ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Dan Campbell used the word “exciting” four times in his opening statement, if that gives you a sense of how the Detroit Lions coach is feeling as training camp gets underway.If you understand the inner workings of the Lions’ offseason, you’ll know it was all leading up to this day.“This feels like there’s a little bit of a transition — like there is a newness to it,” Campbell said. “It’s a little bit like, ‘OK,’ we still have our core crew, the guys … who have been here since ’21.’ … But then we made some moves here, particularly this year, this offseason, so there’s a newness to it. There’s a little bit of a youth movement that’s up to us to get these guys developed, and that’s pretty exciting, but also knowing, man, I want to get back to what we did in ’22 a little bit. And some of ’21, probably more ’22, but just get back to the basics of what we are. So that’s exciting.“These guys that were puppies at one time, it’s all theirs now. It’s all Saint’s and Sewell and Hutch and Jack. That’s exciting.”As Campbell indicated, the Lions waved goodbye to some key veterans and put the onus on a new group of leaders. They added starting-caliber depth as well as hungry players who are destined to shake things up and create the competitive environment Campbell craves; that was a point of emphasis this offseason for him and Lions GM Brad Holmes. When you read his comments about those 2021 and 2022 seasons, it illustrates how highly Campbell views those teams — even as they were still learning how to win. If these Lions can stay healthy and recapture the mentality of those squads, while pairing that with the talent they have now, it could lead to something special — perhaps even something super.But that’s a conversation for later. For now, the Lions had an eventful first day back. Here’s what we learned on Day 1 of training camp:Gibbs holdout?Campbell began Wednesday morning’s news conference by listing each injured player and their projected timelines for return. His list of players mirrored the absences noted by reporters at practice shortly thereafter.The only unaccounted player? RB Jahmyr Gibbs.This is newsworthy, of course. Gibbs isn’t on the PUP or NFI lists, and he wasn’t mentioned by Campbell as a player who would be missing practice. Unless Campbell tells us Thursday that Gibbs had an excused absence, it could signal a hold-out scenario, as the fourth-year back seeks a contract extension.Hold-outs are common in training camp, but not necessarily around these parts. LB Alex Anzalone was a hold-in last year, telling reporters to ask Campbell and Holmes about his situation while he sat out the first week or so of practice. He said he wanted to retire a Lion, but the team didn’t offer him an extension and let him walk in free agency this offseason. Other than that, there haven’t been too many contract standoffs, but we might have one brewing.“You guys know how we feel about Gibbs and all of our guys,” Campbell said Wednesday morning. “This will kind of continue. It’ll come as it comes. I think that’s the best way to say it. This is both sides working through something, and we’ll take it as it comes, but that’s where it is.”It makes sense why Gibbs might be preparing to stand his ground for a new deal — if that’s what he’s doing. The position he plays is volatile. He’s seeking a contract that could net him north of $20 million per season. A training camp injury before signing an extension would be detrimental to those efforts. The Lions have made it clear that Gibbs is a core member of this team, so if a new deal is close, there’s no real reason to push things early in camp. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, drafted the same year as Gibbs and seeking a new deal himself, was also notably absent from practice Wednesday. We’ll see where things stand Thursday, but it looks like Gibbs could be playing the waiting game.Should Detroit Lions be considered favorites to win NFC North?Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenInjury updatesCampbell took time to address Detroit’s injury situation before Wednesday’s practice.S Brian Branch (Achilles)“Branch is doing well. His will be — obviously PUP. There are no setbacks. … I’m sure late training camp, maybe early September, he can start practicing. We’ll see. But he’s doing well.”S Kerby Joseph (knee)“To me, if we got him back for the first game, that would be a bonus. I mean, that would be a like, ‘Whoa, OK.’ I don’t expect that. I’m not looking for that. I feel like he’s more on the Branch plan — and that’s if everything goes well and everything goes according to plan with him. But he’s doing well.”LG Christian Mahogany (undisclosed)“Mahogany needs a couple of days, and then he’ll be ready.” Worth noting: Mahogany was running the hill during practice. Campbell said one player didn’t pass his physical, but he didn’t say who.DB Christian Izien (illness)“Izzy just had a little flu bug. We’re going to make sure he’s good to go. Hopefully, by Friday, we get him in practice.”TE Tyler Conklin (calf)“Conklin’s going to probably be about two weeks here, somewhere in there. He’s running. He got a little calf back in the spring. We’re hopeful, no setbacks. We’re trying to be smart with him, but hopefully get him back as soon as possible, so we can get some reps on him.”News, notes and observations• While Joseph and Branch weren’t practicing, both were in attendance. Joseph was running the hill during early-morning walk-throughs and dapped up several DBs before heading inside. Branch was a bystander for most of practice, wearing a long-sleeve T-shirt and shorts.• Lions TE Sam LaPorta is full-go for training camp, and he’s feeling like himself again. He said he and Brett Fischer, the team’s director of player health and performance, started working together on Jan. 4, about five weeks after he underwent surgery for a herniated disc. They’ve been at it ever since. LaPorta said the nerve strength came back in phases, but the full strength returned 2-3 months ago. The Lions took it easy with him in OTAs, but he participated in both walk-throughs and live periods Wednesday.“I feel really good,” LaPorta said. “I was running around, bending well, moving well. Good so far.”• Without Gibbs on the field, backup Isiah Pacheco earned most of the initial reps with the first-team offense, with 2024 fourth-round pick Sione Vaki subbing in. It will be interesting to see if Vaki can make things interesting — or make Pacheco uncomfortable — as training camp continues.• Filling in for Mahogany at left guard, to the surprise of some, was Juice Scruggs. Veteran Ben Bartch participated in morning walk-throughs at left guard, but he stood off to the side for live team periods later in practice. The Lions could be taking it slow with him after he sat out all of OTAs. Scruggs received every snap, with Miles Frazier repping with the second-team offense.• Campbell on the release of CB Terrion Arnold: “I addressed the team last night over that. You know, it stinks. You never want to let go of a player, especially somebody that you’ve been around for a while here, and you drafted and all that. It’s unfortunate, but we made the move we thought was best for us.”What releasing Terrion Arnold means for the LionsColton Pouncy• CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. earned a ton of first-team reps during team periods, splitting time with Rock Ya-Sin. He’s in the mix for the CB2 job, and it sounds like he’ll be given every opportunity to win it. That said, it was a bit of an unfortunate day for Rakestraw. Both Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams made diving contested catches versus Rakestraw. Both were the definition of tight-window throws, so you have to credit QB Jared Goff and his receivers. It was strong coverage by Rakestraw.• One of the first defensive lineups trotted out Wednesday featured Tyler Lacy, Tyleik Williams, Alim McNeill and Aidan Hutchinson along the defensive line, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez at linebacker and D.J. Reed, Ya-Sin, Avonte Maddox and Chuck Clark in the secondary. It’s worth noting that Izien didn’t practice, and he was getting the bulk of first-team reps in the spring over Maddox. When the Lions switched to nickel, Roger McCreary subbed in, Rodriguez subbed out and Barnes moved to will.• Williams recorded what would’ve been a sack during the team period. The Lions aren’t in full pads, and sacks aren’t allowed, but the pressure was there, and Williams let up. The Lions need a strong sophomore season from their 2025 first-round DT, now that DJ Reader isn’t here.• CB Nick Whiteside had an excellent day, breaking up a pair of passes during the team period. He’s flown under the radar in the CB battle, but days like this will help him secure a spot on the 53-man roster. The opportunity is there.