The Detroit Lions kicked off their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this week, providing fans and media with a glimpse of what's to come in the upcoming football season. While it's important to remember that full contact is not yet permitted, there were several noteworthy performances during the team's practices at Allen Park.

The Lions' starting quarterback, Jared Goff, had a slow start with his first three passes falling incomplete during 11-on-11 play. However, as practice continued, Goff found his rhythm and connected on some impressive throws, including a beautifully thrown deep ball to wide receiver Jameson Williams. Williams showcased growth and detail in his route running, but still had a dropped pass that the team hopes he can improve upon.

One of the highlights of the practice was the performance of second-year quarterback Hendon Hooker. While he displayed a strong arm and the ability to make difficult throws, his accuracy was inconsistent, leading to a couple of near interceptions. The coaching staff will be closely evaluating Hooker's processing skills as he continues to develop.

In the running back room, Sione Vaki caught the eye with his natural hands in the passing game. He made an impressive play during the 11-on-11s, hauling in a pass that was over his head and turning it into a 20+ yard gain. The tight ends group did not have any standout players, with the absence of Sam LaPorta.

During the practices, the offensive line rotations saw some mixing and matching due to the absence of Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker. The most common lineup featured Dan Skipper, Graham Glasgow, Michael Niese, Kevin Zeitler, and rookie Penei Sewell. Of note, Colby Sorsdal seemed to be transitioning back to his college position at tackle, playing both left and right tackle during practice.

Defensively, Levi Onwuzurike benefited from the absence of key players on the defensive line, earning regular playing time with the first-team defense. Aidan Hutchinson made an impact by batting down a pass, while Alim McNeill showcased his quickness with an impressive sack. Brodric Martin, despite high expectations, mostly worked with the second-team defense.

In the secondary, Carlton Davis stood out as the best performer of the day, displaying strong coverage skills and picking up a pass breakup. Kindle Vildor and Amik Robertson also made notable plays with pass breakups. Rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold had limited participation, while Ifeatu Melifonwu stood as the primary starter.

During a specific situational drill, the Lions' first-team offense found success, with Goff connecting with Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown for significant gains. The team settled for a field goal attempt, which both Michael Badgley and James Turner successfully made. The second team had a slightly less successful outing, with Hooker leading them to a field goal attempt that was missed by Turner.

Overall, the Detroit Lions showed promising signs during their first week of OTAs. There were notable performances from quarterbacks Goff and Hooker, wide receiver Williams, and defensive standouts Hutchinson and Davis. As the offseason progresses, the coaching staff will continue to evaluate and develop their roster in preparation for the upcoming football season.