ALLEN PARK, Mich. – The Detroit Lions’ 2025 season is nearly underway. The team held their first practice of training camp on Sunday, and the pride is looking to become an even bigger force of nature.
The Lions kick off the NFL preseason this year on July 31 against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
To everyone in the Detroit locker room, last year’s season was cut short.
Despite battling all types of different injuries, players like D.J. Reader, Lions defensive lineman, are ready to get back in the mix.
“It feels really, really good to be healthy. You work so hard just to be healthy and when it doesn’t go that way, it’s just unfortunate. But I feel good,” said Reader.
Despite being hampered by injuries during the 2023 season, Reader found a way to stay healthy as he played in 15 games last year. He was a crucial part of the Lions’ playoff efforts, and after last season’s second-round exit, he and the rest of the team are looking for more.
“We don’t like where we ended off last year. It was a great season, guys don’t like that it ended that short, and they want to go get it,” Reader continued.
Last season’s playoff loss against the Washington Commanders left players and fans distraught. That includes players new to Detroit, like the Lions’ second-year offensive lineman, Christian Mahogany.
“For me personally, that was the first playoff game I started in this league. Losing like that left a bad taste in my mouth, so I’m coming here to compete every day,” said Mahogany.
This will be the first training camp without Lions’ former center, Frank Ragnow. With the void the four-time Pro Bowl center left in the Lions’ offensive line, the expectations to close the gap are high.
“Everything good comes with time. Last year’s offensive line took time. We got me, Tate (Ratledge), people at different positions, some new guys. I think it’ll be good. We have a standard here. The standard has not dropped,” Mahogany added.
With all of the expectations heading into the season. Lions’ wide receiver and second-team All-Pro punt returner, Kalif Raymond, is focused on taking it one day at a time.
“You lose sight of right now; that’s when you get lost in the sauce. That’s a long way away from today. We got a lot of work to put in,” said Raymond.
The past two seasons for Detroit have taken the team to the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. To Raymond, the first step to achieving success this season is their belief.
“Remove all doubt within ourselves, within whoever’s watching, to be a reckoning, a force to be messed with,” said Raymond.
You can watch the Lions take on the Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game right here on Local 4.