. preseason games. I mean, the preseason games are important. It’s been important my whole career. You know, I’ve been trying to make teams since since year one going to year eight now. So, it’s um you know, it’s I’ve played countless preseason games. They’re all important, but um just go out there and execute. It’s always what I say. What’s kind of the emotional slashmental challenge of bouncing around a little bit and and like you said, trying to learn an offense and and get a job each year? Um, I think it’s just meeting new people, you know, it’s it’s creating the new relationships in every building you go into. And you step into a locker room of 90 new players and 20 new coaches and, you know, nutrition staff and strength staff and it’s just it just takes a while to develop those relationships. And sometimes when you’re there for a year and and you end up not being resigned and come back, it’s tough, you know, because you develop good relationships with those people. But I think that’s the hardest part, but it’s also the coolest part about it. How does this situation or this team um compare? I mean, can you feel like at home? And as Nolan was asking, like comfort when you’re in an offense and with a group, can you just kind of lay out how how it’s been here so far? And yeah, I think the older you get, the more comfortable you get quicker, you know? I think you you’re you’re I’ve met so many relationships with so many people over the last eight years with so many new people. So, I’m starting to get good at it and um I’ve learned been four new offenses in the last four years. So, it’s more about just learn a new language essentially every year. But, um it’s been good. I think the way um Coach Borton’s been putting it in has been great. It’s clicking for everyone. It’s a lot, but I think everyone’s working really hard to to figure it out. It’s been good. Sorry, just what’s the biggest thing you want to show tonight? What would you walk off the field being like, “Okay, that was that was a good Just play just playing a good clean game, you know, executing football. Nothing crazy.” Um, same thing I do every day out here at practice. Just show up, execute the plays that are called, do my job. That’s it. So, what will it take Thursday for you to walk off the field and be like, “Okay, that that was that was a good performance. That was a good first game. That was a good first step today.” Yeah, just controlling controlling what I can control. Um, demanding, you know, my presence in the huddle and um pushing my troops down the field, uh, you know, to put points on the board. How much has that part of it evolved for you, the huddle, just getting the plays? How much more comfortable do you feel now heading into year three? It certainly looks like out there. Yeah, a lot more comfortable. Um, a lot more confident. Uh, my teammates can hear it in my voice. A lot more flexion, a lot more control at the line. Um, and and that’s comes from the trust from my teammates and coaches. And year three, what was the big thing that you wanted to work on this summer and get better at? Do you feel that you’ve done that yet? Um, biggest thing I wanted to work on was just timing, you know, playing in rhythm. um and and footwork really. I definitely feel like I’ve made a huge jump in those regards. Um and ball placement. Seems like you’ve developed a nice connection with Isaac so far. He’s in the right place at the right time. Um he’s a guy that wants to come in and get better every day. And you know, I I applaud him for that. So, we’re just going to continue to move forward and grow together. just the experience you have now and so far in this camp. I guess how does that change your perspective of maybe where you were at last season because I know you were second year, but did you still feel like a rookie at that point? Yeah, I did. Um truly taking a a full calendar year off um something I’ve never done before. So really getting my feedback under me and playing at a high level um like I know I can really feel like myself again. Penn, how do you balance how important these preseason games are for you with not making them too big at the same time? another day at the office. So, keeping the main thing the main thing, controlling uh what I can control and having fun. You know, it’s a game at the end of the day. So, coming out and enjoying myself and and playing at a high level is what I, you know, strive to do every day. We’ve heard some players, newer ones or ones that haven’t been to this camp yet, say how uh difficult it is and they have to get used to it. Why is it the length of schedule? Is it the intensity of practice? What makes it um I have no idea. This is all I know. So, um, since being here my first day in the NFL, I know no different. So, it’s it’s just another day at at work for me. To be a part of that first preseason game, kind of a kickoff to the football season for everybody to have the eyes of the league on you guys. What will that be? Uh, very special. Uh, very special, you know, to be at such a um, you know, high praised uh, game as the Hall of Fame game. Um, very exciting