Jimmy Rolder is closing in on a return from the strained hamstring he suffered on the third day of Detroit Lions training camp.
The linebacker spent most of the Lions' one-hour practice Thursday, Aug. 20, working on a side field with trainers. He said his hamstring feels "good," though Lions coach Dan Campbell said it's "probably unlikely" the rookie fourth-round pick returns to practice before training camp breaks next week – but he could be back on the field early in the regular season.
"It was very frustrating when it happened third day out there," Rolder said after practice. "I wish I could be getting these reps right now, especially in the preseason, just build on my confidence where I was. But just putting it up to God. Whatever his plan
is for me, it’s out of my hands."
Rolder seems unlikely to have a big role on defense this fall, especially early in the year, after missing the bulk of camp.
Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes are locked into starting jobs at linebacker, Devin White continues to take most of the first-team reps ahead of Malcolm Rodriguez and Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske could have roles in the Lions' sub packages.
On Thursday, White took the first reps at weak-side linebacker in team drills while Rodriguez joined Campbell and Barnes on the field for a red-zone period. Campbell made a leaping pass breakup on a Jared Goff throw to Jameson Williams and seems poised to pick up where he left off in last year's All-Pro season.
As for Rolder, he said he's been an active participant in meetings during his rehab, where coaches have cold called on him to answer questions to make sure he's on top of his playbook.
He said he doesn't feel that far behind, though he declined to say how close to 100% he feels in his return.
"Despite being away I’m still able to stay up on the playbook, study on my own, watch all the film," he said. "I’m in a much better spot mentally, just you’re not getting those physical reps."
More observations from Thursday's practice:
3 days of 'outstanding' padded practices
The Lions had a light workout in shells Thursday after three good days of padded practice this week. They ran through position drills, had 15 plays of team drills (not including pre-snap penalties) and closed with a special teams period.
"The last three days that we've had padded practices ... were outstanding," Dan Campbell said. "Just the work that we got, the situations we got, the amount of reps. They're hard reps, they're under stress. They get tired, have to work with each other. You have got to stay on top of your fundamentals. I just thought it was great work. So I'm pleased."
The Lions have three practices left in camp next week before they close the preseason Aug. 29 on the road against the Indianapolis Colts. There are some real benefits to having joint practices they haven't realized this summer, primarily getting different looks from the top-tier talent on other teams. But overall the Lions seem pleased with where they are heading into the regular season.
First-team offense gets in its own way
The first-team offense was its own worst enemy on a three-and-out drive to start team period against the Lions' top defense. Goff threw incomplete to Amon-Ra St. Brown on the first play of the drive, Christian Mahogany followed with a false start and Jahmyr Gibbs was stopped for a 3-yard loss on the next play when D.J. Reed came unblocked off the corner on a blitz. I can't say for certain, but Jackson Meeks – who was filling in for an injured Sam LaPorta at tight end – appeared to miss his assignment on the play.
Jack Campbell made his leaping pass breakup on the next snap to force what would have been a punt.
QB Luke Altmyer picks up points
Luke Altmyer led the second-team offense to a field goal on the next series, though the offense only picked up one first down on a pass to Sione Vaki. Levi Onwuzurike made a nice play to fight off a block and stop running back Jacob Saylors after a short gain, Khalil Dorsey knocked down a pass to Cedric Wilson Jr., and Seth McLaughlin followed with a bad snap – the ball appeared to slip out of his hand before he could snap; whatever happened, the ball never made it back to Altmyer – leaving the offense in another third-and-long.
Jake Bates made a 42-yard field goal after Nick Whiteside had good coverage to take away a fade route on another throw to Wilson.
Seth McLaughlin gets time at center
Goff led the first-team offense to a field goal on his second drive, when McLaughlin replaced Juice Scruggs at center midway through the downs.
Goff opened with an easy pass to St. Brown and picked up another first down on a pass to Williams, but Campbell tackled Gibbs for a 3-yard loss on first-and-10 from the 17 and the offense couldn't dig out of its hole.
Alim McNeill had a sack on third-and-9 when either McLaughlin or Tate Ratledge forgot to block him on a screen play, and Bates capped the drive with another field goal, this one from 41 yards.
Light snaps for Josh Dobbs at QB
Dan Campbell said before practice that Josh Dobbs will start this week's preseason game against the Washington Commanders, but Dobbs didn't get much work Thursday.
The veteran backup got the final team series of practice, a red-zone situation starting at the 20-yard line. He threw a touchdown pass to Meeks on the only play of the drive, when Ennis Rakestraw Jr. suffered a lower leg injury in coverage when he did not appear to make contact with anyone on the play.
On a personal level, it was tough to see Rakestraw go down. The third-year cornerback has taken a lot of grief from fans for his injury history, but he had a nice week of camp and you never want to see a player injured like that.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions camp observations: LB Jimmy Rolder closing in on return
