Lions training camp takeaways: Christian Mahogany is back, Jameson Williams shines

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Training camp continues to roll on for the Detroit Lions, with only two practices left before full pads.

A key lineman was back in the mix. The offensive line and defensive lines went at it for one-on-ones. And there was a bit of an odd situational drill to end the day.

More on that later. In the meantime, here’s what we learned from Friday’s practice.

Reflective Mahogany returns

Lions left guard Christian Mahogany practiced Friday after a brief stint on the NFI list. Mahogany was getting ready for his first full season as a starter around this time last year. He had momentum coming off some solid spot starts as a rookie and a reputation as a mauler dating back to his days at Boston College. There was little competition, paving the way for a starter’s workload. However, as the season unfolded, you wondered if that was the right move in hindsight.

“I definitely didn’t play up to who I wanna be and the player I wanna be and who (Lions offensive line coach) Hank (Fraley) and (general manager) Brad (Holmes) and (head coach) Dan (Campbell) want me to be,” Mahogany said. “I just gotta be better in all facets of the game.”

It was a refreshingly honest answer from a young player, who admittedly struggled in Year 2. He was a liability in pass protection, and called that his biggest focus area. It matches the eye test and the numbers. Mahogany allowed 27 pressures in 11 games, and if you’re into PFF grades, earned a pass-blocking grade of 40.7 — 77th out of 81 qualified guards. Interior pressure was a problem for the Lions last year. Some of that falls on Mahogany, but by all accounts, he’s taking ownership of it.

Unlike last year, Mahogany has a competition to win. He’s in the battle with Juice Scruggs, Ben Bartch and perhaps Miles Frazier for the starting left guard job. Mahogany missed the first two days of training camp and is just now getting back in the mix.

But if you’re looking for a reason to believe, believe in the process. Mahogany was a right guard in college, and it seems like getting his technique and footwork down as a left guard was an adjustment for him — all while navigating injury and his first full season as a starter. Last year, he was sandwiched between an aging Graham Glasgow and an injured Taylor Decker. This year, he’ll have Penei Sewell and Cade Mays by his side to help him out. The Lions are hoping they help get the most out of Mahogany.

Make no mistake, though, Mahogany wants to do his part.

“I want to protect him, too,” Mahogany said of Sewell. “It’s my job. … I’m gonna take a lot of hits off of him. That’s my goal. These two guys (I’m) in between, that’s the goal — to take the hits off of (them).”

Williams continues to elevate

It feels like every year we talk about Jameson Williams and the strides he makes as a receiver. He’s an established NFL receiver, is one of the fastest players in the NFL and has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. If this is what his career looks like, he’ll have left his mark during his time in this league.

“I think last year was big in his growth,” coach Dan Campbell said. “It’s really the most complete year he’s had. He played every game. Man, he had some critical plays, critical targets for us. Certainly, got a pretty good heavy dose there towards the back end of the year. … The more plays you make, the more your confidence goes up.”

But skills like his tend to make you wonder what more he has to offer. We might be seeing it in training camp.

Having covered Williams for the entirety of his career, it’s safe to say he’s never been much of a hands-catcher. He’s had issues with drops over the years. When he does catch it, it’s common to see him let the ball hit his chest before securing it and taking it upfield on a crossing route. However, Williams has been catching virtually everything with his hands so far this training camp.

Low and outside toward the sideline, high and with a CB draped over him, you name it. On one occasion in Friday’s practice, Williams climbed the ladder in a one-on-one versus Ennis Rakestraw Jr., high-pointed the ball and secured it. During a situation drill at the end of practice, Williams had Rock Ya-Sin all over him and still caught the ball above his head with two hands. You’d think there was glue on his gloves.

People tend to put Williams into a box because of his speed, and up to this point, it’s easy to see why. He has a role in this offense, and he’s good at it. Now that he’s established in this offense and is here long term, we could be seeing a fully realized version of him. No more distractions, no more lingering questions, just a baller who loves this sport and continues to level up.

“He’s doing all the little things right,” Campbell said of Williams. “That’s where he’s made the most growth, man. Watch his route definition. Watch the details to it. Him dropping his weight. Him pulling out, playing strong, catching the ball, reaching out, plucking. And, so with his ability, man, the sky’s the limit.

“And, that’s what you’re starting to see. And, that began to happen, and it became much more consistent. … He is going to have a big year for us.”

OL/DL one-on-ones

I spent time during the 7-on-7 portion of practice watching the offensive line and defensive line, who were conducting one-on-ones near the opposite end zone. Here are a few notable matchups:

• Aidan Hutchinson vs. Penei Sewell: Advantage Sewell
• Levi Onwuzurike vs. Juice Scruggs: Advantage Scruggs
• Tyleik Williams vs. Cade Mays: Advantage Williams
• Mekhi Wingo vs. Tate Ratledge: Advantage Ratledge
• D.J. Wonnum vs. Blake Miller: Advantage Wonnum
• Hutchinson vs. Sewell: Advantage Sewell
• Onwuzurike vs. Scruggs: Advantage Scruggs
• Williams vs. Mays: Advantage Mays
• Wingo vs. Ratledge: Wash
• Wonnum vs. Miller: Advantage Miller
• Ahmed Hassanein vs. Devon Cochran: Wash
• Tyler Lacy vs. Christian Mahogany: Advantage Mahogany
• Chris Smith vs. Seth McLaughlin: Advantage McLaughlin
• Derrick Moore vs. Colby Sorsdal: Advantage Moore

We’ll circle back when the Lions are in full pads next week, but this was a fun first look at the trenches. One matchup I’d personally love to see: Miller versus Moore. Knowing the Lions, they’ll make it happen.

News, notes and observations

• Still no Jahmyr Gibbs at practice.
• Payton Turner missed practice again Friday.
• Christian Izien did, too. Izien is still dealing with the flu, and Campbell says he hopes to get him back Sunday.
• DT Alim McNeill (neck) and LB Jimmy Rolder (leg) left practice to be evaluated for potential injury. The players walked inside under their own power. McNeill seemed to gesture to someone in the crowd (it was Friends and Family Day at training camp) that he was OK. We’ll have to wait for an update from the team or Campbell. The Lions have an off day Saturday.
• Even with Mahogany back, Scruggs split first-team reps with him at left guard.
• Wingo received some first-team reps Friday, even before McNeill’s departure. The Lions could be prioritizing interior rush more this year than they have in the past.
• Onwuzurike has been repping with the second-string defense. Are the Lions trying to get his confidence up after the ACL injury, or have others passed him on the depth chart? Hard to tell at the moment.
• Nick Whiteside continues to impress. He locked up Isaac TeSlaa in the WR/DB one-on-one drill and picked off Luke Altmayer in a team period. Seems like he makes a standout play every day.
• The Lions still aren’t in full pads, but I liked what I saw from Moore. He won both of his reps in the OL/DL drill — one versus Colby Sorsdal and another versus Larry Borom — and recorded a pair of pressures versus Borom and Miles Frazier in team periods. Excellent day for Detroit’s second-round pick.
• The Lions ran a two-minute drill at the end of practice. The situation: 1:10 left on the clock, down 7-0, Ball on the 25, search for points. The offense marched down the field and stopped the clock with three seconds left at the 33, which was enough for a successful drill. Nice grabs by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Williams during the drill to keep the chains moving. Jack Fox — not Jake Bates — ended the drill with a 48-yard field goal. Bates had the day off.
• Monday will be the first day of full pads.