Lions' Marcus Davenport off to great start at camp ahead of crucial season

Marcus Davenport is standing out at Detroit Lions training camp.

The veteran edge rusher appeared in just two games in 2024 due to a season-ending triceps injury and has played just six games in the last two seasons. However, Detroit showed faith in Davenport by re-signing him to a one-year deal in March, and he is putting on a show at camp thus far.

According to Tim Twentyman of Lions.com, Davenport wreaked havoc during Monday's practice. He was consistently in the backfield and making life difficult for quarterback Jared Goff.

"It was just the second day of camp and there were no pads, but Davenport lived in the offensive backfield disrupting a number of plays and getting after quarterback Jared Goff most of the morning," Twentyman wrote on Davenport's performance in camp.

Davenport is also enjoying playing across from Aidan Hutchinson, who is also returning from a season-ending injury suffered in 2024.

"It's fun," Davenport said of these first two days of camp lining up opposite Hutchinson. "I really try to poke at him. He's way too cool and calm and so I try to poke at him."

"Shoot, sometimes I over-complicate things, and he just simplifies it like, 'Hey man, it's just this,'" Davenport said. "Sometimes mid-play I'm trying to talk to him and we're giving signals and I'm like, 'OK, you're right.'"

If Davenport can establish himself as a difference-maker on the defensive line and provide adequate production at edge rusher opposite Hutchinson, it would be a major development for the Super Bowl hopeful Lions.

It looks like Davenport is more motivated than ever to be a productive player and make an impact, which is fantastic news for Detroit.

"Davenport said he enters 2025 with a bit of a chip on his shoulder after missing so much time due to injury the last two seasons. He said he used some of the criticism he's faced over the last two years because of the injuries as fuel to keep a little bit of an edge," Twentyman wrote.

MORE: Alex Anzalone breaks silence, confirms he's not happy with Lions contract