Lions' D'Andre Swift Says He'll 'Most Definitely' Play in Week 2 Despite Ankle Injury
Sep 15, 2022
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 11: D'Andre Swift #32 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field on September 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift plans on taking the field Sunday to build on his impressive Week 1 effort.
While Swift missed Thursday's practice because of an ankle injury, he told ESPN's Eric Woodyard (h/t Jeanna Trotman of WXYZ Detroit) he will "most definitely" play against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
That is welcome news for the Lions because Swift was brilliant during a season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
He ran for 144 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries while adding three catches for 31 yards in the aerial attack. He kept Detroit within striking distance in the early going, but the NFC North team's comeback fell short in the 38-35 defeat.
Swift was highly regarded coming out of Georgia, but he is yet to truly make his mark as a game-changing running back at the NFL level. He appeared in 13 games in each of his first two seasons, running for 521 yards in 2020 and 617 yards in 2021.
That is solid production, especially combined with his 809 combined receiving yards in his first two seasons, but the Swift that was on display against the Eagles looked like someone who could challenge for the rushing title.
There may be plenty of rushing room against the Commanders too considering they allowed 6.8 yards per carry during their Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. James Robinson scored a touchdown on the ground, while Travis Etienne Jr. had 47 yards on just four carries.
Detroit may need to win offensive shootouts if Week 1 was any indication, and the offense is far more explosive when Swift is on the field.
It sounds like he will be Sunday.
Lions Favored for 1st Time in 24 Games in Week 2 vs. Commanders
Sep 14, 2022
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 11: D'Andre Swift #32 of the Detroit Lions runs with the ball during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field on September 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
For the first time in the past 24 regular-season games, the Detroit Lions are favored to win in Week 2 of the 2022 NFL season.
According to ESPN's Eric Woodyard, the Lions are 2.5-point home favorites over the Washington Commanders, marking the first time they have been favored since a Nov. 22, 2020, road game against the Carolina Panthers.
Detroit lost that game 20-0, setting the stage for 24 consecutive contests as an underdog, which had been the longest active streak in the NFL until now.
The Lions nearly pulled off a major upset in Week 1, falling 38-35 to a Philadelphia Eagles team that is favored to win the NFC East.
Detroit was down 38-21 in the fourth quarter, but it whittled the deficit down to three before Philly managed to close the game out.
Running back D'Andre Swift was the undisputed star for the Lions, rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown, while also catching three passes for 31 yards.
Meanwhile, the Commanders got their season off to a strong start with a come-from-behind, 28-22 home win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Washington was down 22-14 in the fourth quarter, but a 49-yard touchdown pass from Carson Wentz to Terry McLaurin cut the lead to two, and Wentz later put the Commanders ahead for good with a 24-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson inside two minutes.
In his first game as Washington's starting quarterback, Wentz made some mistakes—he threw two interceptions—but the good far outweighed the bad to the tune of 313 yards and four touchdowns.
The Commanders will likely need another big game from Wentz in order to knock off a Lions team that is quickly improving under head coach Dan Campbell.
Lions' Jameson Williams Put on NFI List; Reportedly Targeting Midseason Return
Aug 23, 2022
ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN - JULY 27: Jameson Williams #18 of the Detroit Lions looks on during the Detroit Lions Training Camp on July 27, 2022 at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions have placed Jameson Williams on the reserve/non-football injury list Tuesday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The 12th overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft will be unavailable to begin the year after suffering a torn ACL in last year's college football national championship game while at Alabama.
Detroit hopes Williams will be available to play around midseason, according to Pelissero.
The wideout told James Palmer of NFL Network prior to the draft that he was expecting to be fully cleared before training camp. In May, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported most executives predicted October as the "sweet spot for his return," with November also a possibility.
It's clear the Lions will remain patient with the 21-year-old as they prioritize his long-term outlook over an early return.
Williams was one of college football's breakout stars after transferring from Ohio State to Alabama. He tallied 79 catches for 1,572 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in 15 games as the leading receiver for the national runner-ups.
It came after catching just 15 passes across two seasons with the Buckeyes.
The 6'2" receiver also displayed his dynamic ability on special teams, averaging 35.2 yards per kickoff return with two touchdowns.
