Detroit Lions observations: Rookies Gibbs, LaPorta, Branch on track to play key roles

The Detroit Lions had one of the most productive rookie classes in the NFL last season. Five first-year players saw key minutes on defense, and the group — led by Aidan Hutchinson — set an NFL rookie record with 20.5 sacks.

In 2021, the Lions got standout play from rookies Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell. St. Brown set a Lions rookie record with 90 catches, and Sewell made 16 starts between left and right tackle.

It's far too early to say what the Lions have in this year's rookie class, but on the first day of NFL training camp Sunday, the team was not shy about putting rookies in prominent places.

Sam LaPorta, a second-round pick, took the first team snap of camp at tight end. First-rounder Jahmyr Gibbs split first-team work with David Montgomery at running back. Brian Branch had a pass breakup with the No. 2 defense in team drills. And undrafted rookie cornerback Starling Thomas V worked prominently as the No. 4 cornerback.

"Those three guys right there that you said, Gibbs, LaPorta and Branch, I know there’s plenty more but, yeah, they’re just pros and they’ve showed up and just gone to work and put their head down and do the right thing," Lions quarterback Jared Goff said. "Similar to I think of Aidan last year, just kind of don’t say a word, just do the right thing every time and be the best player you can be and they’ll have their impact in some way or another, but it’s been fun to see those guys grow into a role of their own and it’ll continue to grow."

The Lions, under coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes, have promised to play the best players, regardless of age, experience, contract or draft position, and they've largely made good on their word.

In 2021, they benched then cut veteran linebacker Jamie Collins early in the season and played undrafted rookie Jerry Jacobs at cornerback ahead of several more experienced options. Last year, sixth-round pick Malcolm Rodriguez won a starting linebacker job out of training camp and unheralded defensive lineman John Cominsky, a spring waiver claim, played a key role up front.

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LaPorta and Gibbs seem assured of big playing time this fall given the Lions' depth chart, and LaPorta's quick ascension to the starting lineup was no surprise given his strong play this spring. On Sunday, he served as a blocker on two of the first three plays of team period and later caught a short pass from Goff in seven-on-seven.

Branch and Thomas are ticketed for backup roles right now (as is first-round pick linebacker Jack Campbell), but could see more playing time than envisioned two months ago. Thomas is a good bet to make the roster as the fifth cornerback (and could climb higher on the depth chart if Emmanuel Moseley, just placed on the physically unable to perform list, isn't ready to go at some point in training camp).

Branch was one of the most eye-catching players on the field Sunday.

Along with his pass breakup on a Nate Sudfeld pass to Tom Kennedy, Branch had a would-be tackle-for-loss on a quick pass to the flat, showed his ability as a slot blitzer while working with the third-team defense and had an impressive rep at gunner with the No. 1 punt team, when he flew down the field at a speed that seemed much faster than the 4.58-second time he clocked in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

"That 4.5, I’m way faster on the field than that," Branch told the Free Press on Sunday. "Way faster."

Branch said he spent the offseason studying Lions practice film, both to get ready for his role as a slot cornerback/safety this fall and to understand the Lions' offensive tendencies to prepare for the season.

He said he felt "good" in his first practice of summer, and on a day that marked the start of football season, the same could be said for most of the rest of the Lions' rookies.

More observations from Sunday's practice

∎ Jack Campbell played middle linebacker with the second-team defense, while Derrick Barnes and Alex Anzalone were with the top unit. Barnes had a strong camp and won't relinquish his starting job easily, but Campbell played as his backup Sunday and handled the play calling for the unit. By the looks of it, those two will battle for the starting job next to Anzalone.

∎ One more rookie note before I move on to other things: Hendon Hooker, the Lions' third-round pick who likely will spend all of training camp on the nonfootball injury list, spent about 20 minutes working with trainers after practice. He went through pass drops without a ball in his hand, focusing on footwork, then threw short routes near the end zone and closed with a handful of sprints of less than 50 yards.

Hooker is tracking towards being ready to play sometime this fall, though the Lions are in no hurry to get him on the field. Goff is the unquestioned starter and Sudfeld should be his backup since Hooker likely won’t log any preseason playing time this summer.

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∎ The Lions have three “acclimation” days left before a day off Wednesday, then will don pads for the first time later this week. As such, observations from team drills are relatively light, though some of the personnel groupings were interesting to note.

Graham Glasgow got the first look at right guard with the first-team offense, ahead of Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Vaitai was the Lions’ starter at the position in 2021, but missed last year with a back injury and took a pay cut this offseason to stay with the team. Glasgow should get plenty of center reps this summer, too, but one of those two likely will emerge as the Lions’ starter.

∎ Charles Harris got the first look at strongside linebacker, ahead of Julian Okwara and James Houston. Harris took most of the first-team reps in the summer, too, as the Lions are making Houston earn a full-time role after his breakout second half of last season. With Hutchinson, Cominsky and Josh Paschal ticketed for time at defensive end, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn should be able to mix and match personnel to get the most out of his pass rush packages this fall.

∎ Jalen Reeves-Maybin made the highlight play of the day, intercepting an Adrian Martinez pass that bounced off the hands of rookie receiver Dylan Drummond. Reeves-Maybin caught the ricochet as he ran back towards Drummond to make a play on the ball. He could have a Chris Board-like role this fall, playing a core role on special teams and seeing time at linebacker in obvious passing situations.

∎ Justin Jackson, who served as the Lions’ primary kick returner last season, was first up as the Lions’ personal protector on punts. Jackson re-signed Saturday, but is the best bet to be the Lions’ No. 3 running back given his special teams value and play last season. Tracy Walker played personal protector, the role C.J. Moore held before he was released, with the second-team punt unit.

Branch and Thomas were first up at gunner Sunday, followed by Ifeatu Melifonwu and rookie receiver Antoine Green. For Thomas, Melifonwu and Green, special teams contributions will be key to earning a roster spot.

∎ Gibbs made a nice catch in traffic on a circle route that put him between Anzalone and Barnes, one snap after he appeared to be the guilty party on a false start penalty that caused the offense to rehuddle. Montgomery made a nice one-handed grab a play earlier, then was dumped to the ground on an inadvertent hit by Harris. Montgomery was back in two plays later, though he didn’t appear to appreciate the hit.

∎ Goff completed 11 of 12 passes in the Lions’ two team periods and four snaps of seven-on-seven. His lone miss was a wobbler to Shane Zylstra in seven-on-seven, though he would have got lit up by Hutchinson on a blitz on his second-to-last snap of the day.

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∎ Rookie defensive tackle Brodric Martin is huge and his size paid dividends when he jumped to deflect a Sudfeld pass at the line of scrimmage in the Lions’ second team period. Rodriguez showed off the key-and-diagnose skills that earned him a starting job one play later, when he read a screen pass to Craig Reynolds and met Reynolds upon his catch as Houston was barreling in from the other side on a pass rush.

∎ Final note for the day: Denzel Mims, who the Lions acquired in a trade with the New York Jets last week, spent about 20 minutes after practice working with receivers coach Antwaan Randle El. A second-round pick in 2020, Mims caught just 42 passes in three seasons with the Jets.

As the two walked off the field together, Randle El told a small group of reporters waiting for Mims, "If y'all can get him tomorrow, sorry, cause we got a lot to get to."

Mims then went for a soak in the cold tub and declined a reporter's interview request when he finished. He is scheduled to talk to reporters Monday.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions observations: Rookies stand out to open training camp