Two undrafted rookies headline a day of roster-theater for Detroit, as Day 16 of training camp resembled a scrimmage with implications for the 53-man cut. Kennelly flashed with first-team reps, delivering run stops and a blitz breakup that caught eyes in a crowded depth chart. Cooper answered with robust run stops and a later tackle-for-loss, hinting at versatility along the front. The Lions scrimmage-like drives exposed improved competition across offense and defense, with Gibbs and Montgomery splitting touches and St. Brown and Jameson Williams making timely plays in the red zone. Hutchinson leaned into pressure, while Robertson and Ya-Sin varied their coverage clips. Branch and Joseph showed aggressive instincts that could push youngsters for snaps behind them. The tempo with Hooker and Goff orchestrating drives from the goal line outward produced several scoring moments, including a St. Brown TD and a few red-zone successes. With Mekhi Wingo’s return looming over roster math, Detroit’s defensive line depth could tilt in subtle but meaningful ways as joint practice with Houston looms.

Mazi Smith enters year three with Dallas amid high expectations for a first‑round pick who has yet to fully meet the hype. His athleticism is unquestioned; The Athletic once named him the freakiest lineman in college football, with jaw‑dropping numbers at Michigan and at the scouting combine. Parsons’ enthusiastic reaction at the draft suggested Smith has the backing of Dallas’ defense, a unit desperate for interior disruption. Smith’s 2023 and 2024 stat lines show growth but not the breakout many envisioned, keeping fantasy folks wary but hopeful for a Year 3 jump. The Cowboys’ historical affinity for Michigan linemen provides a cultural backdrop, while off‑field headlines from college still linger. If he can earn more snaps and translate athletic gifts into consistent pressure, his fantasy floor could rise alongside his role in a Parsons‑led defense.

The piece threads in a wider NFL college‑to‑pro angle, noting the Cowboys’ prior first‑round interior DL picks and a Michigan defensive‑lineman pipeline that has yielded big names in recent drafts. It also touches on Smith’s arrest in college and his creative‑writing background, painting a multidimensional portrait of a player who blends power with rare burst. All told, Smith is positioned for a meaningful, perhaps season‑defining, third year — a pivot point for fantasy managers who have watched him steadily grow but wait for a definitive breakout moment.

Detroit’s joint practice with Miami showed the Lions thriving on defense and punching back on offense in a high- tempo session. Hutchinson led the way with pressure and sacks, while the unit as a whole bottled up Tua Tagovailoa in the pocket. Jared Goff looked sharp, threading throws into tight windows and pairing with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams for impressive red-zone and big-play moments. The Dolphins dealt with some live-action bumps—Chop Robinson’s spin move failed against Sewell, and there were a few skirmishes—but the Lions emerged with clear fantasy takeaways: the defense is elite, the pass rush is relentless, and Lions receivers—especially St. Brown and Williams—look poised for a feature-season boost.

Miami’s 2024 preseason narrative centers on Tua Tagovailoa and a frustrated Miami offense after a Wednesday joint session with Detroit. The Lions pressured the right side heavily, with Aidan Hutchinson creating consistent disruption as Borom and the Dolphins’ line tried to hold up, while Patrick Paul battled to protect in pass sets. Tyreek Hill wasn’t in team drills, and Jaylen Waddle returned on a limited snap count, leaving Miami searching for rhythm. Miami tees up a second day with Detroit as they seek to reestablish timing and energy, with McDaniel stressing turnover avoidance and continued communication on protections and run concepts. The Bears’ recent physical contact during a separate session looms as a contrasting benchmark on how the Dolphins handle elite-front defenses during a long preseason road swing.