OCTOBER 26TH 11:36AM ET

DETROIT LIONS — With 1:08 remaining, the game tied 17–17 and the end zone within reach, Jahmyr Gibbs made a decision that rarely earns a place on the highlight reel. He gained eight yards on third-and-6, secured a first down and deliberately stopped at Green Bay’s three-yard line rather than score. The Packers wanted him in the end zone so Jordan Love could have one final possession. Gibbs understood the situation and refused to give them the football.

It was the defining moment of Sunday’s 20–17 victory at Ford Field. Dan Campbell’s late-game strategy turned what could have been another desperate defensive stand into a controlled finish, with Jake Bates kicking a 22-yard field goal as time expired. Instead of asking his defense to protect a seven-point lead, the Lions protected possession and eliminated Green Bay’s opportunity to respond.

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OCTOBER 20TH, 2026 | 11:22 PM ET

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OCTOBER 14TH | 3:41PM

BREAKING DOWN THE OUTPUT

Detroit Lions – At the time this was written, the offense has averaged just 2.0 first-quarter points per game, ranking 29th in the NFL. Its first three possessions in each game have produced 23 points across 15 drives, an average of 1.53 points per possession. Those numbers expose the difference between the Lions’ overall scoring production and their efficiency during the opening stages of games.

The Lions’ 67 first-half points consist of seven touchdowns, seven extra points and six field goals across 28 offensive possessions. Excluding one clock-expiring possession, they’ve reached the end zone on just seven of 27 drives—a 25.9% touchdown rate.

Favorable situations have repeatedly disappeared through blocking failures, procedural penalties, quarterback pressure, missed receiving opportunities and poor execution on critical downs. Some mistakes belong to individual players; others involve protection, communication, personnel limitations or coaching decisions.

I investigated the opening possession and every first-half drive that failed to produce a touchdown across all five games. Here’s where the offense is breaking down, who’s responsible and what needs to change coming out of the Week 6 bye.

BREAKING DOWN FIVE WEEKS OF FIRST-HALF POSSESSIONS

Seven touchdowns on 28 first-half possessions, with none coming on an opening drive, tell only part of the story. The individual drives reveal how manageable down-and-distance repeatedly turned into punts or wasted scoring opportunities, even when Drew Petzing’s initial calls worked.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — WEEK 1

Seven possessions ended in a punt, touchdown, punt, punt, lost fumble, punt and expiration of the clock. Only one produced a touchdown (14.3%), leaving the Lions ahead 7–0 at halftime.

The opening drive reached third-and-1 after Gibbs gained four yards and Goff connected with St. Brown for five. Despite using 13 personnel and motioning Sam LaPorta across the formation, the blocking failed to account for Pete Werner penetrating the A-gap. The three-yard loss exposed problems involving Mahogany and Sewell’s combination block and Scruggs’ inability to recover the interior gap. The offense punted after gaining just six yards.

BUFFALO BILLS — WEEK 2

Five possessions ended in a punt, punt, touchdown, punt and field goal, producing one touchdown (20.0%) and a 27–10 halftime deficit.

Gregory Rousseau ended the opening drive with a seven-yard sack. On the next possession, consecutive Gibbs runs gained 25 yards before Rousseau’s nine-yard sack and forced fumble, recovered by the Lions, and an 11-yard aborted snap turned second-and-1 into fourth-and-22. Later, Scruggs’ false start changed third-and-1 into third-and-6 before Bradley Chubb’s 13-yard sack forced another punt.

Without starters Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller, replacements Larry Borom and Ben Bartch struggled alongside Scruggs. The three were credited with allowing 13 of Buffalo’s 19 quarterback pressures (68.4%), repeatedly disrupting Goff’s protection.

NEW YORK JETS — WEEK 3

Four possessions ended in a punt, punt, field goal and touchdown, producing one touchdown (25.0%) and a 10–7 halftime lead.

Gibbs missed a blitz pickup on third-and-7 during the opening drive, allowing Andre Cisco to sack Goff for 10 yards. On the next possession, Demario Davis beat Gibbs in protection for a nine-yard sack on second-and-10, creating third-and-19 and another punt.

With Mahogany and Miller returning, the offensive line surrendered just five pressures and no credited sacks. Both first-half sacks resulted from failed running-back protection as Aaron Glenn’s defense repeatedly attacked Gibbs with blitzing defenders, exposing problems with identification and blocking execution.

CAROLINA PANTHERS — WEEK 4

Five possessions ended in a field goal, punt, field goal, touchdown and field goal. Despite scoring on four drives, only one reached the end zone (20.0%), leaving the teams tied 16–16 at halftime.

The opening drive reached Carolina’s 34 before Brock Wright’s false start created first-and-15. The offense gained just three more yards and settled for a 54-yard field goal. On the next possession, Scruggs’ holding penalty erased a 10-yard Gibbs run, and the Lions failed to recover the yardage before punting.

ARIZONA CARDINALS — WEEK 5

Seven possessions ended in a punt, punt, punt, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown and field goal. Three reached the end zone (42.9%), producing a 24–7 halftime lead.

Arizona sacked Goff three times for 29 lost yards during the first three possessions, producing three consecutive three-and-outs and minus-9 net yards. The third drive began at Arizona’s 43, but a second-down sack and forced fumble squandered the favorable field position.

Protection improved in the second quarter, helping the Lions score on four consecutive possessions after wasting their first three.

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OCTOBER 16TH | 6:41 AM

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OCTOBER 15, 2026 | 1:24 PM ET

DETROIT LIONS—Brad Holmes traded David Montgomery to Houston in March for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs and two draft picks, acquiring a player who had struggled to establish himself as an NFL starter. Five games into the 2026 season, Scruggs is the league’s highest-graded center, and Detroit has climbed to No. 1 in the NFL’s offensive-line rankings.

Not a bad return for a player Houston considered expendable.

But Cade Mays, Detroit’s $25 million offseason acquisition, is approaching his return from a fractured wrist, potentially as early as October 25 against Green Bay. That leaves Dan Campbell with a difficult decision: restore the center Detroit originally signed to anchor its offensive line or preserve a combination producing some of the league’s best blocking performances.

For an offense averaging 32.8 points, changing the NFL’s top-ranked offensive line could introduce problems Campbell doesn’t currently have.

HOLMES’ TRADE HAS BECOME A MAJOR SUCCESS

Detroit received Scruggs, Houston’s 2026 fourth-round selection and a 2027 seventh-round pick for Montgomery, whose rushing workload had declined to 158 carries for 716 yards in 2025. Scruggs arrived after three uneven seasons in Houston, where his overall PFF grades were 47.5 in 2023, 63.5 in 2024 and 45.0 in 2025.

His transformation in Detroit has been remarkable. Through five games, Scruggs owns a 75.6 overall PFF grade, ranking first among NFL centers. Through four games, his 84.0 run-blocking grade ranked first among 33 qualifying centers, while his 68.1 pass-blocking grade ranked 11th. He had surrendered eight pressures, including two quarterback hits, but no sacks during those four games.

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10/15/2026 | 6:42PM

Detroit Lions — Arizona scored on its opening possession Sunday, and for a moment, the Lions’ defensive struggles appeared headed for another long afternoon. Then something changed. Detroit forced five consecutive three-and-outs, the pass rush kept getting home, and the Cardinals couldn’t stay on the field long enough to keep Jared Go…

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OCTOBER 15, 2026 | 1:23 PM ET

Detroit Lions—Jahmyr Gibbs entered the bye week with 747 scrimmage yards, and nine touchdowns. His 132 touches through five games put him on a historic pace to 449 touches, 2,540 scrimmage yards and 31 touchdowns over a 17-game season—a workload that would surpass every NFL running back’s single-season touch total over the previous three seasons, including Christian McCaffrey’s league-leading 413 in 2025.

Gibbs earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 151 yards and adding 56 receiving yards against Arizona, but his biggest challenge may come over the remaining 12 games. He’s averaging 26.4 touches per game, a 40.3% increase over his previous career-high workload.

Detroit has built its offense around Gibbs’ versatility and explosiveness, but how sustainable is this pace over 17 games? With divisional play resuming in Week 7, maintaining such a demanding workload would expose Gibbs to substantially more cumulative contact than in previous seasons, raising concerns about injury risk, durability and whether he can sustain his production through the most critical stretch of Detroit’s schedule.

GIBBS’ WORKLOAD HAS REACHED A NEW LEVEL

Gibbs’ first three seasons show how dramatically his role has expanded, particularly following David Montgomery’s departure. Through five games in 2026, he has 105 carries for 504 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 27 receptions for 243 yards and two scores. At 26.4 touches per game, he is on pace for 357 carries, 1,714 rushing yards, 92 receptions, 826 receiving yards and 449 total touches.

That projection represents 129 more touches and 114 additional carries than his 2025 totals. His receiving production continues to thrive, but rushing efficiency has declined from 5.6 yards per carry in 2024 to 5.0 in 2025 and 4.8 this season. Gibbs remains an elite playmaker, forcing 32 missed tackles and averaging approximately 3.0 yards after contact per carry, but under Drew Petzing, greater volume is driving total production rather than improved per-carry efficiency.

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Detroit Lions — Three games into the 2026 season, Detroit’s defensive numbers reveal a unit producing legitimate disruption while still carrying several vulnerabilities behind the pass rush. These scatter charts help separate those two realities by comparing the Lions with the rest of the NFL across quarterback pressure, sacks, coverage structure, explosive passes and quarterback scrambling.

Detroit’s strongest results are up front. The Lions are generating pressure at an above-average rate, outperforming expectation and converting that disruption into sacks at one of the league’s better rates. The defensive approach also remains aggressive, with a high blitz rate despite using man coverage less frequently than the NFL average.