Even with the injury, the Lions saw enough to trade up 20 spots from No. 32 to make Williams the fourth receiver off the board in April. When he does get on the field, he will join an exciting offense featuring young playmakers D'Andre Swift and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Lions HBO 'Hard Knocks' 2022: Best Fan Tweets, Memes from Episode 2
Aug 17, 2022
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 12: Tim Boyle #12 of the Detroit Lions plays against the Atlanta Falcons during a NFL preseason gamat Ford Field on August 12, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
If the opening episode of Hard Knocks' portrayal of Detroit Lions training camp was about getting to know head coach Dan Campbell and some of the franchise cornerstones such as Aidan Hutchinson, the second one was a love letter to the city and an introduction to some of the other players.
Whether it was members of the team explaining what Detroit represents to them, old footage of the Lions' mascot and the Silverdome, and a training camp visit from the legendary Barry Sanders, the city and its history served as a clear backdrop for Tuesday's episode.
There were also a number of players on the forefront, including rookie linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Both of them inspired plenty of reactions from viewers, especially when Rodriguez thrived in practice and St. Brown named all 16 wide receivers who were selected ahead of him during the 2021 NFL draft when he wasn't training with his father and two-time Mr. Universe, John Brown:
Amon-Ra St. Brown has repeatedly mentioned how he knows exactly who was taken before him. and how he’ll make those teams regret it. that draft scene 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Random #HardKnocks highlight: John Brown, the father of Amon-Ra St. Brown and a former Mr. Universe, took a random shot at Kevin Durant because of the latter's torn Achilles. "I have a question for guys like Kevin Durant...when was the last time you did a calf raise?"
Remembering those names certainly worked for St. Brown because he tallied 90 catches for 912 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie.
Other standout moments from Tuesday's episode was another memorable speech from Campbell and backup quarterback David Blough supporting his wife, Melissa Gonzalez, while she competed in the previous Olympics and trained for the next ones.
It all built toward the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons, which was an unfortunate turn of events for Blough. After all, he fumbled the ball late in the fourth quarter while protecting a three-point lead, and Atlanta responded by driving down the field and scoring a touchdown in the final two minutes to secure a 27-23 win.
Attention will now turn toward Detroit's ability to bounce back in the second preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.
It will surely be highlighted in the third episode next Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
Lions' Jameson Williams Switches Jersey to No. 9; Formerly Matthew Stafford's Number
Aug 10, 2022
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams watches during an NFL football practice in Allen Park, Mich., Saturday, May 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams is yet to play an NFL game, but he has already made a jersey change.
The 2022 No. 12 overall draft pick will now wear No. 9 after getting permission from former quarterback Matthew Stafford:
#Lions rookie Jameson Williams has officially switched his jersey to No. 9 — Matthew Stafford’s old Detroit number. He was looking for a single digit number and actually reached out to Stafford on his own via text as an act of courtesy, according to a source. Classy move. pic.twitter.com/wzkhJmQRQd
Stafford wore No. 9 for 12 years with the Lions before moving to the Los Angeles Rams in a 2021 trade. He won a Super Bowl in his first year with his new team.
Though Detroit has not yet retired the quarterback's number, Stafford is the franchise's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and wins as a starting quarterback.
Williams, meanwhile, originally planned to wear No. 18 after his first choice of No. 1 was already taken by Jeff Okudah.
"One reason was Calvin Johnson had 81 and seeing 81, I wanted to flip it," Williams told reporters in May. "Then Randy Moss had 18 one time. He was my favorite receiver, so 18."
The rookie will instead go with the single-digit number as he tries to make his mark in the NFL.
Lions HBO 'Hard Knocks' 2022: Best Fan Tweets, Memes from Episode 1
Aug 10, 2022
ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN - JULY 29: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions smile while answering questions from reporters during the Detroit Lions Training Camp at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility on July 29, 2022 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
It's only right that the 2022 edition of HBO's Hard Knocks started out with Dan Campbell.
After all, the Detroit Lions' second-year head coach is a quote machine who brings a unique blend of energy, motivational tactics and experience as a former player. Those quotes and his focus on "grit" were on full display before the opening credits even rolled in Tuesday's opening episode of HBO's annual behind-the-scenes look at training camp for an NFL team.
This year's team is the Lions, and viewers were ready to run through a wall for Campbell just like the players:
"We'll play on grass, we'll play on turf, we'll go to a (expletive) landfill. It doesn't matter. Doesn't matter if you have one ass cheek and three toes. I will beat your ass."
