Napa, Calif. -- Joint practices have offered some stiff challenges for Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay. Two years ago, he went head-to-head with Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown, arguably the game's most-compete receiver. And last year, Slay was asked to hang with speed merchant T.Y. Hilton.
This offseason, the early-camp test is about physicality and size, with Slay spending most of two practice days lined up across from Raiders wideout Amari Cooper.
"He's bigger, size-wise, with the muscles, than I thought, from the last time I seen him," Slay said.
The All-Pro cornerback isn't wrong. The 6-foot-1 Cooper reportedly bulked up to 225 pounds this offseason, looking more like a strong safety than one of the game's most-talented young receivers.