The problems emerge when quarterbacks survive that initial pressure. Detroit has surrendered an above-average passer rating, a high explosive-pass rate and too much production through the air. Mobile quarterbacks have also accumulated more total scrambling yards against the Lions than the league average, even though the yards allowed per scramble are closer to average.

Together, the charts describe a defense capable of wrecking plays before they develop but still vulnerable when quarterbacks escape pressure or get enough time to attack downfield. The next step is turning disruption into consistently better coverage results.

Blitz Rate vs. Man Coverage

Detroit is blitzing around 43% of the time while playing man coverage on only about 25% of snaps. That combination shows an aggressive pressure philosophy without relying exclusively on man coverage behind it, allowing Detroit to pressure while still using zone concepts.

Scramble Yards vs. Scramble YPC

Detroit has allowed roughly 65 quarterback scramble yards, more than league average, while its scramble YPC is closer to average. The concern is frequency and cumulative yardage: quarterbacks are escaping often enough to extend drives even without consistently producing huge gains.

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Allen Park— Isaac TeSlaa has three targets, zero receptions and 44 offensive snaps through two preseason games. I would agree that his Cincinnati performance deserves criticism—but what those numbers do not prove is that Dan Campbell has lost confidence in his second-year receiver. Contrary to what toxic media narratives push, there is not a five-alarm fire burning in Allen Park.

SideLion Reports’ Max DeMara has questioned TeSlaa’s consistency, preseason usage, career production and whether he is satisfying Detroit’s coaches. PFF fantasy analyst Nathan Jahnke interpreted TeSlaa’s preseason workload as evidence the Lions may not fully trust him. Vito Chirco of Lions OnSI called his development alarming and portrayed his camp as almost devoid of growth.

Those are powerful conclusions about a player and the coaching staffs’ confidence. At the bare minimum, these statements should survive the facts, the film and the words of the coaches making the decisions, right?

They don’t.

5 CLAIMS THAT DON’T HOLD UP | Max DeMara

DeMara wrote: “It’s tough to say much with certainty about Detroit’s wideout group, other than it is deep and one of the best in the league. Even though that is the case, there is a major question about what TeSlaa will provide.”

Those two thoughts work against each other. Are we questioning TeSlaa’s performance ability still, or the crowded nature of a deep positional group? Since he mentioned this room is one of the deepest collections of pass catchers. My question is just how much of a role should a 4th WR in 2025 realistically carve out? Looking forward to his second season with the same deep group—where is TeSlaa supposed to find major volume in 2026?

TARGET SHARE

That is 417 targets to four established weapons—Teslaa received 27—What exactly was he supposed to do differently? Take targets from three All-Pro’s and a future All-Pro Jameson Williams?

WHAT WAS TESLAA IN 2024? EFFICIENT!

There is one definitive about TeSlaa’s rookie year, he caught 16 passes on 27 targets for 239 yards, averaged 14.9 yards per catch, produced 14 first downs and scored six touchdowns. One of the most efficient seasons for a rookie receiver ever. Below are the analytics that show just how impressive his season really was.

• 87.5% 1st down per reception rate | 51.9% 1st down per target rate

• 22.2% TD to target rate | 37.5% TD to reception rate

How does that compare to the rest of the group?

The touchdown rate will not continue, but a rookie buried behind that collection of weapons still converted limited opportunities into scoring plays and chain-moving catches.

Let’s not forget that when Sam Laporta went out is when TeSlaa’s snap counts skyrocketed. According to PFF - TeSlaa had 177 snaps between weeks 1-10 (9 games), and racked up 329 more reps between weeks 11-18 (8 games) - for a total of 506 snaps.

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TESLAA SHOULD BE ON THE BENCH ?

DeMara’s second claim was that TeSlaa “hasn’t been consistent enough to earn a spot on the bench with the starters in the preseason.”

Getting preseason work is not evidence of a demotion. TeSlaa played 506 offensive snaps as a rookie. St. Brown played 939 last season and Williams 992. TeSlaa’s entire NFL workload is roughly half of what either established starter played in last season.

A Year 2 receiver with that little experience should be playing—and the exact reason why Dan Campbell put TeSlaa in the game is simple. Getting reps against NFL level speed, working on his releases against press, leverage recognition, sight adjustments, route depth and quarterback timing all become repeatable through live reps.

Consistency is something a young receiver develops; it is not something he must already possess before coaches let him develop it.

BOOM OR BUST - ALREADY ?

DeMara then wrote: “It is certainly interesting that he has been boom or bust so far in his career.”

Career? TeSlaa has 27 NFL targets and 506 professional snaps. If we force that sample into a boom-or-bust label, the production leans heavily toward boom: 16 catches, 239 yards, six touchdowns and 14 first downs. Over Detroit’s final six games, he caught 12 passes for 174 yards and four touchdowns—75% of his rookie receptions. That looks more like a role expanding as trust develops than a career bouncing between boom and bust.

There is also precedent for Jared Goff taking time to develop trust with a young receiver. Jameson Williams played 79 snaps as a rookie, receiving nine targets with one catch and one touchdown. His second season produced 42 targets, 24 receptions and two touchdowns across 12 games and 579 snaps.

Did DeMara write the same panic story about Jameson Williams in 2023?

By no means am I suggesting TeSlaa and Williams are the same player. Honestly, we still do not know what TeSlaa ultimately becomes. Should he progress at the same rate as Williams, what are we worried about? That is precisely why declaring him boom or bust after 27 career targets is premature.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON?

Then came the Washington box score.

DeMara wrote: “TeSlaa didn’t register a stat in the game, and wasn’t targeted in the passing game. As a result of that and a rough week 1, questions have begun to swirl about what will hold for his future this season.”

Zero targets require film before they become a receiver indictment. I reviewed TeSlaa’s Washington passing-game reps. Here is a snapshot of the 1st 10 plays with TeSlaa on the field. Dobbs never looked his way on multiple plays. One specific play, TeSlaa was open and Dobbs chose a throw into double coverage. At least two concepts used TeSlaa to clear space underneath for Jackson Meeks. Another sent him vertically to remove coverage. One rep had him bracketed. TeSlaa and Tyler Conklin also ran into each other on another concept, a legitimate execution mistake, but Conklin was targeted, not Teslaa.

The film did not show 27 snaps of TeSlaa failing to separate. It showed quarterback progression, route design, protection breakdowns and some receiver errors. Detroit allowed five sacks. Dobbs signed Aug. 10, three days before Cincinnati and 12 days before Washington.

Luke Altmyer is an undrafted rookie whose role expanded after Teddy Bridgewater retired. TeSlaa’s meaningful first-team timing has been built with Jared Goff. Expecting identical anticipation and chemistry from two backup quarterbacks behind reserve protection ignores how an NFL passing game works.

Cincinnati was different. The game opened in rainy, wet conditions, but TeSlaa still has to own the misses. Altmyer threw a pass into a congested window with a linebacker closing hard on TeSlaa—hospital-ball territory—ball deflected off TeSlaa’s hands. I am less concerned TeSlaa made a business decision versus the catch that could have ended badly. Later, another fourth-down throw was catchable, but also hit the ground.

Criticize the catches. Do not turn them into proof of a month-long collapse.

NO IMPACT ON THE GAME

DeMara’s final claim is the biggest reach: “Right now, it’s safe to say TeSlaa isn’t impacting the game in the ways the Lions need with regularity to satisfy the coaching staff.”

After Cincinnati, Campbell did not threaten TeSlaa’s role. He described the fluctuations as a “pendulum swing,” told him to “stay the course” and said, “He’s going to be just fine.” If the claim is specifically about satisfying Detroit’s coaching staff, the coaching staff’s own words carry more weight than an inference from three preseason targets.

USAGE = TRUST ? | Nathan Jahnke

Jahnke wrote: “Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams have been locked into Detroit’s top two wide receiver spots. Last season, TeSlaa competed with veteran Kalif Raymond for the third receiver role in 11 personnel. Raymond left for Chicago in free agency, seemingly opening the door for TeSlaa to take over those snaps.”

Raymond’s departure creates opportunity, but it did not create TeSlaa’s role. TeSlaa played 506 snaps as a rookie; Raymond played 358 offensive snaps. Detroit was already using TeSlaa more before Raymond left.

If Raymond is the measuring stick for how TeSlaa should be performing, let’s use it. Raymond finished with 24 receptions on 30 targets and one touchdown. TeSlaa had three fewer targets, eight fewer receptions and five more touchdowns.

Hmmmm...

Let’s go further. In 11 personnel, WR3 is not simply the receiver with the third-most catches. He must align across formations, handle motion, block well enough that defenses cannot identify run or pass from his presence, and execute routes designed to move coverage for somebody else. TeSlaa can take more WR3 snaps without suddenly becoming a 100-target receiver in an offense featuring St. Brown, Williams, Gibbs and LaPorta.

SHOULD BE ON THE BENCH ?

Jahnke continued: “If the Lions fully trusted TeSlaa in that role, however, he likely would have rested with the starters in at least one of the first two preseason games. Detroit’s depth chart behind him remains unsettled, and ideally, those receivers would receive more playing time to help determine who makes the roster. Instead, TeSlaa played not only with the second-team offense that started the game but also alongside the third-team quarterback and offensive line. Greg Dortch and Cedrick Wilson Jr. appeared to be his closest competition last week, while Tay Martin was heavily involved this week.”

