Nick Whiteside Had the Kind of Day That Makes You Remember Why You Watch Training Camp
Training camp is officially underway at Allen Park, and Day 1 gave us something we desperately needed. Something to get excited about. Something that wasn’t just reps and repetition but actual standout play that makes you lean forward and wonder if maybe, just maybe, we’ve got another one.
Nick Whiteside stole the show. And I mean stole it.
Three pass breakups. Everywhere on the field. Every five minutes you heard his name again. He was working with the second and third team, which tells you where he’s at on the depth chart right now, but the production was absolutely first team level. It wasn’t close.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Most of us have been operating under the assumption that Rocky Sin has a corner spot locked down, with maybe Ennis Rakestraw pushing for a role behind him. But Whiteside’s Day 1 performance makes you rethink that a little. I know it’s just one day. No pads yet. No true hitting. But this kid is absolutely somebody to watch for the rest of the summer.
He might be a guy who can at least make the 53-man roster. Hell, if this keeps up, he could creep into a bigger role than that.
Dominic Lovett Showed He Belongs in the Conversation
Lovett had a good day. It wasn’t as flashy as what Whiteside put up, and it wasn’t anything that made me rethink the entire receiver depth chart. But the thought process with Lovett has been about whether he can make a difference in the return game and put himself on the board for a roster spot.
He had a day that presents that as a real opportunity.
He could fall into that fifth or sixth receiver spot depending on how many receivers Detroit wants to carry, and he might be able to compete with Greg Dortch for the return job. I will say though, Dortch looked like a man who was right at home fielding returns. Of all the guys who went out for that job on Day 1, Dortch looked the most comfortable.
DJ Reed Looked Like Himself Again and That Matters More Than You Think
Reed had a strong day, including a really nice pass breakup on tight end Sam LaPorta. He looked good in coverage across the board. The big takeaway here is that we know last year he dealt with some issues coming back from injury, and it looked like it totally hampered him.
On Wednesday, he just looked like himself again.
That matters for a Lions secondary that needs him at his best. We brought him in to be a stabilizing presence on the outside, and last year he didn’t look like the player we thought we were getting. If this version of DJ Reed shows up all summer and into the regular season, the entire secondary picture changes.
Jameson Williams Made the Catch of the Day and It Was Unreal
Jameson Williams had the catch of the day, and it was jaw-dropping. He was going up against both Chuck Clark and Rakestraw, and they were tight on him. Super tight coverage going downfield on a 40-yard throw from Jared Goff.
When the ball left Goff’s hands, I think everybody watching assumed there was no way it was getting caught. Williams came down with it anyway.
It looked like something out of the Calvin Johnson era. He didn’t jump over everybody, but he made a contested grab that was genuinely impressive. If the Lions don’t clip that and post it on their social media, I’d be shocked, because it was that good.
Beyond the one catch, Williams just looked like a guy who is at home. He looked confident. He did not look like somebody still trying to figure things out. He talked about how much work he put in this offseason tracking the ball in the air, and he showed it on Day 1.
It’s early. No pads, no live contact, and a long summer still ahead. But Day 1 gave us some things to watch, and Whiteside’s emergence in the cornerback battle might be the most compelling storyline heading into Day 2.
Is Nick Whiteside about to steal a starting job or are we getting hyped over a Wednesday in July? Drop your take below.
