Pressers and scrums: No one wants Hendon Hooker to slide more than mom

Allen Park — OK, buckle up, because this will probably be the longest edition of this series since we launched.

If nothing else, there are going to be a few extra bullet points after the gaggle of reporters in attendance talked to defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for the first time this camp, followed by post-practice sessions with wide receiver Kalif Raymond and quarterback Hendon Hooker, who was returning to action after clearing concussion protocol. We’ll also touch base on coach Dan Campbell’s morning interview with 97.1-FM.

But let’s start with Hooker, who was a full participant during Wednesday’s practice and appears to be on track to play in Saturday’s preseason game against Kansas City.

Hooker left the preseason opener late in the third quarter after suffering a concussion. Because he was in protocol, this was our first chance to hear his assessment of his performance, which lasted only two possessions before the injury.

"I thought I did a good job with decision-making, just controlling the offense, getting into a tempo, up to the line, operating at a high level,” Hooker said. “My kills were right. My eyes were in the right place. Just continuing to play fast with my feet and my mental process.

"I was just trying to bring some energy whenever I can,” Hooker continued. “Whether that be a quick screen for someone or my pull blockers getting physical on the line of scrimmage, however I can come in and motivate my guys and play a high level, that's what I want to do." 

Hooker got almost everyone fired up when he ran over a Giants defender on a scramble, but that play also potentially led to his concussion. After the game, Campbell talked about the importance of knowing when to slide, but Hooker is getting the same advice from a source that might even carry more weight: His mother.

"Oh, yeah,” Hooker said. “My mom is a huge fan of sliding. I always get it from her, but now the coaches are on me as well. 'We got to slide,’ (mom said). She's been saying that for years. I'm learning. I'm learning.”

Assuming he gets the green light, Hooker said his priority against Kansas City will be getting the offense into the end zone after the team failed to find the painted grass against the Giants last week.

● It’s fair to say we have a pretty good idea about what the Lions offense can do after a pair of top-five finishes the past couple season, and nearly all the starting personnel returning in 2024. The bigger changes, and lingering mystery, are attached to the defense.

It’s been thoroughly covered, but the cornerback position has been overhauled, Brian Branch has shifted to safety and the defensive line got a boost with the additions of DJ Reader and Marcus Davenport. Campbell told 97.1, the extent of the changes truly hit him when scanning the faces in a full-team meeting this week.

Glenn has always tried to build his scheme and play-calling around his personnel, despite personal preferences for how he’d like to attack. The perception is the incoming cornerbacks, from veterans Carlton Davis III and Amik Robertson to rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, will allow Glenn to play a more aggressive man-to-man coverage scheme than he has in years past.

“The defensive backs that we brought in really fit my personality on how we want to get ready to play,” Glenn said. “The defensive linemen that we have, they really fit the personality of how we want to play. So I’m excited to be able to do some things that I think, overall as an organization, that we want to do because we’re an aggressive offense, we’re an aggressive special teams and we want to be aggressive on defense also.”

That aggression has also shown up with how frequently the defense has been blitzing throughout camp, throwing a variety of extra rushers from all angles on all downs. Glenn said part of that strategy is finding out who can do it.

“You are right, we do have some guys that can do out there and play press-man coverage, we do have some guys that can attack the quarterback, and the more guys you have like that, the more you try to put them in position to go and do it.”

● There was plenty of consternation across the man base after Arnold (pec), Rakestraw (ankle) and running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) exited practice earlier in the week, but Campbell downplayed any long-term concerns.

“I think we're going to be fine here,” Campbell said. “I think we're going to be good.”

The downside is all the injuries in the secondary are making it difficult to evaluate which grouping will have the best chemistry heading into the regular season. In addition to Arnold and Rakestraw, Davis has been battling a hamstring injury, and Branch missed full-team work to start camp while recovering from offseason surgery.

“I think the big, important thing is getting those guys to play together,” Campbell said. “What we have to do is figure out who are those five guys in 11, that nickel, that secondary? That's the hard thing with some of these injuries right now.”

● Glenn all but confirmed the James Houston off-ball experiment is being tabled.

“Listen, the one thing we know he has a talent at is rushing the quarterback, and when you have a good player, you try to figure out what else can they do because you want them on the field as much as possible,” Glenn said. “…And that goes to what I was just saying before, man, training camp, that’s when you try things out. So we’re going to let him go play defensive end, we’re going to let him go get after the quarterback and let him use those moves that he has that I don’t think a lot of people knows that he has.”

Houston burst on to the scene as a rookie, racking up 8.0 sacks in seven games the back half of the 2022 season. He missed nearly all of the 2023 campaign after breaking his ankle in Week 2 on a kickoff.

The Lions have been trying to expand his defensive role the past two offseasons with little success. After glaring struggles in the preseason opener, they’ll simply stick to letting Houston do what he does best. The question becomes whether that lack of versatility hinders his ability to win a roster spot, and even if he does, will he be active on game days.

● For those worried about the Lions playing their starters against Kansas City, it doesn’t sound like that’s the plan. Campbell said the only players who didn’t play in the opener who might see snaps against the Chiefs will be an unnamed defensive lineman or two.

That could mean some work for Levi Onwuzurike, who was dealing with a minor knee issue late last week. The fourth-year lineman has been consistently productive on the practice field, and after three years of being limited by a back injury, everyone is thrilled his career finally appears to be on track.

“I’ve been pulling for Levi for a while,” Glenn said. “The former player comes out in me in that aspect because of the things that he’s went through. But he never let go of the rope. He continued to want to learn, he continued to try to build his body to a place where he can go out there and compete at a high level. And I’ll tell you what, you started to see it in OTAs, and then you’re really starting to see it now in training camp.

“Listen, we haven’t had a game yet, but I would tell you this, I believe that that player is ready to take that next step in being a really good player in this league.”

● Campbell was asked about the ongoing search for a third receiver to step up and replace what was lost after Josh Reynolds departed in free agency. What was most interesting about the coach’s response is the team won’t hesitate to fill that void with a player at another position.

“Honestly, what it is, we just need a reliable staple,” Campbell said. “That's what Reynolds was for us. Reynolds was the reliable guy — he's going to be where he's supposed to be, when he's supposed to be there, can play any spot and he'd make a critical catch for you.

“…Who is that guy? That is important,” Campbell said. “Now, that being said, we don't want to keep a guy just because he's receiver three, four, five. We want to keep the best players we have on the roster and that could come in the running back room.”

It’s interesting Campbell highlighted the backs. The first name that comes to mind is rookie Sione Vaki, who is raw, but when I talked to him today after practice, said he felt most comfortable with where he was at with the receiving aspect of his position.

And while he doesn’t fit the description as a potential Reynolds replacement, it’s probably not the worst thing for Jermar Jefferson to hear. The fourth-year runner has had a strong camp and should have a far better shot of making the roster if the Lions only keep four receivers.

● The Lions had to waive once promising rookie safety Morice Norris, who had recently been sidelined by an injury, to make room for more cornerback depth to combat the Arnold, Rakestraw and Davis injuries.

The new addition, Javelin Guidry, automatically gets a spot on the roster’s all-name team.

Undrafted out of Utah in 2020, the 5-foot-9, 191-pounder has had six stints on five rosters prior to landing in Detroit. An impressive athlete with elite speed — running a 4.29-second 40-yard dash (!!!) coming out of college — Guidry hasn’t appeared in a regular season game since 2022. He has experience playing outside, in the slot and on special teams.