Jefferson followed that by scoring two touchdowns in the scrimmage, including a 50-yarder against the first-team defense.

Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit has a piece about Jefferson, where he talks about the physical and mental work he’s doing. He’s got a serious uphill climb to earn a spot in the Lions’ crowded backfield, but the coming week against the Giants is a good opportunity for him to keep the positive momentum going.

4. DT Levi Onwuzurike

Onwuzurike looked good during OTAs, but he had to carry that momentum into when the pads came on in training camp. He has done so, earning praise from Lions’ guard Kevin Zeitler. Via Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News, Campbell also lauded the work the second pick in the Lions’ 2021 draft class is doing.

“It’s clear that he’s been one of the best (players on the defensive line), Campbell said. “I mean, it’s just clear. He plays with violence, he’s stout, he’s fundamentally better than he’s ever been, and he’s shown that he has some versatility,”

Onwuzurike has done everything he had to do so far, he’s been healthy and he has been dominant in camp practice. Working against the Giants’ offensive line will be another notable step he has to take, if only because it’s going against another team.

3. PK Jake Bates

Bates is heading into joint practices off a couple very rough days of kicking. After Michael Badgley’s season-ending injury, he was the only kicker on the Lions’ roster for the entire first week of padded practices. That in itself seemed to be a test to see if he could take hold of the job, and he did not do so as the week went along.

The Lions are/were going to add a kicker at some point, just to navigate camp and preseason games apart from possibly having a serious competitor for Bates. The latter part of that is now becoming a thing, and as a whole it’s fair to say the four kickers the Lions had in for a workout right after Badgley’s injury were not serious competition for Bates. None of them being signed since confirmed that.

If Badgley wasn’t injured, he’d probably be a lock to win the Lions’ kicking job already. Bates is allowed to have a bad day (or two) in the current circumstance, which is leeway he wouldn’t have if Badgley was healthy. But he has to get it back on track this coming week.

2. WR Daurice Fountain

Fountain spent last season on the Lions’ practice squad, and he’s now making a legit run at the Lions’ No. 3 wide receiver job. He’s making noteworthy plays seemingly every day in practice, and he rebounded from a bad practice early last week in a way the coaching staff surely loved to see.

Lions WR Daurice Fountain making a TOUGH grab on Terrion Arnold 👀#OnePride pic.twitter.com/KTq4fx7vIM

— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@BrandNewDET) August 2, 2024

Campbell praised Fountain twice over the course of the first week of padded practices, however noting the coaches still need to see more.

At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Fountain is literally built differently than any other Lions’ wide receiver. He worked with the first-team offense throughout last week, and he should continue to do so in the joint practices against the Giants.

To put it simply, Fountain has become someone to watch in training camp and that automatically carries into the coming week. He could practically lock down a roster spot, and maybe the No. 3 wide receiver role, with continued excellent work as things ramp to going against an actual opponent.

1. QB Hendon Hooker

If we’re being kind based on on-site reports, Hooker has had an up-and-down training camp so far. But it could truly be said he’s had more ups than downs, inviting questions about his ability to beat out Nate Sudfeld for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Jared Goff. The finger injury he said he suffered on the first day of OTAs should really no longer be a thing.

Hooker may start the preseason opener against the Giants, and even if he doesn’t start he’s going to play a ton. Hooker automatically had spotlight him during OTAs, with a ramp up when training camp started. The next big step in his development is his first NFL game action in the preseason opener, preceded by his first work against an opposing defense on Monday and Tuesday.

More reports of interceptions, etc. during the joint practices will not quell whatever concerns there are about the Lions’ young quarterback. A huge week for him starts with the first snap he takes in Monday’s joint practice, and if he struggles like he has the Lions will have to re-evaluate their backup quarterback situation.