Ford Field scheduling conflicts with Chris Brown's concert series prevent the team from hosting the popular open practice that drew 18,000 fans in 2022.

The Detroit Lions are turning over a new leaf on defense with Kelvin Sheppard taking over the defensive coordinator role from departed Aaron Glenn and a new cast of contributors ready to take on new challenges.

▶ Saturday marked the first practice of the year with fans in attendance, and per usual, there was a noticeable change in the energy. Supporters in attendance gave Lions owner Sheila Hamp a standing ovation when she arrived, and later started a chant for linebacker Alex Anzalone, who returned to practice amid a contract dispute with the team.

The Lions are counting on Aidan Hutchinson immediately returning to form following last year’s season-ending leg fracture. So far, so good, according to quarterback Jared Goff.

Training camp opens for the fans on July 26. For those of you attending camp, keep an eye on how these players are looking. Most of them have had an injury or a surgery with little to no game action since. Most of these players are unlikely to see a snap of preseason game action, so what you see in camp is all we get until Week 1 at Lambeau.

If those organising this year’s Lions tour to Australia had sat down and sketched out their dream second Test, it would not have been too far off what we saw at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Australia coach Joe Schmidt is confident the Wallabies are on an upward trajectory despite seeing his side slip to a late series-deciding loss to the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on Saturday.

Itoje has led the Lions to a series victory in Australia eight years after announcing his arrival with a tour de force in Wellington