The Detroit Lions have had a fascinating offseason, losing some of the coaches that helped make them a contender while simultaneously maintaining a foundation that should compete for years to come.
2025 will prove to be a difficult one for Detroit, as the organization must now deal with the losses of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Both respected coaches are now leading other franchises, and Dan Campbell will face perhaps the biggest challenge of his career to this point.
In a somewhat curious move following the departures, the Lions announced that they'll end their mandatory minicamp period and start training camp earlier than expected.
Lions Cancel Mandatory Minicamp in Curious Move After NFL Draft
In a report by Lions insider Brad Galli, Detroit intends to cancel its mandatory minicamp and will shorten the organization's offseason program. Since the Lions will play in an unusually early Hall of Fame preseason game, it seems that the coaching staff wanted to shorten the offseason workout program to give players more time to rest.
It's hard to say whether this is a good or bad decision. No NFL team has ever needed to play in July before, so any potential critique may be more at the expense of the league's desire to make as much money as possible than the franchise itself.
Regardless, Detroit is facing an uphill battle here. Not only has Campbell lost his two most trusted deputies, but he's also now losing practice time with a roster reeling from a devastating playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. When you lose in such an embarrassing fashion, it's typically ideal to have as much practice as possible.
The Lions won't have that luxury. It may not ultimately matter, yet it's just the latest example of an offseason development that could cause fans more heartache than joy. Here's hoping Campbell and the Detroit brass have a plan to overcome these obstacles.