Mathieu Betts is looking to leave his mark in training camp with the Detroit Lions.
According to the team’s top decision maker, the Canadian pass rusher has shown improvement during camp as he looks to make his first NFL roster.
“He really took a big step from where he was when he walked in the building and he’s a pretty good athlete,” head coach Dan Campbell told reporters. “The kid is a crafty rusher, he’s good with his hands, and it’s early. He’s improved, he’s made a ton of improvement, so we’ll see where it goes.”
Bets is coming off an impressive season in the CFL with the B.C. Lions where he recorded 18 sacks, setting a single-season record for Canadians. Following that success, Betts opted to make another push to land with an NFL team.
The Montreal native signed with the Lions on a one-year deal worth $795,000, but it does not include any guaranteed money should he be cut during training camp.
Betts has moved around the line so far in camp, showing an ability to play other positions. He has been seen getting reps at defensive end and strong-side linebacker which the team didn’t anticipate him trying.
At the same time, the Lions have been easing Betts into the league, trying to avoid throwing too much at him too fast, according to Campbell.
“We’re just kind of pulling back on him a little bit,” the coach said. “We feel like he’s thinking a lot because we’ve thrown so much at him, so we want to dial it back.”
This is Betts’ second attempt to make an NFL roster after signing with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2019. In that same year, the Edmonton Elks drafted Betts third overall, and he joined the Elks late in the season after he was among the final cuts from Bears camp.
