6 Players to Watch During Jaguars-Lions Joint Practices
One week of joint practices down, and one more to go for the Detroit Lions. This week, the Lions will be matched up in Allen Park with Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Just like last week's opponent in the Giants, the Jaguars were a postseason team a year ago, and won a playoff game.
Without further ado, let's take a look at six Detroit players that All Lions will be keeping a close eye on during this week's joint practices.
WR Jameson Williams
The second-year pro hasn't exactly lit the world on fire in his first NFL training camp.
He's gone through too many practices where he's dropped passes, and he hauled in just two of seven balls thrown his way in the Lions' preseason opener against the Giants.
It's time for the Alabama product to start turning things around, and showing why Detroit took him with the 12th overall selection in the 2022 draft. And, he should get an ample amount of opportunities to prove his worth this week against the Jaguars.
QB Teddy Bridgewater
The Lions have finally found their veteran backup quarterback. Bridgewater brings a wealth of experience to the position, and should serve as a quality mentor to Detroit's young offensive players, including Williams and the team's first-year quarterbacks (Hendon Hooker and Adrian Martinez). He also will be a great security blanket to Jared Goff, in case the starting passer is unable to play at any point during the regular season.
Bridgewater should receive a healthy dose of reps Wednesday and Thursday against Jacksonville, and in Detroit's exhibition contest with the Doug Pederson-led squad on Saturday. And, I expect Bridgewater, who most recently suited up for the Dolphins, to make the most of his opportunity, and to start establishing a rapport with the Lions' pass-catchers.
QB Nate Sudfeld
Detroit's incumbent backup passer certainly didn't make the most of his opportunity Friday against New York. Sudfeld completed just 54 of his passes against the Giants, plus led the Lions on zero touchdown drives and threw two interceptions in the exhibition tilt.
He all but lost his handle on the backup job, and now with Bridgewater in town, Sudfeld's roster spot is certainly in jeopardy, too.
If Sudfeld wants to have any shot at making the Lions' 53-man roster out of camp, he needs to start stacking up some quality practices. And, there's no better time to start than Wednesday, with Jacksonville making a pitstop in Allen Park.
OLB Julian Okwara
Okwara was perhaps the Lions' biggest standout in the team's preseason opener. He was in Tommy DeVito's face all night long, and recorded three sacks of the Giants passer.
Okwara couldn't have had a better start to the exhibition season. Yet, it doesn't mean that the Notre Dame product is a lock to make Detroit's season-opening roster.
He's produced impressive performances before, and has failed to repeat them. So, now it's on the fourth-year pro to prove that Friday was not a fluke and that he's capable of getting after the quarterback on a consistent basis. Thus, it will be interesting to see what he does Wednesday and Thursday against Jaguars signal-caller Trevor Lawrence. It should be a solid test for the 2020 third-round pick.
DB Brian Branch
Branch has had an impressive start to his first training camp. He's put together a number of solid reps at nickel corner, and has more than held his own when he's had the chance to play with the first-team defense.
Additionally, he made a positive impression in his preseason debut this past Friday. He delivered three stops, including one for loss, and showcased a highly physical playing style.
So far, the versatile defensive back has looked like the real deal in the back-end of Aaron Glenn's defense. So, I'm very intrigued to see if the Alabama product can sustain his high level of play against Lawrence & Co.
LT Taylor Decker
Decker will likely be paired up with Jaguars EDGE Josh Allen in practice. Allen tallied 68 total pressures, 22 quarterback hits and seven sacks a season ago. So, he should be a formidable opponent for Decker, Goff's blindside protector.
This should be one of the top one-on-one matchups during the next two days of practice.
