Alim McNeill absolutely tore it up at the Detroit Lions’ second padded practice, closing out Week 1 of training camp. The defensive tackle started Tuesday like a man possessed, slicing into the backfield on back-to-back run plays.
McNeill’s got that dog in him. On the first play, he swam around Cade Mays, meeting Rock Ya-Sin for a tackle for loss. The very next snap, McNeill beat Blake Miller’s down block attempt and got his hands on the back again. Starting right guard Tate Ratledge saw it all unfold. After practice, Ratledge was asked about defensive standouts, and McNeill was the first and only name out of his mouth. “Man, Alim,” Ratledge said, confirming he told someone recently how excited he is to get a full camp against McNeill “when he’s 100 percent.” Ratledge added McNeill is a “completely different player now” compared to last year, calling him “explosive, strong,” and saying he’s “getting me better every day.” That’s high praise.
Nick Whiteside’s Big Step Up
Nick Whiteside might not have had his absolute best day, but he made the list because he got a huge promotion. During 1-on-1 drills, Whiteside matched up against some of Detroit’s top receivers. He battled, even losing a rep to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who created late separation and high-pointed a ball over Whiteside’s back. But he bounced right back! Whiteside decisively won his next rep against Isaac TeSlaa to seal out the drill. While he mostly worked with the second-team defense, he earned crucial snaps with the first-team during the final situational drill. Whiteside was right there, covering Jameson Williams on a fourth-and-10 play, helping to shut down the offense’s late-drive score attempt. Williams did get both hands on the ball, but Whiteside was in decent coverage, making it tough. That’s a huge step.
Jabari Small’s Versatility Shining
Before practice, Head Coach Campbell talked about opportunities for guys like Jacob Saylors, especially with Jahmyr Gibbs sitting out and Sione Vaki out with a broken nose. But Campbell was just as hyped to talk about Jabari Small. “Small is doing some things and he’s doing some things on special teams too, man,” Campbell raved. He loves Small’s “low to the ground, center of gravity,” calling him “stout” and “strong” with “lateral quicks.” Those weren’t just coach-speak; Small carried that energy right into practice. He got reps with the first-team offense, running alongside Isiah Pacheco and Saylors. During 11-on-11 rushing drills, Small was the first to explode for a big run, showing a decisive cut and acceleration to hit the hole. His shiftiness on a few jump cuts was seriously impressive. This dude is showing he can do it all.
So, Week 1 of Lions training camp is wrapped, and these guys are making some noise. Alim McNeill looks like a beast reborn, Nick Whiteside is proving he belongs, and Jabari Small is flashing serious versatility. Keep your eyes on these three as camp continues. If this is just the start, Detroit’s gonna have some fun.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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