Lions players to keep an eye on during Hall of Fame Game against Chargers – The New York Times

NFL
CANTON, Ohio — When you think of July, you think of football. Right?
OK, maybe not. However, that’s what’s on the docket this year, as the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers kick off the NFL preseason, squaring off in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Dan Campbell said his starters won’t play — no surprise there — and that list includes rookies Tyleik Williams and Tate Ratledge.
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So, then, who’s worth watching? Let’s discuss.
The Lions publicly challenged Hooker this offseason to bring out the best in him. They brought in Allen — a veteran with 19 career starts under his belt — to further emphasize their point. The early results? Exactly what the team could’ve hoped for.
Hooker has looked sharp this training camp. The main problem he had this time a year ago was holding onto the ball too long — almost as if he’s waiting for a receiver to get open. There were also times he’d take off and run during seven-on-seven periods, which accomplished nothing for Hooker, his receivers or the defense.
Those days appear to be over. Hooker has gotten the ball out on time this summer, hitting his receivers accurately in stride. He looks more confident and said the game is slowing down, and that he’s thinking less. It’s showing. Allen’s presence has brought out the best in Hooker — and he’s no slouch himself.
Allen has had some strong days in training camp, with some “wow” throws that you didn’t know he had in him. The hope for the Lions tonight is that these two continue what they’ve done in practice. If they do that, fans will like what they see.
One of the reasons backup quarterback play in training camp has been better this year than in years past is because of the weapons these guys are throwing to.
A couple in particular, TeSlaa and Lovett, have been excellent. Everyone knows TeSlaa — the in-state kid drafted by the team he loves, on record as Brad Holmes’ favorite receiver in the class. He catches everything with his hands, can run, jump and win downfield.
However, before we prepare his bust in Canton, TeSlaa has worked exclusively with the second-team offense. What he’s done is impressive, but I’d like to see him get some first-team reps against Detroit’s physical corners. Impressing tonight could help him earn those looks.
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Lovett’s spot on the roster, even as a seventh-round pick, wasn’t guaranteed when camp began. Holmes made it clear he would need to contribute on special teams to make the team. The Lions have tried him at gunner, put him as a punt returner and have featured him as a second-team WR. He’s been impressive in every role, using his short-area quickness to win in different phases of the game. Do the Lions need to carry six receivers on their roster? No. However, keeping Lovett in Detroit will be challenging then.
Martin, a 2023 third-round pick, has two NFL seasons under his belt without much to show for it. His rookie season was always going to be a developmental year, viewed as a raw prospect coming out of college. The size, long arms and power traits were what drew the Lions to him, but other than a few flashes here and there, we haven’t seen much of the vision.
Coaches have talked about Martin’s pad level being too high. He has appeared in just five games through two seasons after missing time with a knee injury last season and was seldom used upon his November return despite playing a position where the Lions were thin late in the year. In camp, Martin has been practicing with the third-team defense, with some second-team reps mixed in. He needs to prove something here soon, or else his roster spot is in serious jeopardy.
I’ve never seen a player as eager about the game as Hassanein is. It’s refreshing. He’s all smiles walking off the field, clearly thankful for the opportunity he’s been given to play this sport and play for this organization. However, make no mistake, Hassanein is here for a reason. The Lions are intrigued by his potential.
While some draft analysts viewed him as a finished product with a limited game, the Lions point to the fact that he’s only played football for seven years. Highly productive at Boise State, Hassanein relied on a relentless motor that helped him rack up sacks and TFLs, essentially cleaning up anything that came his way.
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That’ll play for this group, and Hassanein has been a sponge in training camp, picking the brains of Aidan Hutchinson and Penei Sewell. And while it’s unrealistic to expect meaningful production from a rookie sixth-round pick this season, Hassanein has a chance to impress further a coaching staff that’s keeping an eye on him.
Players like Manu are almost put in a difficult position because of the high-quality drafting of Holmes and company. A weird sentence to write, but think about all the homegrown talent that has made an impact in Year 1 or Year 2. That’s the norm around here, so when there’s a player who needs more time, they’re not often afforded it by the fan base and even members of the media.
Manu, quite frankly, needs more time. Mentally, he’s much further along than he was a year ago. He has a better grasp of what he’s asked to do and why, in a complicated offense. He spent the offseason training with Taylor Decker in Arizona and praised the veteran for taking him under his wing. These are positive developments.
Now, it doesn’t always look pretty. Manu struggles with speed off the edge, but it seems to be technique more than anything. Watching him a little bit in practices and one-on-ones, the recovery skills are there when he is initially beaten. There will be good days and bad days, and continued reps are the name of the game. He’ll get that this preseason. The Lions will make sure of it.
Will Vaki play? Tough to say. He returned to practice this week after missing time with a hamstring injury but was limited upon return.
Vaki would be one of Detroit’s top offensive weapons in a game like this, and he could certainly use the reps as he continues to learn how to play running back at this level.
However, the Lions might opt to rest him so he doesn’t further tweak it, as hamstrings tend to linger. If he plays, we’ll be watching. If not, he’ll have a good view of the festivities.
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A 2024 undrafted free agent defensive back who found himself earning snaps late in the season, Norris has a chance to earn a roster spot at safety. One thing you notice when watching him is that he’s physical.
Campbell tossed him from a practice last week for being too physical in a non-padded practice, if that tells you anything. However, now that the pads are on, Norris has a chance to shine. I’m a fan of his game.
The Lions added a pair of UDFA edge rushers a year ago in Lynn and Ukwu. A year later, both remain in camp, hoping to leave an impression.
These two had completely different rookie seasons. Lynn was an early camp standout in 2024, before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Ukwu flashed enough in the preseason to earn a spot on the practice squad. When the Lions needed edge help, they gave him a look, though he looked like a rookie UDFA.
“He’s a young player and that was his first taste of real NFL football, so I thought as the game went on, he got better, and it looked like it was his first NFL game,” Campbell said after Ukwu’s debut versus the Dallas Cowboys. “That’s just the truth, but I also — I see that guy every day in practice. …Ukwu will get better every week.”
These preseason games will be a massive opportunity for both. The Lions will evaluate their young, internal options at edge to see who’s worth rostering or keeping around on the practice squad to develop.
If there’s a dark horse candidate to make the roster, it just might be Cooper. A UDFA defensive lineman out of Houston, Cooper was mentioned by Campbell as a player who could help as the defensive tackle room thins. That was on Day 3. And he’s done nothing to make those words age poorly.
“Look, we kind of like Cooper now,” Campbell said. “He’s a young guy. Let’s see what he can do.”
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Cooper has been disruptive with the second-team defense and has even earned some first-team looks on occasion. It’s important to remember that training camp is long, and players who perform well early don’t always maintain that momentum (remember when Daurice Fountain was destined to be WR3 last year?). However, Cooper is worth watching. The coaching staff certainly is.
(Top photo of Hendon Hooker and Kyle Allen: Junfu Han / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Colton Pouncy is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Detroit Lions. He previously covered Michigan State football and basketball for the company, and covered sports for The Tennessean in Nashville prior to joining The Athletic. Follow Colton on Twitter @colton_pouncy

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