Detroit Lions observations: Chad Johnson stops by training camp
Dave Birkett
There was nothing inconspicuous about Chad Johnson's appearance at Detroit Lions training camp Friday morning.
Johnson wore bright red track pants and a gray Lions hoodie that made him easy to spot as he moved around the field. The longtime former Cincinnati Bengals receiver kept close watch over wide receiver position drills, where he received welcome hugs from Marvin Jones and Golden Tate (but turned down a few autograph requests). He spent a few minutes chatting with Lions coach Jim Caldwell and team president Rod Wood.
And after practice, he briefly addressed the Lions' receiving corps before he was escorted off the field and away from waiting reporters.
Johnson, in town to watch his daughter compete in the AAU Junior Olympics at Eastern Michigan, made a pit stop at the University of Michigan earlier this week, where he posed for a picture with coach Jim Harbaugh.
A week ago, he tweeted about needing a ride to Lions camp so he could watch a practice. After practice, he took to the social media site again to offer praise for Lions rookie Kenny Golladay.
"That young boul Golloday has that "IT" factor," he wrote.
Johnson played 11 NFL seasons with the Bengals and a 12th with the New England Patriots, when Lions GM Bob Quinn was in the front office. Caldwell said he got to know Johnson during his days as a coach with the Indianapolis Colts, when his teams would typically end the preseason against Johnson's Bengals.
"I've known him for a while," Caldwell said. "This is a guy that obviously was very, very good at what he was able to do and he enjoys watching football. I think he’s here watching his daughter at Eastern Michigan ... so he had a little spare time so we were glad he dropped by."
Johnson wasn't the only visitor at Lions camp Friday. Former San Francisco 49ers executive Tom Gamble, now a member of Michigan's player personnel department, also was a guest on the sidelines.
More observations from Friday's practice:
• This marked the Lions' third straight practice in pads, something that always seems to get the defensive juices flowing. Rookie linebacker Jarrad Davis had the hit of practice Friday, thumping Marvin Jones in 7-on-7 drills as he came across the middle.
Davis chalked the hit up to being "part of the game," and said, "I'm practicing my craft, I'm working on me."
Jones didn't seem to care for it as much, and gave Davis a shot back.
"Hitting a vet in 7-on-7, that was a nice little chip from me, a little nice little present," Jones said. "It’s all good. We’re in full pads. It’s football. You’re going to get something like that and I’m glad he’s on our squad."
• With the pads on, the Lions spent one period working on their goal line offense and defense. Zach Zenner had two touchdown runs in four plays with the first-team offense - note to fantasy football players, Zenner was getting goal-line reps for the Lions - while Haloti Ngata blew up another play with a nice rush. Davis, who's known for his physicality, also showed great awareness on one play-action pass, diagnosing the fake right away and blanketing tight end Michael Roberts in the back of the end zone. Matthew Stafford had to throw the ball away on the play.
• Khyri Thornton had two good rushes (Ego Ferguson also got in the backfield on the second) in second-team offense vs. defense goal line work.
• In pass rush drills, Anthony Zettel continues to shine. Zettel blew past Cyrus Kouandjio on his first rep of the drill for a would-be sack, and beat Graham Glasgow inside while rushing from a defensive tackle spot later in the period. Zettel did go too wide in his rush against Greg Robinson, but he has had a strong camp taking a lot of first-team reps with Ziggy Ansah out.
• Mentioned this the other day, but the Lions are in trouble at the left tackle position. Neither Kouandjio nor Robinson has done much to impress so far. It's early, and they're both still learning the playbook, but Taylor Decker's injury looks more significant by the day.
More:Film review: What Lions are getting in new LT Greg Robinson
• Second-round pick Teez Tabor has not looked as sharp as his rookie counterpart Davis. Tabor continues to struggle in one-on-one receiver-cornerback drills, which admittedly are slanted heavily towards receivers. Jared Abbrederis, one of the sharpest route-runners on the team, gave Tabor fits again Friday. On one play, he simply ran by Tabor, whose speed has been a question, for an easy touchdown.
• Quandre Diggs had a nice pass breakup on a pass to TJ Jones in the drill, when Diggs was sitting on Jones' out-breaking route, and Golladay also outraced Tabor for a touchdown catch.
• The Lions ran several plays out of a two-back set Friday, with Tion Green playing a fullback role in front of Matt Asiata. Green seems like a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but he said back in May he'd do whatever he could to earn a roster spot, including playing fullback.
• Finally, add tight end Cole Wick to the Lions' cast of injured players. Wick walked gingerly off the field and did not return after goal line drills. Eric Ebron (hamstring), TJ Lang (hip), Cornelius Washington (ankle), Mike James and Thurston Armbrister remain out for the Lions.
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Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.