Jahnke’s piece is explicitly a fantasy-football usage analysis. That statement treats preseason participation as a binary trust test—Dan Campbell does not. Against Washington, Campbell mixed in starters including Tate Ratledge, D.J. Reed, Derrick Barnes, Rock Ya-Sin, DJ Wonnum and Tyleik Williams. By the way, since when was their a 3rd-team QB named in that game?Dobbs & Altmyer were alternating quarters. Dobbs started, Altmyer came in the second quarter, Dobbs the third and Altmyer the fourth.

Playing preseason football did not automatically mean a player was fighting for his job. TeSlaa also is not stealing evaluation reps from the receivers behind him either. Tay Martin played 61 offensive snaps through two games, compared with TeSlaa’s 44. Lucky Jackson had at least 55 snaps through both preseason games. The bottom of the room is getting work while TeSlaa continues building off his 506 career offensive snaps. Both can happen at the same time.

Usage can create a question—it cannot erase Campbell saying Detroit already had “a lot of trust” in him.

No Growth - Really? | Vito Chirco OnSI

Chirco wrote: “However, thus far in training camp this summer, the Hudsonville, MI., native has shown very little signs of growth, and instead has looked the part of an in-over-his-head rookie.”

Cleaner breaks mean less wasted movement at the top of the route and better timing when Goff reaches TeSlaa in the progression. Added strength helps him defeat contact at the release, maintain his stem and finish through defensive backs. Those are specific technical improvements.

The practice evidence exists too. In minicamp, TeSlaa separated on a post and Goff hit him in stride for a big gain. On Aug. 6, he went over Nick Whiteside for the catch of the one-on-one period. On Aug. 16, he climbed over Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Thomas Harper for a contested red-zone touchdown; Tim Twentyman wrote that the play showed why TeSlaa was Detroit’s No. 3 receiver.

On Aug. 27, the same day Chirco’s article was published, Goff found TeSlaa for 14 yards during the first-team offenses' 99-yard touchdown drive.

He has not had a perfect camp—TeSlaa has dropped passes, has been disrupted by press and still needs cleaner separation from rep to rep. But “very little signs of growth” ignores documented route improvement, strength development and productive first-team work.

Chirco also wrote: “TeSlaa has been an alarming development from the former Arkansas receiver, who enters the 2026 season as the Lions’ No. 3 wideout.”

He followed it with: “He hasn’t come close to living up to the bill of such a receiver, and consequently, has been a major disappointment for Campbell’s squad so far this preseason.”

Calling the preseason results disappointing is defensible. Zero catches are zero catches. Calling TeSlaa’s overall development alarming is different. Campbell said he was exactly where Detroit wanted him and perhaps a little ahead. Montgomery identified cleaner route breaks and increased strength. TeSlaa remains in first-team work with Goff. After his worst preseason game, Campbell’s message was “stay the course” and “he’s going to be just fine.”

Those are not the words of a staff sounding alarm bells over WR3.

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TeSlaa does not need protection from criticism. He needs to catch the football, beat press more consistently and turn flashes into dependable route execution. That is the next step for a second-year receiver with 506 career offensive snaps.

What I will not do is turn three preseason targets into proof Detroit does not trust him, zero Washington targets into proof he cannot separate, or 27 career targets into a boom-or-bust career.

The late-2025 surge in snaps and production shows his role was growing. The camp work shows both progress and mistakes. My Washington review showed why targets are a product of route concepts, quarterback decisions and protection—not simply whether a receiver “impacted the game.”

Criticize the first preseason game in Cincinnati if you want. Just stop manufacturing a WR3 crisis that Detroit’s own evidence does not support.

The evidence says Isaac TeSlaa is still developing into Detroit’s WR3; the panic is pretending Detroit has already decided he cannot be one.

Has TeSlaa’s preseason changed your opinion of WR3, or do you need to see him with Jared Goff in the regular-season offense first? Comment below, like the article and send it to a Lions fan.

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Allen Park— Over the last five seasons, Detroit has treated the initial 53-man roster as a starting point. In 2025, Holmes stopped at 50 players, intentionally left three spots open, then added Daniel Thomas, Tyler Lacy and Tyrus Wheat from outside the building.

Detroit could need that flexibility again. Cade Mays is rehabbing a fractured wrist and is not expected back until sometime in late October, leaving Juice Scruggs at center and creating an immediate need for experienced interior-line insurance. Isiah Pacheco missed most of camp recovering from an MCL injury and is now dealing with a back issue without a firm return timetable.

Backup quarterback remains unsettled following Teddy Bridgewater’s abrupt retirement, with Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer competing behind Jared Goff. The secondary carries its own uncertainty, with questions at safety and cornerback—while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are likely to start the season on Reserve PUP.

Holmes should be working two lists heading into final cuts: players worth trading for before they reach the market and potential upgrades Detroit can attack once the waiver wire opens. There are two positions that I have intel on that could change this roster very soon. The balance of the players in this list are players I have identified as possible targets.

CENTER

Jarrett Patterson — Houston Texans

Patterson is my No. 1 cutdown target. He has played 39 NFL games with 21 starts and has experience at center and guard. As a rookie, he started seven games at center, and Houston went three consecutive games without allowing a sack during that stretch. With Mays down, Patterson could compete with Scruggs immediately and remain a two-position interior backup after Mays returns.

My sources tell me that the Lions have legit interest in Patterson. Houston’s offensive-line depth has pushed Patterson onto the roster bubble. He would give Detroit immediate competition at center with enough versatility to dress as an interior backup on game day. I wouldn’t expect Holmes to overpay. A Day 3 pick is logical, but if Houston cuts him, Detroit should put in a claim immediately.

Olu Oluwatimi — Seattle Seahawks

Oluwatimi has played 36 games with 13 starts, including eight starts in 2024 and four last season. He is a true center with NFL starting experience, and his Michigan résumé includes both the Rimington and Outland trophies. He allowed zero sacks across 410 pass-blocking snaps during his final college season.

Oluwatimi is capable of starting and has experience handling protection responsibilities. He would immediately become one of Detroit’s better backup interior linemen, has enough size for the run game and could remain in the rotation after Mays returns.

Seattle’s recent offensive-line injuries could make the Seahawks less willing to move him. This probably requires a trade. A Day 3 pick could get the conversation started. I would call Seattle and find out the price.

Jordan Meredith — Las Vegas Raiders

Meredith has played 45 NFL games with 20 starts and brings guard-center flexibility. He started eight games in 2024 and 11 in 2025, giving Detroit another healthy interior lineman with recent starting experience.

Meredith has been better at guard than center, so I would not assume he beats out Scruggs. The Raiders have been giving Trey Zuhn III backup-center work, however, and Meredith has surfaced in trade discussions.

He could compete at center now and still have a role at guard after Mays returns. Meredith is a possible trade candidate and potential cut. Detroit should wait unless the price drops to a late Day 3 pick swap or less.

Sam Mustipher — Jacksonville Jaguars

Mustipher is the veteran insurance option. He has played 65 games with 43 starts, and 40 of his first 43 NFL starts came at center. He has started for Chicago and also spent time with Baltimore, the Chargers and Denver before Jacksonville signed him in August.

Mustipher has made protection calls, handled NFL fronts and operated an offense from center. Jacksonville has Robert Hainsey and Jonah Monheim ahead of him, putting Mustipher near the bottom of the center depth chart.

Detroit could use that experience while Mays recovers, but there is no reason to trade for him. If Jacksonville releases Mustipher, he becomes a veteran option who could immediately stabilize the backup center job.

RUNNING BACK

Tyrone Tracy Jr. — New York Giants

Tracy is the running back I would be willing to trade for. He has played 32 games with 23 starts, rushing for 1,579 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 74 receptions for 572 yards and three scores. That is 2,151 yards from scrimmage in two seasons.

The Giants added Najee Harris, while Tracy’s preseason has included ball-security and pass-protection issues. New York has also increased his special-teams workload in a crowded backfield. Detroit would not be acquiring depth. Tracy could step directly into the RB2 job if Pacheco is not ready.

He can run inside, catch the football and handle significant snaps without changing Detroit’s personnel packages. I would call the Giants before cuts and consider a sixth- or seventh-round pick. If New York releases him, Detroit should move immediately.

Dameon Pierce — Philadelphia Eagles

Pierce has played 43 games with 20 starts, rushing for 1,684 yards and eight touchdowns on 419 carries. His rookie season showed what he can handle: 939 yards and four touchdowns on 220 attempts.

His offensive role declined afterward, but Pierce averaged 7.3 yards per carry on 40 attempts in 2024 and has added special-teams work. Philadelphia already has Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley, leaving Pierce vulnerable when the Eagles get to 53.

Pierce could handle legitimate carries behind Gibbs if Pacheco remains unavailable. I would not give Philadelphia a draft pick for a player who could be released within days. If the Eagles cut him, Detroit should make the call.

Roschon Johnson — Chicago Bears

Johnson has played 36 games without a start, producing 519 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 138 carries while adding 50 receptions for 313 yards. Six of his rushing touchdowns came on only 55 carries in 2024.

At 227 pounds, Johnson would give Detroit a different body type behind Gibbs. He can handle short yardage, protect, catch enough to stay on the field and contribute on special teams. His offensive role nearly disappeared in 2025, although Chicago could still keep him behind D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai because of his special-teams work.

Johnson is more role player than RB2. Detroit could use the power and protection, but there is no reason to trade within the division for him. If Chicago releases him, put him on the post-cut board.

Khalil Herbert — San Francisco 49ers

Herbert has played 63 games with 13 starts, carrying 416 times for 1,957 yards and nine touchdowns. His career average of 4.7 yards per carry keeps him on this board. He has also caught 54 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns.

