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What Dan Campbell is looking for in Lions' final joint practice of camp
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- What Dan Campbell is looking for in Lions' final joint practice of camp
The Detroit Lions hold their final joint practice of training camp Thursday in Allen Park against the Houston Texans . It will mark the final tune-up for most of the Lions ' starters before their Sept. 7 season opener against the Green Bay Packers .
"I'm really fired up that we're going to get Houston to come in here," Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday. "It's only for one practice, but I mean those guys are — what (coach) DeMeco (Ryans has) done out there has been really impressive and I know this defense is, they're the real deal. The way they play, the way they practice, they go about their business, they've got weaponry on offense, the quarterback's a good little player. You can go across the board."
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The Lions beat the Texans, 26-23, last season in a game in which Jared Goff threw five interceptions .
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) runs with the ball as Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) attempts to make a tackle during the first quarter at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024.
The Lions didn't allow a point on the possessions after their final three turnovers, and scored 19 straight second-half points to end the game.
Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown , Jahmyr Gibbs , Aidan Hutchinson , Brian Branch and most of the Lions' other projected starters have not played this preseason, and are not expected to suit up for their exhibition finale Saturday against the Texans at Ford Field.
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The Lions had two collectively dominant performances in joint practices against the Miami Dolphins last week, but Thursday's workout with the Texans will be an even bigger test of where the offense and defense are heading into the fall with new coordinators on each unit.
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Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport , Derrick Barnes and Taylor Decker are among the Lions' returning starters who did not play last year against the Texans because of injuries.
"I can't wait," Campbell said. "That keeps me from (looking) too far ahead. So we've got this little batch left. I can't wait to get Houston here cause it'll be great for us, we need the work and it'll make us better, I just know it will."
Campbell said Thursday's practice, the Lions' last public workout of summer, will follow a similar script to last week's padded practices against the Dolphins. The Lions and Texans will do more second- and third-and-long periods, where the offense has to dig itself out from being behind the sticks, and the defense has to get off the field.
Overall, Campbell said his starters should get "40 to 50 plays in," or about three quarters worth of work ahead of the fast-approaching start of the regular season.
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"It's crazy (camp is almost over)," Campbell said.
"Now that we're into really the end of it with Houston at the tail end, what seemed like it was just the beginning is now close to the end and it has flown by. So, I think as always, the trick is to keep your eyes on what's in front of you right now."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky , X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dan Campbell 'fired up' for Lions' final joint practice vs Texans