to get out there with the rookies and this being their first NFL game, it being a Hall of Fame game is really cool as well. Just looking across the line. Um, you know, we got some some young guys up front. Amed, he plays, you know, with a chip on his shoulder every play and has a lot of energy. Um, great motor and a great teammate as well. Um then you know of course the the guys in the back end have been playing really high level. Um Pitman has been playing at a really high level as well and Grant Strat as well. Much toward the end of the year you know trying to increase the vertical passing game. I mean is that something that you kind of focused on during the just you know throwing more of those deep shots I guess and working with the receivers on that? I mean is that something that you kind of spent some time during this offseason doing? Um, not so much of of the deep shots, more so the timing routes. Um, so the digs, the outs, um, anticipating their break, um, putting the ball where only my guy can get it. What has been the biggest change for you? Um, I think the biggest change has just been, you know, us dialing up downfield um, a lot more often, which is something I enjoy doing. So, um, you know, being able to get my guys one-on-one routes, uh, and let them let them be them. That’s been the biggest difference. In terms of your interactions with what’s he asking, others haven’t. Yeah, just continue to control the the the huddle. Um, that’s the biggest thing right now. And, um, you know, I’m striving every day to uh, get better at that. Um, but, you know, he’s he’s very encouraging. Um, very energetic. Uh, every meeting is always always something new that um, he throws at us. So he’s very he wants to challenge us and wants us to be the best. Does does he want you to throw I mean like be aggressive and trying to look downfield? I mean does does he I mean not worry about you know the possibility that you know a turnover could happen or something. I mean how is he how’s he coaching you in that regard? No he wants us to take what the defense gives us. So um the play has answers. Let’s find our answers and let’s get our guys the ball and just play smart, take care of the ball. That’s the biggest thing. The ball is the is the number one um you know number one thing in all of football. So the ball is our job to take care of. So we’re gonna continue to do that. How does that how do you balance that? Do you feel like you are what you want to do at this point? Yeah. Yeah. As far as physical for sure. Um continue to build that mental side um is my biggest my biggest concern right now. You’ve been working with a backup center and kind of cycling through a whole bunch whenever different one every day. What kind of challenge does that present and what do you like from that room? Yeah. Um it’s not really a challenge. Um they’re all very smart and all very talented and they all just want to, you know, come out and do their job at the best of their ability. Um so every day just coming out here and and seeing their smiling faces, they bring energy. Um it’s always a pleasure to be around those big guys. You you mentioned taking care of the ball. How do you balance that with trying to be aggressive and you know maybe you know take a shot deep? I mean how how does Yeah, those factor into the shots will present will present themselves. Um and when they do present themselves, I’ll put the ball in in the right location. um with great timing and accuracy. So um just continue just play through the game and take what the defense gives gives me. As I said uh before, that’s how I take care of the ball. How does it feel to have Jabari with you and how do you guys, you know, lean on each other? Yeah. Um it’s incredible. Feels like we’re back at Tennessee. Those two years we spent together, we spent a lot of time off the field together as well. Um, so just being back in the back field, it’s still me and him having those same little conversations about, hey, you know, take this one to the house or, hey, I got you on this on this play right here. Um, it’s real, it’s it’s it’s a really special bond that we have. What do you think you guys can unlock with, you know, using more as a receiver, maybe having him on the field at the same time? They’re both so special. So, you know, you want to get your best guys the the ball. Um J is someone who, you know, wants to expand his game and and wants to be better at the receiving aspect. Um we see what he can do in the in the back field and whenever we can get him the ball and have the threat of um Demo back there, you know, it’s a two-headed monster in itself. When it comes to your extra time on the Jugs machine, have you all always been a Jugs guy or is this you trying to make up for getting other catches and sharing the load this time of year? Yeah, I think Jugs is just a great way um if you don’t have a quarterback or a quarterback doesn’t want to, you know, wear out his arm is great way to get reps in. Um I don’t even know if we had a Jugs machine when I was in high school. I also played quarterback, so I wasn’t really catching the ball. Um