San Francisco released Herbert on August 17, then brought him back three days later after another running back went to injured reserve. The 49ers have already shown they are willing to expose him.

Herbert is an experienced zone runner with enough burst to handle legitimate carries behind Gibbs without changing the run game. There is no reason to surrender an asset. If San Francisco cuts him again, Detroit can pursue him as a veteran free agent.

CORNERBACK

Kristian Fulton — Kansas City Chiefs

Fulton is the best veteran corner on this board. He has played 64 games with 53 starts, recording 38 passes defended, five interceptions and more than 200 tackles. He has extensive experience outside, where Detroit could use more certainty behind D.J. Reed and Rock Ya-Sin.

Kansas City has a deep secondary, and Fulton has surfaced as both a trade and cut candidate. He would not be coming to Detroit to fight for CB6. His starting experience would put him in the competition for defensive snaps immediately.

I would call Kansas City rather than assume Fulton reaches the market, but the possible roster squeeze limits what I would pay. A late Day 3 pick or pick swap is enough. If Kansas City wants significantly more, Holmes should wait.

Kelee Ringo — Philadelphia Eagles

Ringo has played all 51 regular-season games since entering the league, including eight starts. He has 73 tackles, five passes defended, one interception, one sack and two forced fumbles. At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, he brings legitimate outside size and extensive special-teams experience.

Philadelphia’s secondary depth puts Ringo on this board, although two preseason pass breakups and an interception have strengthened his case to stay. He is still only 24 and has already handled NFL defensive snaps.

Ringo is the type of young corner Detroit should take a shot on. He can contribute on special teams immediately while competing for defensive snaps. I would consider a late Day 3 pick swap, but not a clean mid-round pick. If Philadelphia exposes him to waivers, Detroit should put in a claim.

Noah Igbinoghene — Seattle Seahawks

Igbinoghene has played 69 NFL games with 17 starts, recording 119 tackles, 17 passes defended and one interception. His strongest recent stretch came in Washington, where he started 12 games across two seasons and handled snaps outside, in the slot and on special teams.

Seattle’s corner room has become crowded. The Seahawks signed Trevon Diggs and have agreed to terms with Terrion Arnold, although Arnold’s legal situation could keep him unavailable in the short term. Add Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe and Seattle’s younger corners, and somebody could get squeezed out.

Igbinoghene has enough experience and versatility to compete for Detroit’s fifth or sixth corner spot. I would not trade for him with Seattle facing its own numbers problem. If the Seahawks release him, Holmes should take a serious look.

QUARTERBACK

Aidan O’Connell — Las Vegas Raiders

O’Connell is the best quarterback target on this board. He has played 21 games with 17 starts, completing 62 percent of his passes for 3,932 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. At 27, he has NFL starting experience and could become a multi-year QB2 behind Jared Goff.

Raiders No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza struggled in the finale, completing 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards with an interception and two sacks. O’Connell had a strong camp and preseason, which could convince Las Vegas to keep three quarterbacks. If the Raiders are not comfortable with Mendoza as the No. 2, O’Connell may only move for the right offer.

My sources tell me there is legitimate interest in O’Connell if he becomes available. Holmes must decide whether he is enough of an upgrade over Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer to give up an asset. I would consider a sixth- or seventh-round pick. Anything more is too much for a QB2.

Sam Howell — Dallas Cowboys

Howell has played 20 games with 18 starts, throwing for 4,139 yards, 22 touchdowns and 23 interceptions while adding 300 rushing yards and six scores. He started all 17 games for Washington in 2023, throwing for 3,946 yards, but also took 65 sacks. Howell has the arm and mobility. Handling pressure and avoiding negative plays remain the problems.

Joe Milton has had the stronger preseason and is viewed as the favorite for Dallas’ QB2 job, although Brian Schottenheimer said the competition remains “neck and neck.” Dallas could keep three quarterbacks, but Howell remains a possible cut or trade candidate.

Howell brings starting experience and more off-script ability than Detroit currently has behind Goff. I would not give Dallas a clean Day 3 pick with Howell already fighting for a roster spot. A conditional seventh-rounder or late pick swap is enough. If Dallas cuts him, Detroit should make the call.

Cooper Rush — Atlanta Falcons

Rush has played 42 games with 16 starts, throwing for 3,766 yards, 20 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In 2024, he started eight games for Dallas and threw for 1,844 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions. He is a pocket quarterback who has shown he can step into a lineup and keep an offense functioning.

Atlanta has Michael Penix Jr., Tua Tagovailoa, Rush and rookie Jack Strand. Strand has pushed for a roster spot, but current projections still have Rush making the 53. Rush would give Detroit experienced QB2 insurance, but there is not enough upside to trade for him. Keep him on the cutdown board. If Atlanta releases him, make the call.

SKYLER GILL-HOWARD INTERVIEW

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DETROIT CUTDOWN BOARD

TIER 1 — MAKE THE CALL NOW

These are players worth pursuing before Detroit knows whether they will reach the market.

• Jarrett Patterson — C/G: Immediate competition at center.

• Olu Oluwatimi — C: Starting experience with a chance to help beyond Mays’ return.

• Tyrone Tracy Jr. — RB: The best potential RB2 on the board.

• Kristian Fulton — CB: Proven outside corner who could earn defensive snaps immediately.

• Aidan O’Connell — QB: The strongest combination of age and starting experience at quarterback.

  ---

TIER 2 — WAIT FOR THE PRICE TO DROP

Detroit should not chase these players. A late pick swap, conditional pick or waiver claim makes more sense.

• Jordan Meredith — C/G: Veteran interior depth with recent starting experience.

• Dameon Pierce — RB: Proven runner who could handle real carries behind Gibbs.

• Kelee Ringo — CB: Young, big outside corner with special-teams experience.

• Sam Howell — QB: Starting experience and mobility, but too many negative plays.

• Sam Mustipher — C: Experienced center who makes more sense after cuts.

  ---

TIER 3 — POST-CUT INSURANCE

No trade required. These are players to pursue only if they become available.

• Roschon Johnson — RB: Power, protection and short-yardage depth.

• Khalil Herbert — RB: Proven zone runner with a 4.7-yard career rushing average.

• Noah Igbinoghene — CB: Experienced corner with inside-outside flexibility and special-teams ability.

• Cooper Rush — QB: Veteran backup capable of keeping the offense functional.

I INTERVIEWED SKYLER GILL-HOWARD 2 DAYS POST DRAFT

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ROCK’S READ

Detroit enters cutdown weekend with legitimate holes created by injury and uncertainty. Cade Mays’ fractured wrist leaves Juice Scruggs holding down center until Mays can return. Isiah Pacheco missed most of camp with an MCL injury and is now dealing with a back issue. Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement left Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer battling for QB2, while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph remain on PUP and the cornerback depth still needs help.

Brad Holmes does not need to chase names. He needs players capable of taking real snaps. Center is the biggest need. Running back could become one quickly. Quarterback and corner are positions where the right cut could upgrade the 53.

Holmes has used cutdown weekend this way before. With Detroit trying to contend now, he should do it again.

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Allen Park—Saturday vs the Saints starts the countdown for Dominic Lovett to prove his value. Lovett can get open, he has shown it throughout training camp, and there were flashes against Cincinnati. He is quick underneath, can create separation from the slot and still shows some of the traits that made Brad Holmes interested in him coming out of Georgia.

But with two preseason games remaining, I am struggling to find room for Lovett to make the Lions’ 53-man roster. Lovett is officially on the bubble

The problem is not necessarily Lovett as a receiver. It is everything Detroit needs from the fifth receiver on this roster, and special teams coordinator Dave Fipp may have provided the biggest clue about how that decision will ultimately be made

Detroit’s top four receivers appear established with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa and Greg Dortch. That leaves the remaining candidates fighting for a role that will require much more than catching passes.

The fifth receiver is not going to dress on Sunday expecting six targets. He has to block, cover kicks, potentially play gunner, contribute in the return game and give Fipp enough special-teams value to justify using one of the active roster spots on him.

That is where Lovett has yet to separate himself.

Special teams were supposed to be part of his NFL profile from the beginning. Detroit selected Lovett in the seventh round, 244th overall, in 2025, and Holmes specifically mentioned his speed, slot ability and potential value on special teams after the draft.

WHO IS LOVETT ON THE FIELD?

The receiving résumé was never the concern. Lovett began his college career at Missouri before transferring to Georgia and finished with 197 career receptions. He produced at least 54 catches and 600 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons, with much of his work at Georgia coming from the slot on quick throws, screens and option routes designed to get the ball into his hands.

That production never carried into his rookie season with Detroit. Lovett appeared in 12 games without recording a reception, while his only official return was a 22-yard kickoff return.

Year 2 was supposed to be his opportunity to make a move.

There have been encouraging moments, but the preseason opener against Cincinnati also showed why his roster spot remains in question. Lovett was targeted eight times, the most of any Lions receiver, and finished with three catches for 28 yards. Two drops left additional production on the field, and he also bobbled one of his punt-return opportunities.

Eight targets and three receptions are difficult numbers for a bubble receiver when every rep matters.

Lovett responded with one of his better plays of camp in the next practice, climbing for a deep throw from Luke Altmyer and securing it with his fingertips. Plays like that are why I am not dismissing his receiving ability. The talent is there.

The issue is that Detroit has other receivers competing for the same limited roster space who are providing clearer secondary roles.

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE ROOM?

Tay Martin has been making an impression both offensively and on special teams. Cedrick Wilson brings veteran experience and has continued stacking reliable receiving reps. Tarik Black put a touchdown on film against Cincinnati.

Lovett cannot simply be another capable receiver in that group. He needs to give Detroit a reason to keep him over players who can contribute in multiple phases.

