Detroit Lions fans have plenty of reason to like what they’re seeing from Blake Miller, and the latest camp rep only adds to the buzz.
The rookie tackle has been getting better throughout training camp, and while it’s still not clear whether he has officially beaten out Larry Borom for the starting right tackle job, the signs are pointing in his direction. He’s been putting in the kind of work that makes it easy to believe he can keep pushing toward that role once the regular season starts.
One of the loudest moments came this past week, when Miller won a 1-on-1 rep against Aidan Hutchinson. It wasn’t a close battle, either.
Valuable reps pic.twitter.com/JNvXoAPSmk
- Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 19, 2026
There are two ways to read that rep. The optimistic version is that Miller held off Hutchinson, who by all accounts has been having a monster camp. For a rookie tackle who entered camp with some pass-protection concerns, that’s a serious positive.
The more skeptical take is that Hutchinson didn’t beat a rookie in that drill. That’s a little unexpected, but it shouldn’t be treated as a knock on Hutchinson. What it really shows is how well Miller is performing while going against one of the league’s best pass rushers.
Team reporter Tim Twentyman recently pointed out just how strong Hutchinson’s camp has been, saying it stacks up with his 2022 work. That rookie season ended with 9.5 sacks, plus three interceptions, three pass breakups and 6.5 stuffs.
"All-Pro edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson has looked terrific in camp. It's probably the best camp he's had since joining the league in 2022. He wins a lot of rushes in team periods from both sides of the line, and the Hutch rule was developed to let the offense finish a rep and quarterback Jared Goff finish a throw despite Hutchinson having what would be a clear sack on the play if he was allowed to contact the quarterback."
Miller’s camp has had more than one encouraging sign. In his first preseason game, he posted the highest run-blocking rate of any rookie lineman in their preseason debuts. Even if that outing had gone badly, there still wouldn’t have been much reason to panic, especially with Penei Sewell’s rough rookie preseason as a reminder that development doesn’t always look clean at the start.
Instead, Miller looked like a pro, even while the rest of the line had some hiccups, including from veterans like Christian Mahogany.
That doesn’t mean he’s winning every snap. He lost a rep to rookie Derrick Moore ahead of Saturday’s preseason game against the Washington Commanders, which is a good reminder that he’s still going through the normal ups and downs of camp. If you want to keep the glass-half-full view, though, it also says something about how well Moore is coming along.
Either way, Miller is taking steps that should matter once the games count. For Detroit, that’s the part that matters most.
In Other News...
Lions Secondary Question Just Got More Complicated With Joey Porter Jr
Detroits secondary already had enough questions attached to it before Joey Porter Jr. entered the conversation. The Lions are dealing with injuries and uncertainty at cornerback, which has kept that part of the roster under a spotlight as they try to sort out who can be trusted on the outside and how quickly help might be needed.
Porter being considered available as he heads into the final year of his rookie deal only adds another layer to the decision-making. He would fit the kind of high-upside swing a team like Detroit has to at least examine, but the health concerns and contract wrinkle make any pursuit more complicated than a simple talent upgrade. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Took Player Connection Further Than Most Coaches Ever Would
Dan Campbell has built his reputation in Detroit on being the kind of coach who does not just preach toughness, but tries to live it alongside his players. His style has long stood out around the NFL because it is so hands-on and so plainly authentic, from working out with players during camp to putting himself in positions that most head coaches would never consider.
Long before he was guiding the Lions, Campbell was already pushing that connection in unusual ways. As the Miami Dolphins tight ends coach, he once wore pads during practice so he could better understand what his players were dealing with physically, a move that helped shape the way he related to them and even rubbed off on other coaches around the league, including Shawn Jefferson and Mike Vrabel. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Have One Crucial Return Job To Sort Out
The Lions have most of their return game sorted, but one important job still needs a clearer answer heading into the 2026 season. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp has identified Tom Kennedy and Greg Dortch as the main candidates to handle punt returns, giving Detroit a two-man competition for a role that can quietly shape field position all year.
Dortch brings the more extensive punt-return background, while Kennedy is expected to be in the mix on kickoffs because of his size and durability. The Lions also have a cluster of options on kickoff duties, including Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki, Dominic Lovett and rookie Isiah Pacheco, and those decisions could come after the preseason game against the Washington Commanders. [Read more 🡒]