Kenny Willekes, Josh Uche Look to Shoot Up Draft Boards

Check out these Lions pieces from around the web in this edition of "Lions News"

This week is Senior Bowl week down in Mobile, Ala. 

The Lions' coaching staff has spent the week coaching up draft prospects that are looking to catch the eye of talent evaluators.

Michigan State graduate Kenny Willekes and Michigan product Josh Uche have reportedly put together a nice week of practices. 

Despite their rivalry in college, they have celebrated each others' successes this week. 

Justin Rogers of The Detroit News highlighted their accomplishments from the Senior Bowl:

Rogers - Rivals in college, Josh Uche, Kenny Willekes chase same goal of becoming NFL pass rusher

Rogers writes, "Both Uche and Willekes widely were viewed as mid-round picks coming into the week, but a strong performance at the Senior Bowl has a way of forcing scouts to re-evaluate a prospect and send them shooting up draft boards. 

At this rate, no one should be surprised if either is drafted early than initially expected." 

The Lions Wire's Jeff Risdon - Matt Patricia will not watch the Super Bowl 

Risdon confirms the rumors regarding Lions head coach Matt Patricia and his desire not to watch the Super Bowl this year.

"It’s a great, great game and the two teams are really good,” Patricia said. “But I want to be in the game and it’s too tough to not be there to see it.”

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press - NFL analyst explains why Detroit Lions should consider drafting Tua Tagovailoa at No. 3

Birkett spoke with NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks on Wednesday. 

"The Tua-Matthew Stafford conversation is a big one. I think what you have to figure out is, what do you see (from) Matt Stafford in the next two, three, four years? With a back injury and based on how you kind of project his level of play, you may take the young quarterback. If you take the young quarterback, it enables you to build your team differently, to surround your team and spend dollars at other areas to upgrade it. So there’s some advantages to that," Brooks expressed to Birkett.

Pride of Detroit's Jeremy Reisman - Darius Slay honors memory of Marvin Jones' son with Pro Bowl cleats

Reisman highlights the kind gesture of Lions cornerback Darius Slay. 

At this year's Pro Bowl, Slay brought a pair of cleats that recognized his family and honored the family of Detroit wide receiver Marvin Jones. 

"The left cleat is a depiction of his own family. The right cleat is a portrait of Marvin Jones Jr.’s family with the words 'Rest in peace Marlito' on it," Reisman writes.

It’s bigger than football!!!! Love ya bra @MarvinJonesJr rest easy Marlito Jones!!!!🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/6JcHNFq5AM

— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) January 23, 2020

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