Dan Campbell just named 4 Lions practice squad players who are starting to make some noise

Detroit has consistently found contributors from what Campbell calls the “vet squad,” and four players are beginning to catch the Lions coach’s attention.

Personally, I love what the Detroit Lions do with their practice squad. Lions coach Dan Campbell doesn’t even call it a practice squad. He calls it the vet squad, and that tells you how much the team values the guys on it.

I don’t cover the other 31 teams in the NFL, so I can’t tell you how it works everywhere else. But if I were a practice squad player in this league, I think I’d want to be in Detroit. There’s a real chance you get elevated and get to play football. Every year, somebody comes off this group and gives the Lions something.

Campbell went on 97.1 The Ticket on Wednesday morning and mentioned a few practice squad guys who have started to pop. Let’s break it down.

Tight end Thomas Gordon

For about a week this summer, I thought Gordon could make the 53-man roster. The Lions like Jackson Meeks, and I wasn’t sure they’d want to carry both. Gordon just kept showing up. I found myself writing his name in my notebook enough times to think, hey, this guy’s not bad. When I did my practice squad projection at the end of the summer, he was on it.

The issue here is the depth chart. Detroit has Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Meeks, and Tyler Conklin on the active roster. Conklin has been inactive recently, and Meeks has been on and off. If Gordon gets elevated, it’s probably a special teams thing. Still, with four tight ends already on the roster, I’m not sure why the Lions would do it. He’s someone to keep an eye on.

Wide receiver Lucky Jackson

Campbell talked about Jackson a lot at the end of the summer, and with good reason. He made plays on special teams all summer. The problem was that Tay Martin made more of them and simply looked better in that phase.

We haven’t heard Martin’s name as much as we did in the first couple weeks of the season, but I don’t see Jackson taking over his role. Martin is still good to have as a special teamer.

Jackson also showed up as a receiver. He had a strong preseason, especially in the final preseason game, when he went out and did his thing. The Lions are always looking at different things on offense. I could see a world where they elevate Jackson and throw a few passes his way or use him on special teams. I’m curious to see what that looks like.

Linebacker Joe Bachie

This one is pretty simple. Bachie looked good all summer, and I had him on my 53-man roster projection almost the whole way. He did end up on the 53, but he’s back on the practice squad because Detroit brought up Amen Ogbongbemiga instead.

Ogbongbemiga has played good special teams ball. Bachie can play special teams too, and that’s important to point out. He can also line up at middle linebacker and contribute on defense. We haven’t seen much of Ogbongbemiga on defense since the preseason. Bachie is a veteran worth keeping around, and he plays well.

Rookie edge rusher Anthony Lucas

At the beginning of the summer, I thought Lucas was the undrafted free agent who would make the 53-man roster. Eric O’Neal felt like an afterthought by comparison. Lucas was projected to go in the sixth round, maybe the seventh, and almost everyone was sure he’d get drafted.

The knock on him was that he never put it all together at USC. He was either a good pass rusher who struggled against the run or a good run defender who struggled to rush the passer. You saw flashes of what he could be, but he couldn’t quite get there.

Now that he’s been with the Lions for a few weeks, he’s starting to show up. [[FLAG:injury]]I’m still curious about why we haven’t seen Ahmed Hassanein yet, and at this point, it doesn’t feel particularly good.[[/FLAG]]

What stands out most is Lucas’ size. Campbell brought up how long he is and how much the Lions like his wingspan. When he lines up across from a tackle, he engulfs guys. He’s long, he’s wide, and he’s an intriguing prospect. Detroit clearly wants to see where it can go with that, and so do I.

Those are the four guys the Lions have on their minds right now on the vet squad. We’ll see what they do with them.