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The Detroit Lions are ready to take back the NFC North during the 2026 NFL season. Detroit has gone to great lengths to upgrade the roster during the offseason. Perhaps most importantly, Dan Campbell and the rest of the team are getting back to their gritty ways. If the Lions can recapture the same identity they had in the early days of Campbell’s regime, they should make it back to the playoffs in 2026.
Mandatory minicamp is now in the rearview mirror. That means that training camp in late July is the next big milestone for the Lions.
What did Detroit learn about their players during minicamp? And are some players already on the roster bubble before training camp even begins?
Three Lions players stand out as being in the most danger of being cut following the conclusion of mandatory minicamp.
Vaki is one of the most fascinating players on Detroit’s entire roster.
The former safety, who converted to running back in the NFL, has primarily been a special teams contributor for the Lions over the past few seasons. But the number of snaps he took on special teams dipped in 2025. It is still arguably Vaki’s best skill set.
Unfortunately, he has not done much of anything to prove himself as a running back. Over the past two seasons, he has a total of 10 touches for 55 all-purpose yards on offense. That’s not the kind of production that will keep him around for long by itself.
If Vaki’s true role is on special teams, then his job could easily be in danger.
The Lions could decide to keep Jacob Salyers as a third running back instead of Vaki. When looking back at how both were used in 2025, there are a few reasons to suspect this could happen.
Salyers was one of Detroit’s primary kick returners during the 2025 season. In fact, he logged 33 returns for 897 total return yards during the regular season. But he did not get much of a chance to prove himself as a running back. He only managed two carries for 11 rushing yards, which is not too surprising with Jahmyr Gibbs demanding plenty of touches.
Vaki and Salyers seem to have the same appeal as players, except Salyers provides more value as a returner.
The Lions may decide to part ways with Vaki if he does not take a big leap forward during training camp.
The Lions signed Meeks as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL Draft. Detroit waived Meeks during final roster cuts and brought him back on the practice squad. Meeks then signed a reserve/future contract back in January.
Meeks joined the NFL as a wide receiver and played at the position during his rookie season. But the 23-year-old recently changed positions during spring practices with the Lions.
The Lions converted Meeks [from a wide...