Dan Campbell, before they've even rolled the opening credits
There's nothing like a head coach joining his players in up-downs in the summer heat to set the tone for a football team attempting to put four straight last-place finishes in the NFC North behind it.
Finding the right combination of players will be key in that effort as well, and one of those potential franchise cornerstones is defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The Lions selected him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft because of his talent on the field, but he might have gone No. 1 if the picks were based on singing ability:
HBO’s season debut of Hard Knocks with the Lions features the 2nd pick, Aidan Hutchinson - who turns 22 today - singing Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” during team meeting. “Producers claim it may be the most entertaining rookie singing moment in show history,” per show official.
Hutchinson had the entire team dancing as a rookie, but it was a veteran who stole the show when it came to leadership.
Running back Jamaal Williams brought himself to tears during a post-practice motivational speech centered around how he uses last year's 3-13-1 record as fuel to get better heading into a new campaign.
That he spent four years on the Green Bay Packers and understands the other side of the NFC North standings made the words all the more notable.
the fact that Jamaal Williams can make you belly laugh one minute then want to follow him into war with an incredibly emotional passionate speech the next. respect
Tuesday's episode also delved into the one-on-one battles between Hutchinson and offensive lineman Penei Sewell and introduced viewers to a coaching staff loaded with former players, including running backs coach Duce Staley and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.
.@Lions coaches Duce Staley & Aaron Glenn are pure comedy. 😅
Even the coaches get competitive at practice. (via @NFLFilms)
If the Lions battle other teams like Staley and Glenn did between the lines, they may just contend in the NFC North this season.
Their preparation toward doing just that will continue next Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max when Hard Knocks continues.
Hard Knocks Lead Ken Rodgers Talks Lions' Intent on Restoring Pride in B/R Interview
Aug 4, 2022
ALLEN PARK, MICHIGAN - JULY 29: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions warms up during the Detroit Lions Training Camp at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility on July 29, 2022 in Allen Park, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions are something of a punchline for most fans, and for good reason.
The franchise is coming off four straight last-place finishes in the NFC North and hasn't won a playoff game since the 1991 season. Driving the perception home was the fact Matthew Stafford never won a playoff game in 12 seasons for the Lions just to win the Super Bowl in his first year with the Los Angeles Rams.
Yet this year's Lions team, which will be featured on HBO's Hard Knocks, is out to prove everyone wrong.
"A lot of people think of the Lions and their first thoughts are negative, and that's certainly been the case historically," Ken Rodgers, Vice President and Senior Coordinating Producer at NFL Films and lead creative producer for Hard Knocks, told Bleacher Report. "But this roster is full of players who actually want to be Lions and who are proud of being Lions. And coaches who are proud to wear that logo. They're really intent on restoring the pride of that franchise. That's a big hill to push up. Being able to capture some of that is fascinating to us."
There is reason for optimism beyond a renewed sense of pride in being a Lion.
Detroit signed 2019 Pro Bowl wide receiver D.J. Chark to pair with Amon-Ra St. Brown after the latter's breakthrough rookie season. It also selected Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 2 pick and Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams with the No. 12 pick of the 2022 NFL draft.
That is multiple franchise cornerstones right there, and the sense of urgency and high stakes permeating throughout the entire organization as training camp begins is ideal for Hard Knocks.
"I think people will see a classic Hard Knocks team," Rodgers said. "That is, a team that has a lot at stake across the whole roster. Last year, the Cowboys were favored to win their division and go deep into the playoffs, the year before, we did the Chargers and the Rams—who are now Super Bowl champions. But really, Hard Knocks is always about aspiration. That's why the younger players and the players on the bubble always resonate so strongly because everyone is chasing a dream. The entirety of the Lions staff, front office and roster are still chasing that dream. They haven't gotten there yet. There's a real sense of urgency compared to some camps. There's a lot of camps where the goal is 'don't get anyone hurt.' That's not happening at Allen Park. The goal is getting better and working extremely hard every day. You can sense it in the footage. You can sense that there's a lot on the line and that these guys care about every rep that they take."
Rodgers revealed the opening episode will largely focus on headline names such as Jared Goff, Hutchinson and St. Brown before later episodes shift as far down the roster as the backup quarterback competition between Tim Boyle and David Blough.
"I even think that some roles like backup quarterback that you wouldn't normally think of can provide tension because it's not set yet who exactly that's going to be," he said. "That role, as we've seen in the NFL, is extremely important."
