Final Detroit Lions 53-Man Roster Prediction

The NFL changed the final cuts due date to 6pm on August 30th, 2026 this season. The Detroit Lions will have less than 28 hours to make final roster decisions.

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Allen Park—The preseason is over, and now Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have to turn months of evaluation into 53 names. Detroit’s roster is deeper than it has been in years, which makes this cutdown less about finding enough NFL players and more about deciding which roles are hardest to replace.

My final 53 leans toward versatility, special teams and players who can keep the offense or defense functioning when injuries force Detroit into its depth. That pushed several veterans and former draft picks onto the wrong side of the numbers, while a handful of younger players earned spots by expanding what they can do.

There are still decisions that could change after waivers, medical updates and outside additions. But based on training camp, three preseason games and how this roster fits what Detroit wants to run in 2026, this is the 53 I would take into the season.

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OFFENSE | 24 PLAYERS

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QUARTERBACK: 2

• Jared Goff

• Josh Dobbs

Dobbs wins QB2 because he gives Detroit the better option if Goff has to miss meaningful snaps. Luke Altmyer showed enough arm talent and composure to continue developing, but Dobbs is more prepared to manage protections, pressure and an NFL offense today.

Altmyer should be one of Detroit’s highest-priority practice-squad players, unless another QB cut becomes available. As previously noted, my sources have confirmed that the Lions have eyes on Aidan O’Connell, and there could be others.

Practice Squad: Luke Altmyer

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RUNNING BACK: 4

• Jahmyr Gibbs - Isiah Pacheco

• Sione Vaki - Jacob Saylors

Saylors finished the preseason with 100 yards on 17 carries against Indianapolis and has contributed in the return game. Williams made the decision difficult after arriving late and producing immediately, including two touchdowns against Indianapolis. Saylors offers more established special-teams flexibility and has been in the offense longer.

The only way Williams makes this roster is if Pacheco is somehow on IR To Return. I do believe there is a case to be made for Williams to make this roster over Vaki, but the special teams aspect is what may hold Vaki to this roster.

Trayveon Williams is my 61st player

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CUT / WAIVED / RELEASED:

• Jabari Small

• Roydell Williams

VET SQUAD POTENTIAL:

• Trayveon WIlliams

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WIDE RECEIVER: 5

• Amon-Ra St. Brown - Jameson Williams - Isaac TeSlaa

• Greg Dortch - Tay Martin

The top four are secure. St. Brown and Williams lead the room, TeSlaa continues to grow into a larger offensive role, and Dortch gives Detroit slot and return-game flexibility.

Tay Martin gets WR5 because he put together the more complete roster audition. He can cover kicks, block and handle reserve receiver snaps without needing targets to justify being active on game day.

I had Lucky Jackson on the 53 after his five-catch, 94-yard performance against Indianapolis, but I ran out of roster spots elsewhere. He showed enough as a receiver to make this one of the harder cuts, and I believe there is a real chance another team claims him if Detroit exposes him to waivers.

Dominic Lovett still has developmental upside but never eliminated the mistakes consistently enough to win the job. Tom Kennedy remains dependable depth, and I do believe there is an outside chance Detroit rewards him with a roster spot after eight seasons of doing everything asked of him. But Dortch already fills much of the slot and return role Kennedy would occupy.

Dominic Lovett is my 59th player

Lucky Jackson is my 62nd player

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CUT / WAIVED / RELEASED:

• Malik Cunningham

• Tarik Black

• Lucky Jackson

PRACTICE SQUAD

• Dominic Lovett

VET SQUAD

• Tom Kennedy

INJURY PLACEMENTS

• Kendrick Law (IR)

• Cedric Wilson (IR)

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TIGHT END: 4

• Sam LaPorta - Brock Wright

• Tyler Conklin - Jackson Meeks

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With Sam LaPorta dealing with an injury, I don’t see Detroit carrying only three tight ends. Drew Petzing’s offense has shown a willingness to use 13 personnel, and if the Lions want three tight ends on the field at the same time, they need a fourth available to protect the package and handle injuries.

Jackson Meeks gives Detroit a different type of player at the position. He is still developing after converting from wide receiver, but his hybrid role has continued to grow. Against Washington, Meeks led Detroit with four catches for 33 yards, converted a critical fourth down and forced the game-sealing fumble on kickoff coverage. He followed that with a touchdown reception from Josh Dobbs against Indianapolis and solid blocking work.

Meeks can line up as a big slot, H-back or detached tight end, giving Petzing another way to change formations without automatically changing personnel. His special-teams production also gives Detroit a reason to dress him even when his offensive snaps are limited.

Zach Horton remains a developmental player worth keeping in the organization, but he is better suited for the practice squad while Detroit carries four more game-ready options on the active roster.

