Three days into Detroit Lions training camp, the defense has already started making a case for itself - and the defensive ends are doing plenty of the talking.
No pads, no problem. Even in the early going, several players have put themselves on the radar, with the stock watch leaning heavily toward the trench work.
The biggest buzz has come from the second-year defensive end, who has looked right at home after moving to the big end spot. He has spent time in the backfield and even let out a primal yell after a quick pressure that would have blown up a running play.
The former Michigan Wolverines defensive end was a standout all Friday morning, and his first chance in one-on-ones only strengthened that impression. In the first trench battles reporters saw, Moore got the better of both Larry Borom and Colby Sorsdal. He also would have had an easy sack during team periods.
Dan Campbell had plenty to say about him afterward, and it was clear the head coach appreciates more than just the production. “He's a football guy.
He's a pro. This guy prepares.
He practices hard. He'll do whatever you ask him to do, run over there and take special teams reps.
He doesn't bat an eye. He's big, he's strong, he's stout, he's physical," said Campbell.
"And, so for that big end, especially big end in base, he's like the perfect big end in base. I mean, that's the way you want him to look, the way you want him to play.
And, so the next step for him will be some of this stuff where, okay, now we transition to nickel, slide to the three-technique. Can you get an edge on some of this rush stuff?
That'll be kind of the next push here. But, as far as, taking on the run, setting edges, smart football player, practices hard, plays hard. I mean, he's what you’re looking for.”
The offense has its own early camp riser in the speedy wideout, who now counts among the veterans in that room. He has been tough to cover from the jump, with both Ennis Rakestraw and D.J.
Reed having their hands full every day. The catches have been contested, and the details have been there too, the kind of work that can make a coaching staff keep feeding him opportunities once the games count.
There’s also been movement on the other side of the ball. Whiteside has shown more confidence and looked better equipped to ride out the natural swings that come with playing the position.
His name has come up every day as someone who’s been solid in coverage and made receivers work for everything. On Friday, that included an interception of Teddy Bridgewater on a throw intended for Tom Kennedy.
Not every update has been encouraging, though. It’s hard to see the team getting much value from the 25-year-old, and another injury could keep Manu out for months. Izien also missed the first week of practice, which delays any early evaluation of how he might fit at nickel after getting a shot at that role.
Campbell also pointed to how well veteran Avonte Maddox has worked with Chark Clark at safety, while the right tackle competition still looks tilted in one direction. Blake Miller has been getting schooled by Aidan Hutchinson every day, but Borom has not done enough to close the gap. At this point, not many are expecting anyone other than Miller to be the starter against the New Orleans Saints.
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Devin White Just Changed A Lions Camp Battle Fans Were Watching
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The more interesting wrinkle is in the linebacker room, where the competition for backup roles has not stayed still. Detroit is also keeping close watch on Jimmy Rolder, and any change there naturally affects how the rest of the depth chart sorts itself out. Whites arrival suddenly carries a little more weight in that mix, because the Lions are not just looking for bodies in camp, they are trying to settle who fits where once the real rotation starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Isaac TeSlaa Feeling Pressure In Lions Receiver Battle
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The wider battle is getting crowded fast, with veterans Greg Dortch and Cedrick Wilson Jr. making strong cases for the fourth receiver job. Dan Campbell has also pointed to Dortchs value on returns while making clear the Lions like what they already have at the top of the depth chart, which only adds to the pressure on the rest of the group to separate before the roster picture starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Need One Crucial Change To Ease Pressure On Hutchinson
The Lions pass rush got plenty of volume in 2025, finishing with the ninth-most pressures in the NFL, but the distribution was telling. Most of the damage came off the edge from Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad, which is exactly why Dan Campbell has made it clear the next step is finding more push from the middle. Detroit wants to make life easier on Hutchinson by forcing quarterbacks to deal with pressure from inside as well as outside, and that puts added attention on the defensive tackle group.
Alim McNeill remains central to that plan as he works back from injury, with Tyleik Williams and Levi Onwuzurike also in line for opportunities to help change the shape of the rush. The concern for Detroit is not just adding sacks, but creating a front that can win in multiple ways and keep opponents from keying on Hutchinson snap after snap. If that balance starts to take hold, the Lions defense could look a lot less predictable when the games get tighter. [Read more 🡒]