The special-teams rotation has offered clues throughout camp. Greg Dortch and Tom Kennedy were receiving multiple opportunities in the return game before Lovett received his lone rep during one early return period, and Detroit has continued evaluating several other players in those roles.

That is why I currently have Lovett projected to the practice squad.

It is not because he cannot play receiver. It is because his game-day role remains difficult to define.

If Tay Martin wins the job, there is an obvious path to special-teams snaps. If Cedrick Wilson gets the spot, Detroit has an experienced receiver who can step directly into the offense when needed. Lovett’s receiving ability has not yet produced enough to offset the lack of a clearly established role for Fipp’s units.

He still has two preseason games to change that.

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ROCK’S READ

For Dominic Lovett, the question is no longer whether he has enough talent to play receiver in the NFL. The question is whether he can show Detroit enough value outside of the receiving game to earn one of the final spots on the roster.

If the Lions have only one receiver spot left, that could ultimately make the decision come down to Lovett’s receiving upside against Tay Martin’s broader special-teams value.

Side note: With all due respect to the players I critique, these guys are phenomenal athletes. Fewer than 0.00478% of American males ages 20 to 34 will occupy an NFL training-camp, active-roster or practice-squad spot at any given time. A final 53-man roster spot represents roughly 0.00282% of that population.

So when fans casually call these players busts, trash, glass, or throw around some other cheap label, I think it gets way out of line. These guys are the best of the best. And if you’re reading this sitting on your couch, there’s a pretty good chance they’re working out right now.

RECOMMENDED READS

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• The Detroit Lions have something

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Allen Park—Erick Hunter has become one of the easiest rookies to notice in Lions camp. And I still don’t think he makes the 53-man roster.

That probably sounds strange considering how often Hunter’s name has come up over the last three weeks. He’s made plays on defense. He’s made plays on special teams. Dan Campbell has talked about him. Dave Fipp has talked about him.

But what Fipp said today may actually explain why Hunter is more likely headed to the practice squad than the active roster.

Dave Fipp on special teams & Erick Hunter

That’s the evaluation with Hunter right now. The plays jump out, and so do the mistakes.

For an undrafted rookie linebacker trying to take a roster spot primarily through special teams, consistency may be more important than producing two or three highlight plays during practice.

WHO IS HUNTER?

Hunter came to Detroit from Morgan State, where production was never the issue.

He finished his college career with 298 tackles, second-most in school history.

His final season was outstanding.

• 102 tackles.

• 14 tackles for loss.

• Four sacks.

• Four forced fumbles.

• An interception.

He was a Buck Buchanan Award finalist and earned FCS All-American honors.

Hunter also already had legitimate special-teams experience. One of his biggest plays in 2025 was a 90-yard touchdown after recovering a blocked kick.

Physically, there was enough there for Detroit to take a serious developmental swing.

He’s around 6-foot-2, 224 pounds with a 6-foot-7 wingspan, and he ran approximately 4.48.

Detroit also gave him $175,000 guaranteed as an undrafted free agent, which tells you this wasn’t just another body brought in for camp. The Lions wanted him, and once camp started, you could see why.

HUNTER'S CAMP

Early in camp, Hunter absolutely ran through veteran Joe Bachie during a special-teams drill. Then on the same day, he put himself in position for an interception—and dropped it.

That sequence almost perfectly describes his camp.

A few days later, Hunter intercepted Jared Goff during a scrimmage against the first-team offense.

During special teams that same practice, he won consecutive one-on-one reps—one as the blocker and another trying to release downfield.

Then he followed that by continuing to flash as a blitzer, including a clean A-gap sack during another padded practice.

VS BENGALS

The Cincinnati game gave Detroit its first chance to evaluate whether any of those practice moments translated. Hunter played a lot.

43 defensive snaps—61 percent of Detroit’s defensive plays. Another 12 snaps on special teams. He finished with four solo tackles.

Detroit didn’t hide him. They gave him enough work to make an evaluation. And I came away seeing exactly what Campbell and Fipp have been describing.

• There’s an NFL athlete here.

• There’s pursuit speed.

• There’s length.

• There’s natural ability to find the football.

• There’s enough coverage ability to develop.

• And there’s clearly something Fipp likes on special teams.

But Hunter is making an enormous jump from Morgan State to the NFL.

Campbell said something about Hunter before the Bengals game that I think is critical.

He essentially said Hunter’s deficiencies come from things he simply hasn’t experienced yet.

(Hunter) “doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.”

That isn’t an insult, it’s development.

Hunter played 45 college games, but the NFL is giving him formations, blocking schemes, leverage rules, coverage responsibilities and special-teams situations he hasn’t processed at this speed before.

THE ROOM

Look at the linebacker room he has to beat for a spot on the roster.

• Jack Campbell.

• Derrick Barnes.

• Devin White.

• Trevor Nowaske.

• Malcolm Rodriguez.

• Damone Clark.

Several of those guys also have established special-teams value (Clark, Nowaske & Rodriguez) and they can all play a defined role on defense.

Hunter isn’t trying to just beat out the other rookie (Jimmy Rolder) for the sixth linebacker job. He’s trying to convince Dan Campbell that his upside today is worth more than the reliability of an experienced player.

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So today, my projection is simple:

I don’t think he’s there yet, and that doesn’t mean Detroit should give up on him. Actually, I think the opposite.

Give him a year in an NFL strength program. Give Shaun Dion Hamilton and Kelvin Sheppard a full season to develop his recognition and technique. Let Fipp continue developing him on every special-teams unit.

The plays Hunter is making aren’t accidental. The talent is real. The consistency isn’t there yet. Erick Hunter does not make the initial 53. But he absolutely makes my practice squad.

If Detroit gets him through waivers, he could become one of those developmental players we’re talking about very differently a year from now.

QUESTIONS

• What would you do?

• Would you keep Hunter on the 53 based on the upside?

• Or do you risk waivers and try to develop him on the practice squad?

• Who would you cut to keep Hunter?

Let me know in the comments.

RECOMMENDED READS

• Training Camp Day 2 Observations

• Training Camp Day 1 Observations

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• Brutal Test For Lions Safety Room

• Brad Holmes Mastering Of The NFL Draft

• NFC North Index Rankings

• Detroit Lions minicamp 13 stories

• Brad Holmes plays it smart

• The Detroit Lions have something

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The 16-14 loss to Cincinnati provided the first live evaluation of several roster battles, while injuries to players such as Cade Mays, Jimmy Rolder, Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch continue to change the numbers at several positions.

Sifting through the depth of this roster is not as easy as it has been in seasons past. Changes on the defensive side of the ball—particularly the expected increase in nickel personnel—have changed the value of certain players and helped identify some core pieces. Other roster spots aren’t even close to settled.

This projection isn’t simply about identifying the 53 best players. Special teams, positional versatility, injuries, developmental value and the ability to cover multiple jobs could decide the final five or six spots.

QUARTERBACK: 2

• Jared Goff

• Josh Dobbs

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Luke Altmyer

Goff requires no explanation. Dobbs gets the QB2 job in this projection because the veteran gives the offense experience behind Goff. His previous connection with Drew Petzing also carries value here. However, if Dobbs is willing to take the handshake deal on the veteran practice squad, the Lions wouldn’t have to expose Altmyer to waivers.

Altmyer played most of the Cincinnati game and showed enough poise to remain an interesting developmental quarterback, but the practice squad provides a path to continue developing him without using a third active-roster spot. The risk of exposing him to waivers is real and should be considered.

Let’s see how this plays out over the next two weeks.

RUNNING BACK: 4

• Jahmyr Gibbs

• Isiah Pacheco

• Sione Vaki

• Jacob Saylors

OUT: Trayveon Williams & Raheem Blackshear

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Jabari Small

Gibbs and Pacheco headline the room, while Vaki’s special-teams value gives him another path onto the roster beyond his offensive role. Vaki was back at practice over the weekend, lending to the idea he won’t become a roster stash IR candidate.

Saylors has taken advantage of his opportunity. Against Cincinnati, he strengthened his argument for RB4 with a productive preseason debut and has consistently created plays as injuries ahead of him increased his workload. The ankle injury could reduce the room to three if Saylors is not back before the third preseason game.

WIDE RECEIVER: 5

• Amon-Ra St. Brown

• Jameson Williams

• Isaac TeSlaa

• Greg Dortch

• Cedric Wilson

OUT: Malik Cunningham — Lucky Jackson — Tarik Black

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Dominic Lovett & Tay Martin

• VETERAN PRACTICE SQUAD: Tom Kennedy

• IR / SEASON ENDED: Kendrick Law

The first four spots are straightforward. The debate begins at WR5—or do the Lions keep six? Campbell has kept six receivers on the initial 53-man roster only once, in 2025.

Lovett flashed some of the route-running ability that has made him intriguing against Cincinnati and followed the game with a deep connection from Luke Altmyer during practice. This is honestly one of the hardest calls on the roster, but the ball security issues cannot be ignored.

Martin has been moving in the right direction. Dan Campbell gave him significant praise this past weekend:

“(Martin) makes plays every day. He’s intriguing on offense, but he makes special teams plays every day, and that’s important to us, and he’s not the only one.”

Black has also forced himself into the conversation. Against Cincinnati, he turned a routine reception into a 24-yard touchdown and struck the Paul Bunyan pose after redeeming himself from an earlier penalty that erased a 35-yard gain on a questionable offensive pass-interference call.

Wilson has quietly had a strong camp, highlighted by a one-handed sideline grab, a contested 23-yarder from Josh Dobbs and another 23-yard catch against Cincinnati. He has continued making tough catches in practice and has been more consistent than Martin, Lovett & Black.

