The Detroit Lions have emerged as a force in the NFC over the last two years, thanks largely to the highly competitive culture established by head coach Dan Campbell. While Campbell probably isn’t expecting literal kneecap biting at practice, he wants that same aggressive mindset as players fight for a place on the 53-man roster.

The opening phase of this competition begins during the team’s offseason program. Although the Lions have already begun laying the groundwork for the 2025 campaign, the intensity will ramp up in the coming weeks. That prompted one Lions coach to deliver a pointed message to a handful of players heading into organized team activities (OTAs).

Safeties coach Jim O’Neil addressed the condition of his unit during a media session on Thursday. With Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, and free-agent pickup Avonte Maddox firmly set for camp, he made it clear that five younger players would vie for one remaining roster spot.

“There’s one spot,” O’Neil said, according to The Detroit News’s Richard Silva. “Go earn it.”

O’Neil’s blunt message carried weight—reminiscent of The Joker telling his goons there’d be auditions in The Dark Knight. Erick Hallett II, Dan Jackson, Ian Kennelly, Morice Norris, and Loren Strickland are all contenders. Jackson has the edge after being picked in the seventh round last month, but history shows any of them could claim the spot.

Back in 2022, during the Lions’ Hard Knocks appearance, a standout moment came when then-linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard challenged his veterans for being outperformed by a sixth-round rookie. That rookie, Malcom Rodriguez, has since become a mainstay in Detroit’s defense.

Now that Sheppard has taken over as defensive coordinator, the emphasis on internal competition remains strong—and it could shape one of the most compelling position battles of OTAs.