Detroit Lions observations: Sione Vaki steals show as Hendon Hooker visits medical tent
Shawn WindsorEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Detroit Lions and New York Giants jawed and fought for two joint practices during hot, humid temps earlier this week. Thursday night, they took their chirpy act across the parking lot to MetLife Stadium to kick off each team’s preseason slate.
It rained. The temperature dropped. Lions rookie kicker Jake Bates nailed a 53-yard field goal — more on that in a minute. Lions quarterback Nate Sudfeld struggled in place of resting starter Jared Goff — more on that in a minute, too. Hendon Hooker got his first live action in the second half, then left after two series and a trip to the medical tent. And the Lions offense looked lost for much of the night in a 14-3 loss.
With all but two potential starters missing from both the offense and defense, Lions coach Dan Campbell and his staff were keen on beginning to figure out the back of the roster, and collect more info for the few spots up in the air in the rotation, starting with the backup quarterback.
Air Sudfeld?
The longtime backup missed last season with a knee injury suffered in the Lions' preseason finale. He got the start Thursday. In seven series, he threw 12 passes. He completed six ... for 35 yards. He finished the day 13-for-24 with just 96 yards after coming back into the game when Hooker exited after nine throws.
The numbers don’t do justice to what it looked like. The rain didn’t make throwing easy, of course. But Sudfeld threw low, threw high, threw behind receivers.
He took a sack on second down during the first series when he rolled out to his left and chose not to throw the ball away, which he could’ve done. A tunnel screen on the next play fell short of the first down — he completed the pass, though.
Toward the end of the half, the Lions finally started moving the ball and drove to the Giants' 22-yard line. Sudfeld took another sack on first down at the 22 when he held onto the ball too long.
On fourth down from the Giants' 19 and needing four yards for a first, Sudfeld dropped back, rolled to his right, waited, waited some more, then threw into triple coverage trying to hit wideout Kaden Davis. Tre Herndon intercepted, returned it 35 yards before receiver Tom Kennedy punched the ball out and running back Sione Vaki recovered.
The rookie out of Utah showed good hustle to help chase Herndon down.
Hooker, the Lions second-year quarterback, started the second half, making his professional debut.
Rookie runner, rookie catcher
Vaki was the first-half high point of the Lions offense. He didn’t play until the final series of the half. He gained a yard on his first carry.
Then nine more. Then added 15. Suddenly, the Lions looked like they had an offense. Vaki hit the right holes, hit them quickly, and showed good wiggle once he got through them.
He had a nice debut.
Isaiah Williams, meanwhile, got a shoutout from the head coach after the game. In fact, Campbell mentioned the rookie receiver before anyone else when asked who stood out in the game.
"Isaiah," he said. "He made some plays out there, and that was clear to see."
Williams arrived as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois and has made some plays in camp. He caught four passes for 35 yards Thursday night against the Giants.
Jake Bates makes early statement
Well, one field goal probably isn’t going to completely lock down the kicking spot for Bates. But when he trotted out to attempt the 53-yarder in the rain and split the uprights after an uneven training camp to this point, he had to feel good, and the Lions had to feel good watching.
The field goal gave the Lions a 3-0 first-quarter lead, not that it mattered in preseason. It ended up being their only score of the day.
More rookie debuts
Rookie Ennis Rakestraw Jr. started at the outside corner opposite rookie Terrion Arnold, and made a nice third-down tackle on the first series, and a nice play on a punt, acting as the gunner, outracing everyone down the field.
Arnold played sticky coverage on his side. Together, they helped hold the Giants’ veteran backup, Drew Lock, to 4 of 10 passing for 17 yards.
Odds and ends
∎Cornerback Brandon Joseph intercepted Lock when he sat in the zone and Lock didn’t see him. Second-year defensive tackle Broderic Martin had a nice showing, helping Nate Lynn sack Lock while showing a solid burst.
∎Craig Reynolds got the start for the Lions and rushed for 11 yards on four carries.
∎Giants running back Eric Gray scored the first touchdown when he ran off left tackle, got into the secondary, and juked Morice Norris, making the safety stumble.
∎One of Bates’ kickoffs hit the turf before the 20-yard line, a penalty under the new rules. The Giants started the drive at the Lions’ 40-yard-line.
∎Figuring out where to place the ball on kickoffs will take a minute. For everyone.
Contact Shawn Windsor: swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him@shawnwindsor.
Next up: Chiefs
Matchup: Lions (12-5 in 2023) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-6 in 2023), exhibition.
Kickoff: 4 p.m., Aug. 17; GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
TV/radio: WJBK-TV (Fox 2 in Detroit); WXYT-FM (97.1).
Regular-season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Rams, Ford Field, NBC.
More online: The second half of the Lions game on Thursday night ended after this edition went to press. Go to freep.com/sports/lions to find out how the rest of the Lions did in the second half against the Giants.