I would like to see Wilson take a vet squad role, leaving the roster with another developing receiver, Tay Martin. This competition isn’t finished.

TIGHT END: 4

• Sam LaPorta

• Brock Wright

• Tyler Conklin

• Jackson Meeks

OUT: Thomas Gordon

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Zach Horton

The top three are established. The Lions have kept four tight ends on the initial 53-man roster only once under Dan Campbell, in 2022. This season has all the makings of becoming the second.

Meeks has been developing as a hybrid tight end and saw relatively early action against Cincinnati. His receiving ability gives the room something different behind LaPorta, Wright and Conklin, and his preseason work has strengthened his case.

The biggest argument for keeping Meeks is twofold. First, there is considerable upside because he remains very early in his development at the position. Second—and potentially more important—is Drew Petzing’s scheme.

The offense will likely use three-tight-end personnel more than just occasionally. With the possibility of injury and some uncertainty surrounding Conklin, Meeks gives the roster enough depth to explore the full menu of Petzing’s multiple-tight-end packages.

OFFENSIVE LINE: 9

• Penei Sewell

• Christian Mahogany

• Juice Scruggs

• Tate Ratledge

• Blake Miller

BACKUPS:

• Larry Borom — RT/LT

• Miles Frazier — T/G

• Ben Bartch — RG/LG

• Michael Niese — C

OUT: Devin Cochran — Melvin Priestly — Colby Sorsdal

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Mason Miller & Seth McLaughlin

• IR TO RETURN: Cade Mays — Week 8/9 projection

• RESERVE/NFI: Giovanni Manu

Mays’ fractured wrist completely changed the interior-line conversation. His injury gave McLaughlin first-team center opportunities, but Scruggs has returned and Ratledge is now also getting work at center. That directly affects whether the roster needs to carry another dedicated center.

Borom provides veteran tackle insurance. Frazier can cover multiple positions, and Bartch remains part of the interior competition. This offensive line is in the best position it has been in for quite some time when it comes to functional depth.

Borom and Frazier can cover virtually every position outside of center. Ratledge is now getting center reps as well, which leads me to believe the Lions would rather create additional positional versatility and potentially save a roster spot for another area—such as the secondary or defensive line.

I realize Niese isn’t the sexy pick, but let me explain.

He has been in the system, has regular-season experience and provides another interior option at a time when center has suddenly become one of the most important depth questions on the roster.

Here’s my pivot.

Niese is eligible for the veteran practice squad. If he were willing to take the handshake deal, that could solve two problems at once. Niese would remain available as a likely elevation if Scruggs went down, while McLaughlin could continue developing.

Niese is unlikely to start—or potentially even play—unless injuries hit. Using the veteran practice-squad designation could give the 53 additional flexibility elsewhere.

WATCH THIS VIDEO FOR MY TAKE ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE

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DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE: 5

• Alim McNeill

• Tyleik Williams

• Levi Onwuzurike

• Chris Smith

• Skyler Gill-Howard

OUT: Tyre West

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Mekhi Wingo

• VETERAN PRACTICE SQUAD: Myles Adams

I wouldn’t want to be in Dan Campbell’s shoes. This defensive line class has some very good problems with depth, and players that you want to see develop over the next 2-3 seasons.

Speaking of such players, Gill-Howard helped himself against Cincinnati. The rookie produced disruptive plays and showed the athleticism that has made him an intriguing developmental interior defender. Right now, he’s my final decision to make the 53. This defense doesnt have another 280+ pound defensive tackle that can run a 4.65 seconds forty—a legit sideline to sideline DT is insane!

Dan Campbell mentioned Levi Onwuzurike over the weekend:

“Yeah, I like Levi. I feel like Levi’s had a good camp. Um, you know, he... Levi, as we all know, man, he’s coming off a ton of injuries, man. But uh, it’s nice to have two ACLs. He would tell you that, uh, it helps him move a lot better. He’s got a lot more power.”

Onwuzurike is one of those players where you have to accept some risk with the reward. When he’s healthy, he can be dominant. On a defensive front that shouldn’t require him to play more than roughly half the defensive snaps, his value can increase substantially. The injury risk is legitimate, but the grimy interior work he provides is not easy to replace.

Chris Smith represents almost the opposite roster argument. His value isn’t built around splash plays. Campbell has praised his reliability, assignment discipline and willingness to handle the dirty work.

“It’s a nasty job and it’s not for everybody.”

“He just does everything right.”

“He takes three guys on.”

Wingo is a lock for my practice squad projection. I don’t believe the Lions are ready to give up on him, but unless Gill-Howard falls flat over the next couple of weeks, it may be extremely difficult for Wingo to latch onto the initial 53. He needs to stack good practices and produce in the final two preseason games.

EDGE: 5

• Aidan Hutchinson

• D.J. Wonnum

• Tyler Lacy

• Derrick Moore

• Ahmed Hassanein

OUT: Eric O’Neill & Ben Stille

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Anthony Lucas

• INJURY SETTLEMENT: Payton Turner

Hassanein went from an interesting developmental edge to one of the biggest stories of the preseason opener. He sacked Joe Burrow on his first snap, later produced a strip-sack and continued a camp in which his energy and development have repeatedly drawn attention.

Lacy has been listed as a defensive tackle on several depth charts and 53-man projections. There is one major problem—the Lions don’t appear to view him that way exclusively. Their unofficial depth chart ahead of the Bengals game listed him at EDGE.

Lacy is a versatile weapon for this defensive front. He gives the group something different because his size allows him to operate as a bigger end while still kicking inside when necessary. That flexibility could allow Campbell and Kelvin Sheppard to go lighter at either EDGE or defensive tackle because Lacy can cover responsibilities in both rooms.

Anthony Lucas entered camp with legitimate buzz after flashing in the spring, and his 6-foot-5, 265-pound frame gives Detroit developmental upside at EDGE. He played 50 defensive snaps against Cincinnati and showed flashes, but not enough to jump the current rotation. I still have him just outside the 53 and headed for the practice squad.

Eric O’Neill was relatively quiet early in camp but made a stronger push against Cincinnati, playing 38 defensive snaps and creating disruption off the edge. He has closed some ground in the competition, but I still have him outside the 53 unless he stacks another strong performance over the final two preseason games.

Payton Turner may require a short term injury settlement to maximize the IR to return options (2) on cut day, depending on what the plan is with Rolder.

LINEBACKER: 6

• Jack Campbell

• Derrick Barnes

• Devin White

• Trevor Nowaske

• Malcolm Rodriguez

• Damone Clark

OUT: Troy Reeder & Amen Ogbongbemiga

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Erick Hunter

• VETERAN PRACTICE SQUAD: Joe Bachie

• IR TO RETURN: Jimmy Rolder

This may be one of the more difficult rooms to evaluate purely because of the style of defense Kelvin Sheppard appears prepared to run in 2026. You can make a legitimate argument for carrying only five linebackers if the plan is to play significantly more nickel than traditional 4-3 base personnel.

Jimmy Rolder’s injury appears to be trending in the right direction. He has been working with trainers off to the side, but with only two weeks remaining in the preseason, the Lions may choose to give him a slower recovery path with an IR stash.

White should leapfrog Rodriguez and Clark for one of the primary linebacker roles. He has been one of the strongest performers in camp, while Campbell has praised his speed, intelligence and physical downhill play. I don’t believe Rolder’s injury was the only reason White was added. During his first media session his statement lends credibility to the idea that White was already on Brad Holmes’ radar during free agency.

“We talked early in free agency and said we wanted to revisit it. So it was always kind of on the radar.”

Special-teams utility heavily favors Nowaske and Clark securing roster spots. Nowaske looked roster-ready against Cincinnati and handled green-dot responsibilities. That leaves Bachie and Ogbongbemiga facing uphill battles despite strong camp days and preseason production.

Hunter will be a difficult cut, having produced throughout camp—drawing praise for his development and special-teams work. The decision may ultimately come down to veteran-practice-squad flexibility and whether exposing Hunter to waivers creates a risk Detroit isn’t willing to take.

If the Lions decide they have to keep Hunter—Clark or Rodriguez becomes the logical candidate to move toward the veteran practice squad. Clark has been a four-phase special-teams contributor, with his best season coming in 2025. Rodriguez, meanwhile, is coming off his weakest season in Detroit.

SECONDARY: 10

This may be the most competitive room on the defense. The first preseason game also gave us our first meaningful glimpse of what to expect schematically during the regular season.

The opening outside corners were Nick Whiteside and Ennis Rakestraw, with Christian Izien receiving the early nickel work.

When Rakestraw left with an injury, Roger McCreary replaced him outside. Later, Izien shifted to safety while Keith Abney handled significant nickel work. I felt this was an important roster-construction test.

Sheppard wasn’t simply evaluating individual cornerbacks. He was testing whether several defensive backs could handle multiple jobs without forcing the defense to substitute personnel.

OUTSIDE CORNERBACK: 5

• D.J. Reed

• Rock Ya-Sin

• Ennis Rakestraw

• Nick Whiteside

• Keith Abney

OUT: Aamaris Brown & Ryan Cooper Jr.

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• VETERAN PRACTICE SQUAD: Khalil Dorsey

Many fans and pundits believe this unit is weak—I tend to disagree. I would love to see a true lockdown corner emerge in Detroit. With all due respect to Reed, that player is not on this roster. The long-term answer may still be a couple of seasons away.

The defensive identity has changed, but the underlying philosophy remains familiar: Do your job. This group is scrappy and aggressive. Playing together—and understanding where the help is coming from—will be central to its success.