Boyle was winless in three starts for the Lions last year, while Blough went 0-5 in five starts for the team in 2019. Which one of them establishes immediate chemistry with the wide receiver group may be key in creating separation for multiple position battles.
"The biggest position group will be just a free-for-all battle at wide receiver," Rodgers said. "There's just a ton of young, talented players on this roster without spots at the end of the day. They're all pretty equal in talent, and they're all competing for limited spots. There's going to be some real fireworks with the wide receivers."
While Williams, Chark, St. Brown and Josh Reynolds are safe when it comes to roster spots, audiences may get a chance to see pass-catchers such as Kalif Raymond, Kalil Pimpleton and others battling it out.
Learning more about those players, both on and off the field, is what Hard Knocks is largely about, but it will likely be up to their performances to determine which ones get more shine.
"We're really documentarians," Rodgers said. "As camp develops and as the coaches get impressed with players, that's who we'll be impressed by. We don't create stars out of nothing, we wait to see how they're performing and what coaches are thinking. Who is moving up the ladder and who is dropping down the ladder."
Of course, it wouldn't be Hard Knocks without certain players shining through and becoming fan favorites for more than just their football skills.
Running back Jamaal Williams, whom Rodgers said "has probably the biggest personality on the team," is a candidate to do just that this year.
He's the "king of their TikTok," Rodgers said. "The Lions have the best TikTok in the NFL by far. So he's very open as a personality, and that always helps us get to know people. It's a thin line, but we make sure that if a player is showing off for the camera that we don't use that material. It's when they're acting naturally that their personality comes out."
Players aren't the only personalities audiences will get to know with a behind-the-scenes look at the Lions.
A coaching staff that includes notable names and former players such as Duce Staley, Mark Brunell and Antwaan Randle El also figures to be under the spotlight.
"I think the personalities are going to be more on the coaching staff than in past years," Rodgers said. "This coaching staff has 80 years combined playing experience, which is incredible. And they're teaching the youngest roster in the league. You have Dan Campbell, the head coach, who has played in the NFL. Mark Brunell is the quarterbacks coach. Duce Staley is the running backs coach. Antwaan Randle El is the wide receivers coach. And Hank Fraley is the offensive line coach. So just on offense you have multiple decades of experience out on the playing field. You don't get to be as successful in the NFL without having strong personalities. They're now teaching this new generation how they did it, and that creates a completely different feel at camp because the guys who are imposing the rules and the discipline have been there themselves."
It is reasonable to expect that Campbell will be a main character.
After all, he is not just the head coach but a former player who is also a quote machine. Whether he is talking about biting kneecaps, bringing the energy or just preparing for a game, Campbell turns heads and is a familiar presence to even casual NFL fans.
However, the ability of Hard Knocks to go beyond the surface-level sound clips will give fans the opportunity to learn more about the Lions' second-year head coach.
"What I will say is that he has proven to be twice as smart as anyone gives him credit for, probably because of the way he looks—which is a complete badass." Rodgers said. "His attention to detail and care for the thought process behind playing the game is something that people overlook. I think it's easy to focus on his quotes, and there will be plenty of quotes that people will enjoy, but I think you'll be just as impressed with the quiet conversations he has with players. And how personal and professional he makes his relationships with players. You're going to get to know him a lot better than you think you do from the press conferences."
Campbell, the players and the coaching staff will be the features as fans get to know them better, but every good television show needs supporting characters.
A notable supporting character in this year's Hard Knocks?
The renowned Detroit music scene.
"Music is such a focus on this show, we take a lot of pride in our soundtrack listings each week," Rodgers said. "There's definitely going to be some Detroit focus throughout all five episodes. The Hard Knocks original compositions here at NFL Films have a Motown flare this year. And there's always the possibility that famous musicians will stop by training camp themselves and interact with the players. Music is a bedrock of Detroit, and I expect the Detroit music scene over the course of five episodes to be a pretty big bedrock of the show."
Motown won't be the only treat for fans this year, as Rodgers revealed audiences will be even closer to the field than in the recent past.
"The last two years, we've had COVID restrictions so there's been a distance between us and the players," he said. "We tried our best to not show it on screen and get as close to the players as possible and get to know them as much as possible, but it was difficult. This year, there are no COVID restrictions, so I think people will really feel like they're right in the middle of action."
