Detroit Lions off-season schedule announced

The Detroit Lions are about to start hitting the gym for the first time under Matt Patricia. This will be the new head coach’s first real look at the team.

The NFL has announced the off-season schedule for each team. The Detroit Lions players will be back in the facility Monday to start gearing up for the 2018 season. The workout sessions are more of a meet and greet for the new players and training staff. It is also a good opportunity for the team to monitor the condition of players who has injuries last season. There are almost always a few minor moves among the camp bodies. This is the first time the team gets them to the facility. Anyone getting cut after this week’s sessions likely hit the hot dog stand a little too hard after they signed their futures contract.

The hiring of Matt Patricia means that the Lions get an extra minicamp. It is a voluntary minicamp. If you want to schedule your anxiety in advance over who shows up and who doesn’t it will run from April 24-26. I know that I am hoping something interesting happens, April 26 is the first day of the NFL draft. The minicamp will serve as the first real on-field look that Patricia and his staff get at their new team. Of course any reports from Allan Park in the three days before the draft can not be believed. If you start hearing about how great a running back looks in that camp, you should assume that the Lions are drafting a running back high.

The Lions also get a second, and mandatory minicamp June 5-7. Additionally, organized team activity off season workouts will occur between the two minicamps. May 21, 22, 24, 30, and 31, the players and coaches will be in Allan Park. After the mandatory minicamp more OTAs will go off June 11,12, and 14. Plan your over-reactions accordingly.

Next: Detroit Lions draft target: Joe Ostman

Then we have nothing to talk about in terms of actual team events until training camp opens. Hopefully the Tigers are better than we think they will be.