The Detroit Lions canceled their mandatory minicamp scheduled for June 10-12 due to their early start in the Hall of Fame game.
The Lions will only hold two weeks of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this offseason, fewer than most other NFL teams.
With their training camp set to start early, the Detroit Lions are cutting out a week of their formal offseason workout program this spring.
Lions coach Dan Campbell cancelled his team’s mandatory minicamp, which was scheduled June 10-12, after the team was assigned to play in the preseason-opening Hall of Fame game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Lions have just two weeks of Organized Team Activities scheduled this offseason, May 28-30 and June 3-5.
LB Derrick Barnes holds a puppy that’s been adopted during the Pride Unleashed event during the Detroit Lions training camp at their headquarters in Allen Park on Monday, Aug. 1, 2024.
Teams are allotted four weeks of workouts in Phase 3 of the offseason program, three weeks or 10 practices of OTAs and a mandatory minicamp that includes three practices.
Nineteen of the 32 NFL teams are using just three weeks of OTAs this year because of the calendar – the regular season begins Sept. 4 – but the Lions are the only team without a scheduled minicamp, according to a release of offseason workout dates provided by the NFL.
Under Campbell, the Lions have typically held two weeks of OTAs, followed by a minicamp, and excused veterans from the final week of OTAs. All offseason workouts except minicamp are voluntary.
The Lions return the bulk of the team that went 15-2 and won the NFC North last season, but they have new coordinators on both sides of the ball, eight other new assistants and new starters to break in at cornerback and offensive guard.
With one of the earliest training camp report dates in the NFL, sometime in mid-July, Campbell opted to give his players and coaches their regular near-six-week break before training camp begins.
Teams are allowed to report for training camp up to 15 days before their first preseason game.
The Lions and Chargers will open the preseason Aug. 2 in Canton, Ohio, and Campbell said at the league meetings in March he hopes to have two sets of joint practices this summer.
The Chargers are using all three weeks of OTAs and have mandatory minicamp June 10-12. Their final day of OTAs is June 18.
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