Many of the Detroit Lions rookies have stood out this summer. From top pick Jahmyr Gibbs through third-rounder Brodric Martin, several draftees have shown signs they can contribute right away.
That hasn’t really been the case for the team’s final draft pick in 2023, wideout Antoine Green. The North Carolina product has flashed with his size and speed at times, but Green has also had some struggles with route precision, drops, and the increased speed and physicality of the NFL.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell offered an update on where he sees Green’s progress through the first weeks of training camp and heading into the preseason.
“Yeah, I would say you know, inconsistent,” Campbell told reporters before Wednesday’s practice. “Man, he does some things that really show, and then it just, you know it dips. And there again, he’s a young player. Does some things that really catch your eye, and then some things the opposite way. So just, he’s inconsistent right now. And the more that he can – you know those can – he lessens the inconsistency, the better off he is going to be. That’s part of what camp is for him.”
Last Saturday’s practice session was a good microcosm for Green. In 1-on-1 drills, Green easily ran past 2022 seventh-rounder Chase Lucas on the outside and made a nice in-air adjustment to an underthrown ball. Two reps later, veteran DB Will Harris stymied Green as he tried to break inside and the rookie couldn’t adjust quickly enough; QB Nate Sudfeld turfed the throw on purpose because Green was just not open.
Entering Friday’s exhibition opener against the New York Giants, Green sits on the third-team offense on the team’s unofficial depth chart. The two other third-team wideouts are undrafted rookies Dylan Drummond and Chase Cota. Drummond has definitively outshined Green throughout camp, while Cota has steadily improved the more he plays. Green might need a big preseason in order to avoid practice squad status for his rookie year.
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