The Training Camp Darling You Forgot About
Here we are in mid-May, trying to predict which Lions will make the roster while knowing damn well that at least one random player is about to capture our hearts in training camp. It’s the circle of life in Allen Park.
This franchise has a long history with training camp darlings. Tom Kennedy turned his camp buzz into multiple seasons. Others like Kalil Pimpleton and Ian Kennelly? They flashed bright and faded fast, bouncing around the league or disappearing entirely. The NFL is ruthless that way.
But here’s the thing about Lions fans – we love an underdog story. We live for the guy who comes out of nowhere to make plays. And I think I know exactly who’s going to fill that role this summer.
Ahmed Hassanein Is Your Answer
Sure, I could pick rookie Skyler Gill-Howard. The kid has pass rush pop and an inspiring backstory, which is catnip for fans looking for someone to root for. But there’s another player lurking in the background that some of you might have forgotten about.
Ahmed Hassanein was the immediate favorite during last year’s training camp and preseason. The 2025 sixth-round pick was raw as hell, sure, but his energy and ferocity were unmatched. Remember his preseason debut against the Chargers? Highest-rated Lions defender by PFF. The follow-up against Atlanta was a step back but still showed promise for a project player.
Then the pectoral injury hit. Training camp ended early. And in a move that surprised some people, Brad Holmes waived him with an injury settlement rather than stashing him on injured reserve.
Here’s where it gets interesting – Hassanein went unclaimed on waivers. After recovering, he quietly joined the practice squad in mid-November. The move worked out for everyone involved.
Why Everyone Will Remember Why They Loved Him
The excitement around his re-signing has probably died down since we’re approaching a calendar year since he last took the field. People are naturally more intrigued by the new toys – veteran DJ Wonnum, second-round pick Derrick Moore, or even undrafted rookies like Anthony Lucas.
But Hassanein shouldn’t be forgotten. And I’m betting he won’t let anyone forget about him once camp starts.
Thanks to the Wonnum and Moore additions, the Lions aren’t desperately searching for edge help opposite Aidan Hutchinson anymore. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for Hassanein to carve out a depth role. Once people see him in pads giving 110-percent effort on every snap, everyone will remember exactly why we were excited about him last year.
The energy, the motor, the relentless pursuit – that stuff doesn’t go away. It just gets refined with experience and a full year in the system.
Who’s your pick for training camp darling – the forgotten project or one of the shiny new additions? Let me know in the comments below.
I really think Hassanein is going to surprise people this summer. The dude had that fire in the preseason and a year to heal up and learn the system is only going to make him better. Campbell loves guys with that kind of motor and I bet we see him flash again.
I like the optimism but let’s pump the brakes a little. We’ve seen this movie before with practice squad guys – they look good for a week then reality hits in camp. Hassanein had promise but missing a year is a real setback. Hope I’m wrong though.
This is the kind of deep roster conversation we never used to have back in the day. The fact that we’re talking about project guys with actual optimism instead of just hoping they don’t get hurt is a totally different vibe for this organization now.