Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has signaled his intention to continue developing rookie guard Miles Frazier, indicating the fifth-round pick will see more action this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. After a promising NFL debut last week, Frazier appears to have earned the trust of the coaching staff as the team navigates injuries along the offensive line.
Detroit Lions Miles Frazier Earning His Snaps
Frazier saw his first game action against the Dallas Cowboys last week, participating in a drive-by-drive rotation with veteran Trystan Colon at left guard. Initially, the plan was to ease the rookie into the game, but his solid play led to an increased role. Frazier ended up playing 26 snaps, impressing the coaching staff enough to warrant continued opportunities.
“He earned the right to keep going. He did good enough to where, ‘Alright, let’s get him another series,’” Campbell said after the Cowboys game. “We didn’t have intentions of giving him as much as we did. We just wanted to kind of introduce him.”
During a radio appearance on Tuesday, Campbell reiterated his confidence in the young guard, confirming he is part of the game plan for the upcoming matchup with the Rams.
“I’d like to play Frazier a little bit again,” Campbell said, while also noting that Colon will remain involved. “There’s things that can be cleaned up, but Colon did some good things, too.”
Invaluable Experience for the Future
The coaching staff is taking a measured approach with Frazier, who missed all of training camp and the preseason with a knee injury that kept him sidelined until November. Despite his limited practice time, Campbell sees this late-season playing time as a critical investment in Frazier’s development.
“Those reps will be invaluable for him and he’s going to have to learn from them, and we believe he will,” Campbell stated. “We believe he’ll memory bank those and get a little bit better.”
This focus on development comes as the Lions manage injuries to other key linemen. Kayode Awosika, the primary backup, is dealing with a foot injury, and starting left guard Christian Mahogany is just beginning to work his way back from a broken leg.
While Campbell remains patient with the rookie, the message is clear: Miles Frazier has shown enough promise to be a part of the Lions’ immediate plans, and the team is committed to giving him the reps he needs to grow.