That action begins with the first episode on Aug. 9 on HBO and HBO Max.
Tyrell Crosby Rips Lions' Handling of Injuries: I Was Treated Like 'Piece of Meat'
Aug 1, 2022
BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 16: Tyrell Crosby #65 of the Detroit Lions looks on during NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 16, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Free-agent offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby didn't look back on his time with the Detroit Lions fondly while reflecting on his three-year run there.
The Lions cut Crosby ahead of the 2021 NFL season. Last December, he underwent surgery for an injury that the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett reported as being "misdiagnosed" during training camp.
In an interview Sunday with Birkett (via Pride of Detroit's Jeremy Reisman), Crosby alleged the Lions didn't treat his complaints about back pain seriously. He added it was part of a wider issue within the franchise.
"I would go out of the way for anybody in that building, and then to realize, 'Oh, they actually just treat you like a genuine piece of meat and they don't — they act like they truly don't care.' It's so disheartening, and I hear from like other guys around the league that it's, most teams aren't that way. And so you start to understand, 'Oh, this is definitely something that starts from the top down.' It sucks."
Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed the interview Monday and said his players are encouraged to come to him with any issues they might be having:
"My players know if they got an issue, they'll come up and talk to me."#Lions head coach Dan Campbell addresses Freep's Tyrell Crosby story in an interview with @StoneyJansen. pic.twitter.com/E0vfRcJgSj
Crosby told Birkett the spinal fusion procedure he had last winter could jeopardize his NFL career. When it comes to his next stop should he return to the field, the 26-year-old made it clear he wouldn't want to play for Detroit.
"I wouldn't want to play for that organization just knowing what I know now and just how poorly they treat their players," he said.
William White Dies at 56; Former Lions, Ohio State Safety Diagnosed with ALS in 2016
Jul 29, 2022
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 31: Chris Spielman, left, embraces William White, both former Detroit Lions players, during the Pride of the Lions celebration during halftime in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Ford Field on October 31, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Former Detroit Lions and Ohio State University safety William White has died at age 56 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The Lions announced the news Thursday with a statement from special assistant to the president and CEO Chris Spielman, who was White's teammate with the Lions from 1988 to 1993:
We share in the sadness felt today throughout the NFL community following the news of William White’s passing. Drafted by the Lions in the 4th round of the 1988 Draft out of Ohio State, White played 6 seasons in Detroit (1988-1993) & appeared in 95 games (79 starts) for the club. pic.twitter.com/v42P1KnbmA
According to NFL.com's Grant Gordon, White was diagnosed with ALS in 2016.
Detroit selected White in the fourth round of the 1988 NFL draft, and after he spent his rookie season as a backup, the Lima, Ohio, native started for the Lions in each of the next five seasons.
White then played three seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and two with the Atlanta Falcons before retiring after the 1998 campaign.
His most productive season came in 1990 when he finished with career highs of 106 tackles and five interceptions, and he returned one of those picks for a touchdown.
After experiencing limited playoff success during his first decade in the NFL, White fell just short of winning a Super Bowl in his final season.
White started 16 regular-season games in 1998 as well as three playoff games—logging two fourth-quarter interceptions of the San Francisco 49ers' Steve Young in the Falcons' 20-18 divisional round victory—but Atlanta fell to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl.
In his career, White started 132 of the 170 regular-season games he appeared in and recorded 721 tackles, 20 interceptions, two forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks.
Ex-NFL TE Orson Charles Arrested After Threatening to Shoot Police over Parking Spot
Jul 17, 2022
BEREA, OH - JULY 28: Cleveland Browns tight end Orson Charles (82) participates in drills during the Cleveland Browns Training Camp on July 28, 2019, at the at the Cleveland Browns Training Facility in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Former NFL tight end Orson Charles was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed firearm after allegedly confronting two law enforcement officers during an argument over a parking space, per Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times.
Charles was in one car and lost out on a parking spot to another vehicle with the two officers. The former NFL player then allegedly approached the other car and pulled a gun.
Police said the officers showed Charles their badges, but he responded by cursing and saying "I have one in the head."
That is when the officers drove away from the scene and alerted another deputy of the situation before Charles was taken into custody.
Charles also faces one charge of introduction of contraband into a detention facility.
The 31-year-old played collegiately at Georgia and was a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
He appeared in games for the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns from 2012 through 2018 and never had more than 101 receiving yards in a season.
