Pride of Detroit
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been rolling out my annual Detroit Lions training camp preview articles, highlighting the camp battles and questions surrounding each position group. With the series coming to its conclusion, and training camp just days away from starting, now is the ideal time for me to share my perspective on the team’s 90-man roster.
While there is still a ton to be settled with this roster over the next month, this 53-man roster projection is how I believe the Lions would enter the regular season if it started tomorrow. As training camp and the preseason progress, I’ll be updating my projection as the Lions get closer to NFL cutdowns on August 30. But for now, here’s how I see the roster ahead of training camp.
QB Jared Goff
QB Teddy Bridgewater
QB Luke Altmyer
Training camp preview: Can Luke Altmyer force a QB3 role?
Altmyer has a steep hill to climb in order to crack the 53-man roster; he’ll either need to jump Bridgewater on the depth chart or convince coaches to keep a QB3 on a loaded roster where spots are at a premium. For now, I’m staying chalk and sticking with the two expected quarterbacks.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
RB Isiah Pacheco
RB Sione Vaki
RB Jacob Saylors
RB Kye Robichaux
RB Jabari Small
Training camp preview: How RB roles could shift in 2026
Gibbs is expected to expand his RB1 role this season, which opens the door for Pacheco to take on some special teams duties and could result in fewer running backs needed. However, running backs fit a unique role that special teams coordinator Dave Fipp prefers; therefore, I am expecting the Lions to stick with four backs.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
WR Jameson Williams
WR Isaac TeSlaa
WR Greg Dortch
WR Dominic Lovett
WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.
WR Jackson Meeks
WR Tom Kennedy
WR Tay Martin
WR Lawrence Keys
WR Lucky Jackson
WR Tarik Black
WR Malik Cunningham
IR (season-ending): Kendrick Law
Training camp preview: WR depth roles up for grabs
On the surface, sticking with only five receivers goes a bit against the norm, but when you explore their usage—especially on game days—it lines up more than you might think. After the first four in this section, I have a lot of questions, but I’m not sure the Lions are ready to give up on Lovett just yet, so I went with him as WR5. Can Wilson, Meeks, or Kennedy convince me to keep a sixth? I’m open to the possibility.
TE Sam LaPorta
TE Brock Wright
TE Tyler Conklin
TE Miles Kitselman
TE Zach Horton
TE Thomas Gordon
Training camp preview: How many TEs will make the roster?
Despite Conklin starting training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, I am still expecting him to slide into the Lions’ TE3 role. His absence will open the door for Kitselman, and the more time...
