ALLEN PARK — Rookie O-lineman Tate Ratledge is still getting his feet wet with NFL play during training camp and preseason work.
The Detroit Lions’ second-round pick is looking to be a likely starter in an offensive line that has created high expectations for itself in recent years. So when Ratledge gets moments to shine in front of his teammates, it’s a welcome sight.
In Wednesday’s joint practice against the Miami Dolphins, Ratledge got to remind his teammates of not just his strength but his composure when Dolphins defensive back Jack Jones got in his face after a play.
While he didn’t let things escalate beyond delivering a headbutt, veterans in the unit took note of how he handled the situation.
“I don’t think that he’s scared of anybody, so that is not a concern of mine,” nine-year tackle Taylor Decker said of Ratledge. “He’s got bite. He’s not going to back down from anything, that’s not a concern at all.
“Was it a defensive back that did it? I mean, it’s a defensive back. I mean, they can get choke slammed if they want to.”
Jones was the subject of a lot of the more active moments on the offensive side of the practice, at one point swatting off the helmet of rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
TeSlaa also earned some respect from the veterans in his room as he went face-to-face with a jawing Jones, after.
“Things get chippy, guys start fighting...it happens,” receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said, “Being able to compete, for young guys, I think that’s one of the best things they can do.”
The Lions veterans know they need to be smart about approaching these joint practices when tensions are building up and there are lots of eyes on what they’re doing.
Too much action and a player or team could be fined. Finding the balance between physicality and self control is of the utmost importance. Some of the young players on the Lions’ offense seem to have that before they’ve even made it to Week 1 of the season.
“Yeah, we want to compete, we want to be physical,” Decker said. “We’re not going to back down from anybody, but you also have to have that composure aspect.
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