Whiteside has climbed from the bottom of the depth chart into first-team opportunities and has repeatedly been one of the biggest risers of camp.

Abney also had a standout preseason opener—he was everywhere. He recovered a critical fumble in the red zone and finished with five tackles. When he delivered a clean, violent open-field tackle that de-cleated a Bengals ball carrier, he immediately separated himself.

Dorsey would be a difficult cut because his special-teams work has been spectacular. But I’m willing to hedge on getting him onto the veteran practice squad rather than risk losing a young player such as Abney or Whiteside.

And then there’s Rakestraw. I don’t believe he struggled against Cincinnati to the degree some people want you to believe. He’s been sticky in camp against two of the best receivers in football, and I like his chances against the rest of the field.

If you trust PFF for everything, save yourself some time and stop reading my breakdowns. PFF can provide useful statistics—their grading system is flawed.

NICKEL CORNERBACK: 2

• Roger McCreary

• Christian Izien

McCreary entered camp as the natural veteran candidate in the slot. Izien’s biggest advantage is versatility. He has legitimate NFL experience at both nickel and safety, making him particularly valuable while Branch and Joseph remain unavailable.

With Abney also getting increased work inside, the defense has several players capable of handling slot responsibilities. That versatility allows Detroit to carry only two players in this specific roster bucket without leaving the defense short on actual nickel options.

SAFETY: 3

• Chuck Clark

• Avonte Maddox

• Thomas Harper

ASSUMED ROSTER PLACEMENTS

• PRACTICE SQUAD: Dan Jackson

• RESERVE/PUP: Kerby Joseph & Brian Branch

This room is being shaped almost entirely by health and versatility. The primary reason for carrying only three safeties on the initial 53 is the versatility already built into the secondary and the expected eventual returns of Joseph and Branch.

Clark gives the defense veteran communication and starting experience. He has played extremely well in camp, producing takeaways without many negative plays.

Harper continues to push for a starting role opposite Clark. He played well against Cincinnati and has continued rotating into first-team situations throughout camp. His special-teams value strengthens the argument further. Harper played 264 special-teams snaps during his first NFL season with the Raiders in 2024 and another 47 for Detroit in 2025.

Izien is interchangeable at multiple positions. He was brought in to compete for safety, slot and nickel responsibilities and has legitimate NFL experience at each. He played 657 slot snaps in 2023, then 308 snaps at free safety and another 205 in the slot with Tampa Bay in 2024. He is also a valuable special-teams player, having been heavily involved in that phase throughout his first three seasons.

Maddox provides another layer of versatility and veteran leadership. Most of his career has been spent handling slot responsibilities, but Detroit gave him his largest workload at free safety last season with 248 snaps.

Unless another position creates additional space, I don’t see a path for Dan Jackson onto the initial 53-man roster. His limited NFL experience should make exposing him to waivers a more acceptable risk than sacrificing one of the veterans who can cover several jobs immediately.

SPECIALISTS: 3

There is no reason to manufacture drama here.

• Jake Bates — K

• Jack Fox — P

• Hogan Hatten — LS

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ROCK’S READ

This roster is loaded with good players. I do believe there is a possibility the Lions decide to run with four receivers to create a roster spot for another position. With Gibbs entering 2026 as a viable receiving weapon, it almost makes too much sense.

The handshake deals will be critical for this roster to maintain the playmakers who have proven they belong—on both sides of the ball.

Another major sticking point for me: I don’t see the necessity of carrying McLaughlin or Niese if Ratledge is getting center reps. That could open another roster spot for a seventh linebacker or an 11th defensive back. There may also be a case for keeping an 11th defensive lineman.

Then there is the eventual probability that Brad and Dan settle on 51 players, leaving the window open to bring back players who were cut. The Lions have good problems.

RECOMMENDED READS

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• Brutal Test For Lions Safety Room

• Brad Holmes Mastering Of The NFL Draft

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Detroit Lions — Training camp injuries has created movement throughout Detroit’s defensive depth chart. Several players enter Thursday night with an opportunity to strengthen their case for a larger role.

Ahmed Hassanein, Nick Whiteside and Erick Hunter have emerged as legitimate camp risers. Skyler Gill-Howard has started generating pressure inside, Tyler Lacy has been one of the more surprising performers along the defensive front, and Ennis Rakestraw enters the preseason needing consistency in an increasingly competitive secondary. Damone Clark also gets an important opportunity to show how his experience and coverage ability fit into Kelvin Sheppard’s defense.

These seven players represent different stages of the same evaluation: determining who can turn training-camp production into dependable defensive snaps.

1. EDGE AHMED HASSANEIN

Ahmed Hassanein has gone from developmental edge rusher to one of Detroit’s strongest camp stories after moving into the big-end role. The 6-foot-2, 275-pound defender produced 22 sacks and 33 tackles for loss over his final two seasons at Boise State, and his combination of power and relentless effort has translated into pressures and backfield disruption during camp.

Campbell has noticed.

“He has had a really good camp. He is all out all the time.”

The next step is discipline. Hassanein must control the edge, squeeze rushing lanes and maintain rush-lane integrity rather than simply chasing sacks. If he can handle those assignments while continuing to generate disruption, Detroit may have found another legitimate rotational piece.

2. CB NICK WHITESIDE

Few Lions have improved their standing more than Nick Whiteside. After playing primarily on special teams in 2025, Whiteside has repeatedly produced interceptions and pass breakups during camp and earned first-team opportunities while D.J. Reed has dealt with a groin injury.

Campbell’s assessment has been direct.

“He is rising. It is not too big for him.”

Whiteside also has limited regular-season evidence, recording three passes defended on 40 defensive snaps against Tampa Bay last season. Cincinnati will provide a broader test of his leverage, route recognition, tackling and eye discipline. Training camp earned Whiteside more opportunities. A strong preseason can establish him as legitimate defensive depth rather than simply a special-teams player.

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3. CB ENNIS RAKESTRAW JR.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. enters Year 3 needing something simple but important: consistent football. Injuries limited the former second-round pick to eight games as a rookie and cost him the entire 2025 season, leaving him in a competitive cornerback room with limited NFL tape.

There have been encouraging camp reps, including tight coverage against Jameson Williams and work both outside and in the slot. The inconsistency remains.

Campbell summarized the situation clearly.

“He’s had some ups and downs. He needs to string a few days together here of some good stuff.”

Cincinnati gives Rakestraw an opportunity to do exactly that. Detroit needs reliable leverage, tackling and coverage discipline over an extended series—not one splash play surrounded by avoidable losses.

4. EDGE TYLER LACY

Tyler Lacy has quietly become an important piece of Detroit’s defensive-front flexibility. At roughly 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Lacy can play big end on early downs and reduce inside when Detroit changes personnel. He appeared in 10 games with four starts last season, finishing with 21 tackles and one sack.

Campbell values the reliability.

“He’s a football guy. He’s a professional. He prepares, practices hard and will do whatever you ask him to do.”

The next step is adding more pass-rush value. Lacy already has the size to anchor the edge and absorb physical run-game assignments. If he can consistently compress the pocket from inside, his role expands beyond early-down run defense.

5. LB DAMONE CLARK

Damone Clark brings something most players fighting for linebacker depth cannot: substantial NFL experience. Clark has appeared in 55 games with 26 starts, including a 109-tackle season with Dallas in 2023.

His value changed last season when he emerged as one of the league’s most productive special-teams tacklers, finishing with 18 special-teams stops.

Detroit’s linebacker room is crowded, so Clark may not need to win one specific defensive job. His roster value comes from being useful across several roles. Cincinnati will test his run fits, coverage spacing and ability to finish in space, but his special-teams snaps may be equally important. Veteran defensive experience combined with legitimate kicking-game value gives Clark a clear path to staying in the conversation.

6. DT SKYLER GILL-HOWARD

Skyler Gill-Howard has started flashing the interior quickness Detroit drafted him for. After working back from the ankle injury that ended his 2025 college season, the sixth-round rookie produced his strongest practice on Day 9, generating multiple pressures and eventually earning first-team opportunities late in the session.

Gill-Howard finished his final college season with a 90.0 PFF pass-rush grade, but his NFL evaluation involves more than penetration.

At roughly 6-foot and 280 pounds, he must keep larger guards from controlling his chest and moving him off the football. Cincinnati will test his pad level, hand placement and ability to anchor against double teams. Pressure gets noticed. Holding his gap earns defensive snaps.

7. LB ERICK HUNTER

Undrafted rookie Erick Hunter has given Detroit reasons to keep watching. The Morgan State linebacker finished 2025 with 102 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and four sacks, then carried that activity into training camp.

His biggest defensive play was an end-zone interception of Jared Goff during a team scrimmage, but Hunter has also produced on special teams—an important pathway for any reserve linebacker.

Campbell has praised the rookie’s approach.

“He’s athletic and he takes notes, he listens, he works his tail off in practice.”

Hunter’s challenge is playing fast without losing assignment discipline. Detroit needs clean run fits, reliable tackling and coverage awareness. If those traits hold up alongside his special-teams work, Hunter can make the roster decision considerably more difficult.

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ROCK’S THE 7 ON 7 READ

Detroit’s defensive roster decisions may ultimately come down to more than who makes the most splash plays in August.

Kelvin Sheppard is building a defense expected to use more zone coverage, interchangeable personnel and multiple fronts. That places a premium on defenders who can handle more than one assignment without forcing Detroit to substitute every time the situation changes.

That is where these preseason evaluations become important. A corner who can play outside and inside, an edge defender who can reduce into the interior, or a linebacker who can contribute in coverage and on special teams carries additional value when the defense is trying to remain unpredictable.