Hillsdale, I mean, we might have had one Jugs machine, uh but we never really used it. So, I definitely started using a bit a little bit more when I got to Arkansas, but now it’s something that’s been harped into us. Um just getting those extra reps, getting those extra, um catches in is definitely going to help down the road. So just making sure you know you think about Aman Rah and sets the example doing 201 or whatever it was every day. So uh just kind of following the standard of what it means to be a Detroit Lion. It does seem like Aman Ra has given you a little time and I don’t want to say mentorship if that’s early but it seems like he he’s lent his ear and himself to you a little bit. What has that relationship been like? Yeah, I think all the older guys in the room um you know I can learn everything from them. Um everyone they all have a different kind of play style so I think I can just learn from the way they go about the the game. Um, obviously their mentality, um, just the way they carry themselves. I think there’s just so much to learn from that room. Sure. When it comes to the the sparkle and shine of the Lions camp, you know, everybody loved to spend the summer talking about how you grew up a Lions fan and the enthusiasm you bring and not like we’re doubting that that goes away, but has at least that sort of razledazzle worn off for you to be able to just focus on the football of it, or does that never wear off? Uh, I I don’t think I want it to wear off. I think, uh, you know, I want to come out here with that kind of gratitude and appreciation every single day. Obviously, when I’m out there grinding, not necessarily thinking about, oh man, you know, if I was a kid, I I I’m just thinking about going and making the plays that we’ve been talking about um in the meeting rooms that we’ve been practicing. So, for me, you know, I want to have that heart. Um that’s the way I want to play the game. But, like you said, um you know, at the end of the day, we’re just playing football. So, what’s your thoughts on Scotty so far? Love him. Passionate guy. Um I think like uh the older receivers in our room, we got got a lot to learn from him. Obviously, he’s a very smart guy. I’m just listening to him talk sometimes. It’s like sometimes it’s a little over my head, so we got to get bring it down a little bit, but I think he’s a um a great coach and a great mentor. Much has been made of the vertical passing game, I guess, this game trying to trying to grow that. How much do you feel like, you know, given what you’ve done in the past? I mean, you could really be a factor in that and trying to, you know, uh I guess help along, you know, Coach Morton’s ambitions, I guess, with expanding that. Yeah, I think um the biggest thing for the vertical passing game is just every other thing that you have to be able to do well in order for to open that up. You can’t just have a vertical passing game, you know, if you don’t have a run game, if you don’t have that short pass passing game. So, it all ties in together. So, um just utilizing everyone on the offense, you know, you think of JMO as a deep threat, you can sometimes think of those bigger guys um as the deeper threats, but even um you know, the smaller guys on Rod Khalif, you know, we use those guys as a deep threat as well. So, it’s really just a whole um it’s a huge dynamic of um everyone going out there and doing their job. What have you seen from the progression on in that regard? Obviously, you know, couple practice ago, you you finished the practice obviously with a nice catch on the on the long pass, but I mean, you know, just in general, like how do you feel like that uh that that part of the game has evolved, I guess, in in the training camp so far? Yeah, I mean, it kind of just comes along with the installs. Um the first couple days we didn’t necessarily have um that those plays installed. So, as we um the playbook expands a little bit and we have that opportunity to throw the ball down field, I think we’re all very eager to do that. So, it was nice we could execute on that. The speed of physicality is something that young guys are always caught by when they show up here. I know you haven’t had game action yet, but what have you noticed about that just here? Yeah, I’d say physicality is the biggest thing. Obviously, you know, everyone’s fast, especially being from the SEC. Um you know what it’s like to face guys that are fast and physical, but like you said, it’s a different level here. Um, so yeah, there’s sometimes I’m going in there to block a safety and you know, I feel a little more pop than I did when I was uh back in college. So just um remembering I got to be lower uh bring the heat every single play. And then like you said with the whole speed thing, just making sure full speed with everything I do, whether it’s run or pass and uh yeah, just go and make a play. And I know like coach Campbell made a note of that too that like you’ve had to push through here at some of these early practices. What value is there just especially mentally being able to do that physically? Yeah, I think um it just takes