Tim Twentyman

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell hadn't spoken to the media since the NFL's Annual League Meetings back in early April, but he was at the podium Friday before Detroit's first open OTA practice of the spring and talked about a range of topics.

Here are five takeaways from Friday's media session:

1. Joint practices

The four preseason games scheduled this year for the Lions will be a great opportunity to get the young players and new play callers acclimated for the regular season. The veterans really value and get a lot out of the controlled joint practices with other teams during camp.

Campbell confirmed the team will conduct a couple joint practices at the Meijer Performance Center with Miami ahead of their Aug. 16 preseason matchup at Ford Field. They'll conduct one joint practice with Houston ahead of their Aug. 23 preseason matchup at Ford Field.

2. Practice report

If any players are dealing with any kind of injury at all, Campbell has always been really good about giving them the spring to get right so things don't linger into the summer when the work and the competition really ramp up in camp.

Here's a list Campbell provided of players who are either limited or not taking part in OTA practices:

DL Myles Adams, DL Brodric Martin, DL Levi Onwuzurike, DL Josh Paschal, DL DJ Reader, DL Tyleik Williams, DL Mekhi Wingo, LBDerrick Barnes, LBJack Campbell, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, SBrian Branch, CB Terrion Arnold, CB Khalil Dorsey, G Miles Frazier, TE Kenny Yeboah, WRAmon-Ra St. Brown, WR Isaac TeSlaa, RBDavid Montgomeryand RB Sione Vaki.

Campbell said a lot of these are very minor issues and they are just being careful.

3. Spring schedule

Because the Lions are playing in the Hall of Fame Game July 31 to kick off the NFL's preseason slate, the team is reporting to training camp a week early. That means they are taking part in OTAs for only two weeks and not conducting their usual mandatory minicamp. Campbell didn't think it was fair on the players to go through a normal spring with a minicamp and then ask them to come back for training camp a week earlier than normal.

That means there's a lot to get done in a short window to have everything installed and ready to go for the start of training camp.

"We're just trying to cram in as much of our core as we can schematically," Campbell said. "Offensively and defensively, staff-wise, we have either new coaches or in new positions or first time having the room that's 14 guys. That's a lot.

"So, there's a lot of working together and everyone being on the same page. Making sure that the coordinators want what they want, coordinators know what I want, and so this is the best time to do that. We're all working through that and working through the kinks, which is awesome. It's only been two days but it's been really good."

4. Defensive gains

Campbell has a really good feeling that Detroit's defense is poised to take the next step in 2025.

It's hard to imagine that unit will again suffer as many injuries as they did in 2024 (18 players on IR). If they can stay healthy, Campbell likes the early makeup of the group.

"I love the guys in that room," he said. "They play freakin hard. There's not a damn thing you can do about injuries. Nobody can. Offensively, this could be the year (we suffer injuries). Who knows. We have to be ready to go offensively if that happens.

"Defensively, we have plenty (of talent) in there. We have cover guys. We have guys that can push to the quarterback. We've got LB's that can cover and rush and attack the run. We have safeties that are ballhawks and can play in the box. We have safeties that can play man-to-man on receivers in the slot or outside. We have some weapons. I feel great about it."

Now it's about getting through the spring and training camp relatively injury-free and staying that way as much they can throughout the regular season.

5. Looking ahead

The Lions have the second toughest schedule in the NFL in 2025 based on opponent win percentage last year. That includes road tests in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Washington and Los Angeles, in addition to the gauntlet that is expected to be the NFC North. It sounds like Campbell wouldn't have it any other way.

"I love the schedule we have this year," he said. "Because this is the type of schedule that builds you for the postseason. Like man, you better be on it. We're going to get tested early and often and all year long, and it's freakin awesome. It's really how you want it.

"We'll be ready to go when the time is right."