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CUT / WAIVED / RELEASED:

• Thomas Gordon

PRACTICE SQUAD

• Zach Horton

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OFFENSIVE LINE: 9

Starting Five

• Penei Sewell - Christian Mahogany - Juice Scruggs

• Tate Ratledge - Blake Miller

Backups

• Larry Borom - Miles Frazier - Ben Bartch - Mason Miller

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With Cade Mays sidelined, Detroit’s starting five projects as Sewell, Mahogany, Scruggs, Ratledge and Blake Miller. Borom provides a veteran swing tackle, Frazier can cover guard and tackle, and Bartch gives Detroit experienced interior depth.

The final spot goes to Mason Miller. He entered the Colts game with almost no experience at center and delivered one of his best performances of the preseason, consistently creating movement outside of one botched exchange. With Ratledge also cross-trained at center, Detroit has two emergency options behind Scruggs until Mays returns.

That squeezes out Seth McLaughlin. He remains the more natural center, but he finished the preseason in concussion protocol, missed the Indianapolis game and several practices, and regressed against Washington. Miller’s stronger finish and broader interior flexibility give Detroit the better game-day option.

Seth McLaughlin is my 58th player

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CUT / WAIVED / RELEASED:

• Devin Cochran

• Melvin Priestly

• Colby Sorsdal

PRACTICE SQUAD

• Seth McLaughlin

VET SQUAD

• Gus Hartwig

INJURY PLACEMENTS

• Cade Mays (IR/R)

• Giovanni Manu (R/NFI)

INJURY DECISION

• Michael Niese: Injury designation likely if he is unable to pass a physical

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SKYLER GILL-HOWARD INTERVIEW

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DEFENSE | 26 PLAYERS

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INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE: 4

• Alim McNeill - Tyleik Williams

• Skyler Gill-Howard - Chris Smith

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McNeill and Williams anchor the interior, while Gill-Howard earned his roster spot with a strong second half of camp and continued interior pressure through the preseason. Chris Smith gives Detroit a different type of tackle. He can play the nose, absorb double teams and handle the dirty work that keeps the linebackers clean.

The Lions need a handshake deal to keep another position. That leaves Levi Onwuzurike on the wrong side of my 53. He has proven NFL pass-rush ability, but his camp never consistently matched that previous production.

Mekhi Wingo is another difficult decision, but Gill-Howard passed him as the developmental penetrating tackle. Ben Stille’s versatility made him a legitimate roster candidate, his story is fun and he is a strong candidate to sneak onto =this roster should the Lions go light at another position. But carrying only four interior tackles creates room elsewhere on the 53.

Tyre West remains a developmental player I want back. The seventh-round rookie has power, quickness and some inside-outside flexibility, but Detroit’s defensive-line depth kept him buried throughout camp. He belongs on the practice squad where the Lions can continue developing him without using one of the 53 spots.

Levi Onwuzurike is my 54th player

Ben Stille is my 56th player

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CUT / WAIVED / RELEASED:

• Tyre West

PRACTICE SQUAD

• Tyre West

• Mekhi Wingo

• Ben Stille

VET SQUAD

• Myles Adams

• Levi Onwuzurike

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EDGE: 5

• Aidan Hutchinson - DJ Wonnum

• Tyler Lacy - Derrick Moore - Ahmed Hassanein

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This room settled itself before the Colts game. Hutchinson is the premier rusher, Wonnum gives Detroit another proven edge, and Lacy can play big end while reducing inside when needed.

Moore remains part of the developmental pass-rush rotation, while Hassanein earned his spot with one of the strongest camps on the defensive front. His move to big end gave Detroit a better use for his power, motor and ability to hold the edge.

Eric O’Neill made this decision uncomfortable—he consistently generated pressure throughout camp and the preseason, but Detroit asks its edge defenders to defend the run as well, and O’Neill still gets displaced too often when offenses attack him directly. He makes a better developmental option for the practice squad.

Anthony Lucas has the length and athleticism to continue developing, but he never created enough separation in a deep room to win one of the final five spots.

O’Neill is my 55th player

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CUT / WAIVED / RELEASED:

• Anthony Lucas

PRACTICE SQUAD

• Eric O’Neill

VET SQUAD

INJURY PLACEMENTS

• Payton Turner (IR)

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LINEBACKER: 6

• Jack Campbell - Derrick Barnes - Devin White

• Malcolm Rodriguez - Trevor Nowaske -Erick Hunter

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The top five are secure, and this time I am keeping Joe Bachie on the 53 over Erick Hunter. Bachie can play all three linebacker positions, communicate the defense and contribute immediately on special teams. With Trevor Nowaske recently injured and Damone Clark already on IR, Detroit needs a dependable veteran who can step into the defense without changing assignments or personnel usage.

That leaves Erick Hunter on the wrong side of the numbers. The undrafted rookie showed legitimate athleticism, developmental upside and enough special-teams ability to make this a difficult decision. But Bachie gives Detroit the safer opening-day option if one of the starters has to leave a game, and that experience carries more weight while the room is dealing with injuries.