grit. I mean, I don’t want to be corny, but that’s really what it comes down to. And I think that’s why our word um is grit um here at the Lions. Um you know, it was hot yesterday. A lot of us had to push through a lot, but I mean that’s just our mentality is no matter the circumstance, we’re going to get up and go go to the next play. And you know, if you’re hurting, suck it up. Keep going. you’re taking full reps and stuff right now, but I know that the lines are cautious when it comes to long-term injuries or anything because it is of course early in the progression. Just for those who don’t know, how is the leg? How are you feeling at full speed? Oh, I I feel good. Uh I maybe looks a little bit worse than it actually is. A little bit of pain, but I mean it’s nothing serious at all. It’s really just more of a nagging pain than anything to be concerned about. You’ve had the sleeve off, I guess, last couple days. I mean like was that a sign of the progress that I guess it’s made or you just feel uh the sleeve is just butt ugly so I didn’t want to wear it. No, it was more of like a precautionary thing for um like contact kind of having that extra cushion. It wasn’t really preventing any pain. So I just kind of felt like it was unnecessary and it was like I said it was really ugly. So I kind of the trainers were okay with me not wearing it. Oh, once they said that I took it off with this, you know, shake up in the interior, the fact that this situation, this current arrangement will give you the best opportunity to do that with you at center and Tate at right and, you know, Christian at left. I’m kind of confused about just the idea that you guys, you know, Oh, I think we’ll be fine. I mean, I I think we have a lot of good defensive players we’re going to be playing this year, but I think that we’re going to, you know, we’re working hard. We’re doing our thing. And um I mean, our defense has given us a good look, too. Those guys are good. So, I think that we go we get better out here every day and I think that things will take care of themselves. When you walked off the field, you should just all sweat dripping out your gloves. Oh my goodness. How was a sign of how much you guys like practice? Yeah, today wasn’t even that bad. Yesterday was terrible, but today wasn’t that bad. Give me a sense of what kind of things you guys accomplish when you scrimmage and what you’ve learned about this offensive line so far. Um well even just today I mean like things didn’t start well. Um there were some breakdowns in run blocking, breakdowns in protection and then by about like the you know third fourth drive we kind of got things ironed out and then from there it was we were just moving the ball, we were scoring, we were kicking field goals and everything was good. And I think that um when you get put into a situation like this I mean just cuz the first I mean it’s like a normal game. Just cuz the first couple drives are bad doesn’t mean the whole game has to be bad. So, um, seeing some resiliency out of the offense today, the O line was was awesome. How how does the protection change with more along Falcon routes, deeper routes and such? And how from from your standpoint, can you like take us into like how how that does change a little bit? You know, typically when that happens, I feel like you’ll probably get like a chip or a nudge or whatever for the tackles and then that kind of helps you shore up the inside a little bit more so everything kind of works together. Um, I mean I usually they’re not going to have you going like a fiveman pro if they’re saying, “Hey, we’re going to throw this ball 40 yards.” So, um, as I said, everybody just working together, making sure that there’s good chips and good work from inside out. I think that’s probably most important. Uh, depth and width of the pocket. Is Dan guys an indication? I mean, I know obviously you’re a very veteran guy in this league. Preseason games aren’t typically something you play in, but with the the composition of the offensive line and a lot of young guys in there and you guys trying to learn each other, will you guys see some time in the preseason games that you know of? I have no idea. That’s a question for Dan. Okay. Okay. So, I haven’t discussed any of that for you guys yet. No. Could something like that be helpful or I mean I think that I mean a lot of other teams aren’t going to play their starters either. So, I feel like half the time we’re getting better work probably out here and we have a lot of joint practices coming up and um I feel like in a lot of ways that kind of takes the place of necessary preseason game work. So, I mean, as I said, that’s up to him, but we’ll see.

Hear from Detroit Lions defensive lineman Tyleik Williams, quarterback Kyle Allen, quarterback Hendon Hooker and offensive lineman Graham Glasgow. As they speak to the media on July 29, 2025 at Detroit Lions Training Camp presented by Rocket.

0:00 – 2:33: Tyleik Williams
2:34 – 6:01: Kyle Allen
6:02 – 12:50: Hendon Hooker
12:51 – 18:06: Isaac TeSlaa
18:07 – 21:00: Graham Glasgow

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