Lions camp observations: Reynolds showing no interest ceding No. 3 RB role

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Allen Park — Here are some observations from Friday’s Detroit Lions training camp practice.

● When a shiny, new toy with extra bells and whistles gets introduced to an NFL roster, there’s a willingness to cast the old toy aside. But it would be foolish to dismiss how the Lions feel about running back Craig Reynolds.

The college tape of fourth-round draft pick Sione Vaki understandably causes the imagination to run wild, but unseating Reynolds isn’t going to be easy for the rookie, especially when the veteran capitalizes on his opportunities like he did Friday, while taking Jahmyr Gibbs reps with the first-team offense.

Reynolds especially popped in the passing game. During a red-zone segment, he ran a crisp out route, making himself available to quarterback Jared Goff just inside the front pylon for a score in front of cornerback Carlton Davis III.

A little later, Reynolds ran a wheel, getting behind linebacker Alex Anzalone for an over-the-shoulder touchdown. Furthering the day’s divide, Vaki ran the wrong route during a red zone rep, sitting down when he should have continued moving laterally, earning him an earful from a coach.

In a special teams drill, Reynolds and Vaki got paired head-to-head, with one trying to block the other in space. As the blocker, Vaki impressed on the first rep, shutting down Reynolds and drawing some loud support from teammates. But when the two switched, it was Reynolds who dominated.

I caught up with Reynolds after practice and he downplayed his comfort level a few years into his time with the Lions, noting he can’t allow himself to ever take on that mindset. He also praised what Vaki has brought to the room, elevating the competition, individually and across the position group.

It’s early, and there’s plenty to sort out, but it’s easy to think there’s plenty of room for both of them on the 53-man roster.

● Jameson Williams and Brian Branch were excused from practice for personal reasons.

Williams’ absence led to some increased first-team opportunities for a number of receivers who will be competing for a roster spot the next month, including Antoine Green. It was a mixed bag for the second-year wideout, but he did have a good grab on a crossing pattern, outrunning Davis across the field.

Others seeing work with the top grouping included Kaden Davis, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tom Kennedy.

Kennedy, who has stuck around for years for a reason, had a long catch across the middle and also a touchdown on a broken play in the red zone, where he found space and provided an outlet for backup QB Hendon Hooker.

● Jack Fox was able to let a few punts rip and he continues to be one of the most stable spots on the roster. He did shank one, proving he’s mortal, but that was offset by his fielding of a low snap off his shoe tops and banging it 55-60 yards with good hang time.

● The Lions won’t put on pads until Monday, but were wearing shells for the first time during camp. The intensity and chippiness ratcheted up to match the extra equipment.

With more run game work incorporated into full-team segments, there were a handful of post-whistle scrums with the usual suspects in the thick of those.

● Hooker is still trending in a good direction, but inconsistencies also remain. He had some really promising throws, including a tight-windowed crosser while rolling to his left early in practice, then one of the prettiest practice tosses you’ll see, threading a post to Peoples-Jones in the back of the end zone, over the head of safety CJ Moore underneath, and just out of the reach of cornerback Kindle Vildor, who was blanketing the receiver in man coverage.

Of course, the next two plays saw Hooker throw a ball directly to linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, who dropped the would-be interception, before sailing a ball, unforced, over the head of an open Peoples-Jones in the end zone.

● Practice ended with a situational, end-of-half drive with the offense starting near midfield. The defense capped their day on a high note, with Alim McNeill getting pressure on Goff to force an incompletion on first down and linebacker Derrick Barnes nearly intercepting the QB on third down.