Jimmy Rolder remains part of the long-term plan, but his hamstring injury kept him out through most of the competitive portion of camp. Detroit may have preserved an IR-to-return designation by placing Payton Turner directly on IR, giving the Lions a path to stash Rolder while he finishes his recovery without using an active roster spot.

Erick Hunter is my 57th player

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CUT / WAIVED / RELEASED:

• Troy Reeder

PRACTICE SQUAD

• Erick Hunter

VET SQUAD

• Amen Ogbongbemiga

INJURY PLACEMENTS

• Jimmy Rolder (IR/R)

• Damone Clark (IR)

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SECONDARY: 11

CORNERBACK: 6

• D.J. Reed - Rock Ya-Sin

• Nick Whiteside - Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

• Keith Abney - Khalil Dorsey

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Reed and Ya-Sin give Detroit veteran options outside, while Whiteside earned his roster spot with one of the strongest camps in the secondary.

Rakestraw remains inconsistent but sticky in coverage, and his interception against Indianapolis was another positive step for the former second-round pick. Abney worked himself into meaningful sub-package snaps and can also help inside when Detroit needs another nickel option.

Dorsey is my final corner on the 53. His special-teams experience gives Detroit a reason to dress him on Sundays and separates him from the remaining depth corners.

Aamaris Brown helped himself late, including two pass breakups against Indianapolis. He also took some safety reps, but I still classify him as a corner. His late push was not enough to crack the initial 53, but he is a player I want back on the practice squad.

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CUT / WAIVED / RELEASED:

• Ryan “Bump” Cooper

• Ekow Boye-Doe

• Eric Scott Jr.

• Jason Taylor II

PRACTICE SQUAD

• Dan Jackson

INJURY PLACEMENTS

• Brian Branch (R/PUP)

• Kerby Joseph (R/PUP)

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NICKEL: 2

• Roger McCreary

• Christian Izien

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McCreary gives Detroit an experienced nickel who can play aggressively near the line of scrimmage, handle man coverage inside and kick outside in an emergency.

Izien provides the versatility Kelvin Sheppard wants in the secondary. He can play nickel or safety, allowing Detroit to change coverage structures without automatically changing personnel.

Abney also gives Detroit another option inside if injuries or matchups force the Lions deeper into the cornerback room.

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SAFETY: 3

• Avonte Maddox

• Chuck Clark

• Thomas Harper

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Maddox and Clark give Detroit veteran experience while Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph remain unavailable. Harper stays as the third true safety once his ankle allows him to return fully.

Izien provides additional safety flexibility from the nickel group, which allows Detroit to survive temporarily without using another active roster spot here.

Dan Jackson has developmental traits, but he did not do enough this summer to force his way onto the 53. The injuries at safety could create an early opportunity for him, which makes him one of my priority practice-squad players.

Dan Jackson is my 60th player.

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SPECIALISTS: 3

• K Jake Bates

• P Jack Fox

• LS Hogan Hatten

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There is no real roster competition here. Bates had an uneven preseason but never faced a legitimate challenger. Fox remains one of Detroit’s strongest specialists, and Hatten handles the long-snapping duties.

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ROCK’S READ

Two preseason games have changed the conversation. I’m no longer trying to find 53 players—the harder question is which good players Detroit can afford to lose.

The offense is where the uncertainty remains. The interior offensive line still needs help, QB2 could change after league-wide cuts and injuries have complicated several depth decisions. That is where Brad Holmes can still alter this projection before Week 1.

Defensively, the opposite has happened. Young players such as Skyler Gill-Howard, Ahmed Hassanein, Keith Abney and Nick Whiteside have created legitimate competition behind the starters. Detroit suddenly has more playable depth along the defensive front and secondary than it did entering camp.

My projection remains 24 offensive players, 26 defensive players and three specialists—53 total. The injury designations are projections based strictly on the roster as it stood through August 23.

One preseason game remains, but the final roster is no longer about finding enough players who belong. Detroit has to decide which ones it can risk losing.

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RECOMMENDED READS

• Detroit Lions 53-Man Roster Prediction V.1

• Dominic Lovett Is Running Out Of Time

• 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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Will Rock Is An Independent Media Member And Founder Of Detroit Football Journal. After Cancer Changed His Life In 2023, He Decided It Was Time To Pursue His Dreams. A Lifelong Lions Fan And Loyal Lions Member For 29 Years, He Turned That Passion Into Independent NFL Coverage. Focusing On NFL Draft Analysis, Roster Construction, Player Evaluation, Scouting, Scheme And Film Analysis, Rock Earned NFL Media Credentials By The Start Of His Second Season Covering The League. Help Will Accomplish His Dream By Supporting This Publication.

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