The Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins will face off over the next two days for a pair of joint practices. Unlike most preseason games, this will be an opportunity for both teams to see their starters face off against another team’s starters. And with that comes some really fun matchups to watch this week.
Here are my five favorites I’ll be keeping an eye on during Wednesday and Thursday practices.
Dolphins WRs Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle vs. Lions CBs D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson, Terrion Arnold
Before I get into it, there are some unknown injury situations here. Hill sat out joint practices with the Bears last week with an oblique injury, while Waddle suffered a “minor” injury last Friday in practice. Both are considered day-to-day for Lions joint practices. On the Lions’ side, we’re still waiting to see if cornerback Terrion Arnold will be ready to return from his hamstring injury.
Hopefully, all will get to participate because it could be a really fun challenge for both teams. Hill and Waddle are arguably the best receiver duo in football, while the Lions’ secondary has gotten off to a really strong start in training camp. This is truly an iron-sharpens-iron opportunity.
Unfortunately, tight end Darren Waller remains on PUP and is not expected to come off of it this week. So if Waddle and Hill are limited this week, it really dampens Detroit’s opportunity to face high-end skill position players.
Lions G Tate Ratledge vs. Dolphins DT Kenneth Grant
What better than a pair of highly-drafted rookies going toe-to-toe in the trenches?
Grant, a former Michigan Wolverine and the 13th overall pick this year, has reportedly had a strong start to training camp, and at 6-foot-4, 335 pounds, he’s literally a load to handle. Ratledge has been cutting his teeth by going against 6-foot-3, 330-pound DJ Reader on a daily basis, but it’ll be a nice challenge for him to face off against Grant, who is younger and more athletic at this point in his career.
Lions WRs vs. a decimated Dolphins secondary
Last year, Miami had one of the toughest secondaries in football. Jalen Ramsey and up-and-comer Kader Kohou locked up the outside, while Jevon Holland was overseeing it all at safety. Detroit won’t see any of those top players this week. Ramsey was traded in the offseason, Holland signed a big deal with the Giants, and Kohou suffered a season-ending injury.
That leaves the following projected starters:
CB: Storm Duck (3 career starts)
CB: Kendall Sheffield (20 career starts, none since 2020)
NCB: Mike Hilton (56 starts)
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick (101 starts)
S: Ashtyn Davis (22 starts, 6 since 2021)
In other words, this is a big mismatch in Detroit’s favor. Yes, Fitzpatrick is still a Pro Bowl-level safety, but his supporting cast is not what he’s likely used to. It will be interesting to see if Detroit’s offense, which has been off to a relatively slow start, can take advantage.
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane vs. Lions LBs Jack Campbell/Alex Anzalone
The Lions have been getting plenty of practice on a player like Achane by going against Jahmyr Gibbs every day in practice, but it’s still great practice to go against a player who may have different tendencies and is being utilized in a different offense. Like Gibbs, Achane is a speedy threat who is just as much of a threat to catch the football as he is to run it.
Gibbs has been a handful for the Lions’ linebacker crew (it’s mostly been Anzalone in 1-on-1s vs. him), so we’ll see if Detroit can slow down Achane. Obviously, with this being Year 3 for first-round pick Jack Campbell, there is a huge expectation for a jump in play, and his start to training camp has been promising. If he can hang with Achane, that’d be another indication Campbell could be headed for a breakout season.
Dolphins OTs vs. Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
It could be a tough week for Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Dolphins starting right tackle Austin Jackson is out after suffering a lower leg injury in practice about a week ago, and he’ll be replaced by veteran Larry Borom, who struggled to hold a starting job with the Chicago Bears for the last four years.
When opposite the offense’s left side, Hutchinson will be lined up against second-year left tackle Patrick Paul. The 2024 second-round pick only started three games his rookie season, but is prepared to take a Year 2 jump after Terron Armstead retired this offseason. Reports out of Dolphins camp say he’s been “a brick wall in pass protection” so far, so Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport should be up for a good challenge there.
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