The roster will absolutely look different this season—not because the talent level has changed, but because the type of player Sheppard needs has changed.

Thursday night begins the process of finding out which players fit that vision.

RECOMMENDED READS

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• Detroit Lions Roster Shakeup Day 1

• Brutal Test For Lions Safety Room

• Brad Holmes Mastering Of The NFL Draft

• NFC North Index Rankings

• Detroit Lions minicamp 13 stories

• Brad Holmes plays it smart

• The Detroit Lions have something

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Detroit Lions — Thursday’s preseason opener gives fans an opportunity to watch some ugly football—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The game against Cincinnati moves the evaluation out of controlled training-camp periods and into live football, where communication breaks down, protections change and young players have to solve problems without a coach standing behind the play.

Isaac TeSlaa would have been on my list if Jared Goff were expected to play significant snaps. His second-year development could become especially important in the red zone, where his size, physicality and catch radius give Detroit another matchup option.

But tonight belongs primarily to the players fighting for roles behind the established starters. The final score will mean very little compared with what Detroit sees on film afterward.

These are the seven offensive players I’ll be watching closest.

1. QB LUKE ALTMYER

Luke Altmyer will start after Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement and Josh Dobbs’ late arrival changed Detroit’s quarterback room. The undrafted rookie completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,007 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions at Illinois in 2025, and his composure has stood out during camp despite normal rookie mistakes with timing and processing.

Dan Campbell has been encouraged by how Altmyer has handled the position.

“It doesn’t feel too big to him right now. And that’s a great sign at that position.”

Thursday provides the first real measurement. Detroit needs to see Altmyer command the huddle, handle protections, work through progressions and keep the offense on schedule when the picture changes after the snap.

2. RT BLAKE MILLER

Blake Miller has spent camp receiving exactly the education Detroit expected when it selected him 17th overall, including repeated work against Aidan Hutchinson and DJ Wonnum. Miller started all 54 games at Clemson, logging a school-record 3,778 offensive snaps, but Cincinnati will provide his first NFL game-speed test.

Campbell likes the rookie’s emotional control.

“He does not get too high. He does not get too low. So, his demeanor’s just right.”

The important evaluation isn’t whether Miller loses a rep. Rookie tackles will. Detroit needs to see his pass-set discipline, hand timing and anchor—and whether he can diagnose what beat him before the same counter gets him again.

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3. TE JACKSON MEEKS

Jackson Meeks has become one of Detroit’s more interesting roster experiments after moving from wide receiver into a hybrid tight end/H-back/big-slot role. His receiving ability has translated during camp, particularly with the second-team offense, but catching the football is only part of this evaluation.

Campbell explained exactly what Detroit is exploring.

“We want to find out if there’s something in there where he can be this hybrid H-back, tight end, big slot.”

Cincinnati will test whether the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Meeks can handle the physical responsibilities attached to the position. If he can block from multiple alignments and contribute on special teams, his receiving background gives Detroit a legitimate reason to keep developing the role.

4. C SETH MCLAUGHLIN

Seth McLaughlin’s opportunity increased when starting center Cade Mays injured his wrist and Juice Scruggs was sidelined. McLaughlin has since received first-team work against Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams, settling into those reps after some difficult early battles.

The 2024 Rimington Trophy winner tore his Achilles late in his final season at Ohio State, went undrafted and spent 2025 on Cincinnati’s practice squad.

His evaluation against his former team goes well beyond blocking. Detroit needs to see whether McLaughlin can identify fronts, communicate protections, deliver consistent snaps and hold his ground against NFL interior power. The center has to organize the protection while surviving physically inside it.

5. OL MILES FRAZIER

Miles Frazier’s strongest argument for a roster role is versatility. The second-year lineman appeared in five games without allowing a sack in 2025 and has worked both inside and outside, including first-team left-guard reps during camp.

Campbell has highlighted exactly why that flexibility carries value.

“He can play the guard, he can play tackle ... he can sustain blocks, he’s got power, he’s pretty tenacious.”

The preseason will determine how functional that versatility really is. Frazier needs to show he can handle speed and inside counters at tackle while maintaining the anchor and displacement required at guard. A reserve capable of playing multiple positions at a trustworthy level becomes significantly more valuable on game day.

6. G BEN BARTCH

Ben Bartch finally has an opportunity to reenter the left-guard competition after spending much of the offseason and early camp recovering from the Lisfranc injury that ended his 2025 season.

His return has been encouraging. Bartch was described as a “complete roadblock” during recent one-on-one work and finished last season with zero sacks allowed and zero penalties in six games.

Campbell never ruled him out of the competition.

“There’s a reason he’s here, we think he brings outstanding competition. He’s got a shot.”

The next evaluation is durability and consistency. Bartch needs to anchor against power, reset his hands and maintain his technique through an extended series of live snaps.

7. WR DOMINIC LOVETT

Dominic Lovett has started making his move in a crowded competition for Detroit’s final receiver spots. After appearing in 12 games without a reception as a rookie, Lovett has produced more consistently during the later stages of camp, including a deep connection with Teddy Bridgewater and a contested catch over the middle.

His roster case, however, cannot be built exclusively as a receiver.

With Cedrick Wilson Jr. and others competing for the same jobs, Lovett needs to show separation, reliable hands and route discipline while becoming useful on special teams. For players fighting for the fifth or sixth receiver position, special-teams value often becomes the deciding factor when the receiving evaluations are close.

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Dan Campbell is entering his first preseason game of 2026 with a new offensive coordinator and a roster built with a deep collection of talent and experience. But there is a reason it is called the preseason—the offense is rarely polished, and Detroit does not need it to be.

What the Lions need to find is functional depth—players who can enter the lineup without forcing the offense to change what it wants to do. Most importantly, the evaluation will center on one thing: trust.

That is especially important on the offensive line and at quarterback, where one injury can affect protections, communication and the operation of the entire unit. The same principle applies at receiver and tight end: versatility only has value if a player can execute enough assignments to stay on the field.

For Dan Campbell and Drew Petzing, that is where trust gets earned.

Not by producing one highlight against Cincinnati’s backups, but by lining up correctly, recognizing the assignment, handling the physical responsibility and doing it again on the next snap.

Detroit already knows who its offensive stars are. Thursday night is about finding out who can be trusted behind them.

RECOMMENDED READS

• Training Camp Day 2 Observations

• Training Camp Day 1 Observations

• Detroit Lions Roster Shakeup Day 1

• Brutal Test For Lions Safety Room

• Brad Holmes Mastering Of The NFL Draft

• NFC North Index Rankings

• Detroit Lions minicamp 13 stories

• Brad Holmes plays it smart

• The Detroit Lions have something

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DREW PETZING KNOWS KYLER MURRAY

Detroit Lions — Drew Petzing was hired to run the offense, but his previous coaching experience could become a secret weapon against Minnesota this season.

Petzing spent three years coaching Kyler Murray, Minnesota’s new QB1 for 2026. That gives defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard a significant advantage, with direct access to the coach who designed Arizona’s offense around Murray.

Murray made 30 starts under Petzing from 2023 through 2025. Petzing worked through protections, quarterback movement, play-action concepts, pressure answers and Murray’s progressions within the offense.

Petzing learned which concepts played to Murray’s strengths, which defensive looks created problems and how Murray responded when the structure of a play broke down. This may not give Detroit Minnesota’s playbook, but it does provide Sheppard with context. Something film study alone cannot fully provide: firsthand insight into how Murray processes, reacts and adjusts within an offense.

PETZING SPENT THREE YEARS STUDYING MURRAY

When Petzing arrived in Arizona in 2023, he didn’t just study Murray’s previous NFL film. He went back to the Oklahoma film to better understand Murray’s ability as a runner. After Murray returned from ACL rehabilitation late that season, Arizona spent the following offseason examining his strengths, weaknesses, and scheme fit before expanding the offense to fit around him.

Petzing was actively studying him to make him better. He learned what Murray wanted against pressure, where he preferred to escape when protection failed and which defensive structures forced him into bad decisions.

Where The magic happens is during Vikings week. Sheppard can identify a tendency on film and take the diagnosis a step further with Petzing:

• Was the decision dictated by the offensive design?

• Was it Murray’s preferred answer?

• Did the defense force him away from what he wanted?

• Was another option available that Murray passed over?

That is where Petzing’s intelligence becomes so valuable. He can help identify what portions of the scheme belong to O’Connell, and what belongs to Murray himself.

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DETROIT ALREADY HAS A BLUEPRINT

The Lions have a recent defensive performance against Murray and Petzing to study. On September 22, 2024, Aaron Glenn’s defense held Arizona to 13 points and Murray to 207 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. The Cardinals converted just 1-of-9 third downs.

Detroit did not solve Murray by assigning a permanent spy or recklessly blitzing him. Glenn varied the presentation, mixing four-man rushes, selective pressure, changing fronts and situational six-man pressures while maintaining rush-lane integrity.

That game becomes even more valuable now because Petzing was on the opposite sideline calling Arizona’s offense. The question for Petzing becomes: Why was Glenn’s defensive plan so effective against Murray that day? Sheppard can study what Glenn did, then use Petzing to understand what Arizona was trying to accomplish against it.

• If a particular front changed Murray’s protection, Petzing knows why.

• If pressure forced Arizona away from a preferred concept, Petzing knows what the original answer was supposed to be.

• If Detroit’s coverage forced Murray to hold the football or leave the pocket, Petzing can explain what Murray believed he was seeing.

Glenn’s film provides the defensive blueprint. Petzing can provide the offensive autopsy. Sheppard can use both rather than simply copying old calls.

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