With just two preseason games under his belt, rookie Sione Vaki is setting himself apart in a pretty big way.
Athlon Sports’ Doug Farrar named the rookie one of the top “secret superstars” emerging from the NFL preseason. Vaki, drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round, was both a safety and a running back at Utah — a true two-way player right up Dan Campbell’s alley.
But it turns out he’s even more versatile than that. Farrar explains that when it comes to Vaki’s performance in the Lions’ 24-23 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, one drive almost told the entire story.
“All of a sudden, Vaki was neither a safety nor a running back. Now, he was Detroit’s most productive receiver on a drive that ended the first half. Vaki blew up Kansas City’s defense with quick catches out of the backfield, and his own ability to force missed tackles and make the most of his opportunities after the catch,” he writes.
From here I’ll point you to three other articles:
- Ryan Mathews explains how Vaki is leading the way for Detroit’s rookie class in this week’s look at key stats
- John Whiticar explains what Vaki’s role is in the hunt for an X receiver
- Morgan Cannon names Vaki as one of five winners from Saturday’s game
And onto the rest of your notes.
- This athletically gifted Corgi — with 260,000 plus followers, by the way, so you know he’s legit — correctly predicted who will win the Super Bowl.
- “What the Lions really needed was for one of the X guys to step up. Instead they got a big step up from the most redundant receiver on the roster.” A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton explains which player he thinks will ultimately get cut — but it’ll be awfully hard to do so.
- Just a wonderful story that speaks to DJ Reader’s character. Glad he’s a Lion now.
His grandfather played in the Negro Leagues and his parents were big into philanthropy. How D.J. Reader's family made the new Detroit Lions DT a 'glass half-full' kind of guy https://t.co/c0QmHBlxTt via @freep
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) August 20, 2024
- Sports Illustrated’s John Maakaron compiled the latest preseason power rankings from various national media sources, and most landed in the exact same spot.
- Looks like former Lion Teddy Bridgewater’s off to a hot start as the head football coach of his alma mater.
Louisville football legend Teddy Bridgewater made a powerful debut as head coach last night, leading his team to a commanding 42-7 victory. The former Pro Bowl quarterback, who recently concluded a successful 10-year NFL career, is now at the helm of his alma mater, Miami… pic.twitter.com/6xt4dgfZF2
— 35KYSports (@35KYSportsMedia) August 18, 2024
