The Detroit Lions Podcast

Dan Campbell said most Detroit Lions starters will play Saturday against the Washington Commanders. The staff wants live defensive reps after the Bengals preseason opener highlighted interior issues and clarified several depth battles. As host Jeff Risdon noted, not every headliner will dress, but the standard is set for a sharper outing.

Will Detroit Lions starters play against Washington?

Yes. Head coach Dan Campbell said most starters will play. The goal is targeted work, not a long run-up.

Who stood out and who struggled on defense vs the Bengals?

Linebacker Amen...

The Detroit Lions clarified their center plan: Juice Scruggs returned to first-team work and Tate Ratledge took center reps, setting Scruggs on the Week 1 path while Detroit stress-tests depth. In a rain-soaked session after the Cincinnati preseason opener, coaches rotated interior linemen to lock in trusted combinations ahead of the NFL regular season.

Did the Detroit Lions clarify who starts at center in Week 1?

Yes. Juice Scruggs is tracking as the starting center, and Detroit cross-trained Tate Ratledge at center with the starters while keeping Seth McLaughlin in a reserve lane. As Jeff Risdon noted...

Jacob Saylors seized a roster-opening opportunity for the Detroit Lions, delivering fresh legs, clean routes, and hands that produced a team-high receiving output in Thursday's wet preseason loss at Cincinnati. His all-around day put him squarely in the 53-man conversation and reset the running back depth picture heading into Washington week.

Can Jacob Saylors make the 53-man roster?

Yes, Lions running back Jacob Saylors pushed himself into the real roster mix with a complete performance. He looked rested and explosive, processed quickly, and caught the ball naturally, finishing as Detroit's leading receiver on the night...

Detroit Lions Post Bengals Preseason Evaluation

The first preseason game is rarely about the final score, and Detroit’s 16-14 loss to Cincinnati was no exception. The Detroit Lions rested most of their established starters while the Bengals gave their first units early work, creating exactly the kind of uneven laboratory Dan Campbell wanted for evaluating the bottom half of his roster. Detroit’s reserves hung around anyway, and by the end of the night there was far more to discuss than the scoreboard.

On this episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Jeff Risd...

There is an actual Detroit Lions football game tonight! The Daily DLP ventures into much-welcomed game preview territory ahead of Thursday night’s preseason opener between the Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s the first opportunity for fans to check out the start of the 2026 Lions. Even though it’s an exhibition game that doesn’t count in the standings, it’s still a very important night for a lot of Lions. Reflecting on the players to watch list published earlier this week, today’s Daily expands on broader concepts about the game in Cincinnati. How do the Bengals specifically...

The Detroit Lions are built to contend now, and ownership expects more than a 9-8 season. Detroit Lions owner Sheila Hamp emphasized increased roster depth and declared the team a contender, and she clarified that last season’s record was not up to the organization’s standards after a top-to-bottom review.

Are the Detroit Lions legitimate contenders right now?

Yes, the standard has moved to contention. Detroit Lions owner Sheila Hamp told Fox 2's Dan Miller that the team has more depth than ever and said they are "definitely going to be a hunter," reflecting an o...

The latest episode of the Daily DLP from the Detroit Lions Podcast reviews the training camp sessions from Monday, August 10th and Tuesday, August 11th. It’s a deep dive into the sights and sounds from the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park. Special attention is paid to the center spot, where Seth McLaughlin has taken over as the starter for the injured Cade Mays. A broken wrist will sideline Mays for 8-to-10 weeks, bleeding into the first few weeks of the regular season. McLaughlin, who missed his entire rookie season recovering from a torn Achilles, had a mixed bag of...

Detroit Lions center Cade Mays suffered a small broken bone in his wrist and will miss eight to ten weeks, immediately reshaping Detroit’s center plan. Seth McLaughlin handled most first-team snaps today and Juice Scruggs reenters the competition once healthy, while the quarterback room tightens after Teddy Bridgewater stepped away.

How serious is Cade Mays’s injury and what is the timeline?

Cade Mays is out eight to ten weeks with a wrist fracture, per Ian Rapoport, and the Detroit Lions will treat it as a significant in-season absence. Head coach Dan Campbell declined to g...

The Daily DLP shifts the focus outside of Detroit Lions training camp for a day, inviting Andrew Harbaugh back for another discussion. Harbaugh is the managing editor of the Vikings and Buccaneers Wires for the USA TODAY network, and his knowledge and perspective on those teams, as well as Detroit, get spotlighted in this Daily. The Jahmyr Gibbs contract extension in Detroit leads off the conversation. Harbaugh is envious of the Lions' abundance of high-end talent, something that neither NFC team he covers can come close to matching. Minnesota has major questions at quarterback, as well as throughout the back...

Following the big new contract extension for star RB Jahmyr Gibbs, the Detroit Lions have now committed over $1 billion dollars to re-signing their own talent. Other than Jared Goff, it's all players drafted into Detroit since the Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell regime took over in 2021. With that plethora of high-end talent, it's clear the Lions have a strong chance of making the first Super Bowl in franchise history. It won't be easy and will require significantly better luck on the injury front than the team has suffered through lately. That includes better fortune with a couple of the players the...

Jahmyr Gibbs signed a three-year extension with the Detroit Lions that makes him the NFL’s highest paid running back by average annual value. As Jeff Risdon reported live, the deal can reach $75,750,000 with $51,500,000 guaranteed, ending any contract chatter and securing Detroit’s most explosive skill player.

What exactly did the Detroit Lions pay Jahmyr Gibbs?

The Lions committed to three years, up to $75,750,000 with $51,500,000 guaranteed. Jeff Risdon also noted the structure as three years 67.5 that includes 51.5 guaranteed and can reach 75.75. That places Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs at the top of the position on a...

Detroit Lions Early Camp Report

Training camp has moved from anticipation to evaluation, and the Detroit Lions are beginning to reveal which offseason assumptions can survive contact. With padded practices underway and the Hall of Fame Game signaling the return of NFL football, depth charts are shifting, injuries are creating opportunities, and competitions are becoming more serious.

On this episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Jeff Risdon bring Allen Park to Lions fans with a close look at the camp battles unfolding now, roster moves created by injuries, early surprises, fan access, and...

The Daily DLP from the Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down all the observations and takeaways from the team’s second padded training camp practice. Tuesday, August 4th saw a few players rise and fall on the practice field at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park. Among the big winners was RB Jabari Small. With Sione Vaki out with a broken nose suffered in Monday’s practice, and with Jahmyr Gibbs still not practicing, Small stepped up on the depth chart and looked like he belonged. His quick footwork and nifty cuts created a couple of big gains for the Lion...

The Daily DLP goes through the news and notes from the first day in pads in Detroit Lions training camp this summer.

Some unfortunate injury news on one of the team’s draft picks has forced the Detroit Lions to make a move as August begins. The Lions have signed veteran LB Devin White as a free agent. White is best-known for his All-Pro years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the beginning of the decade. He spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he led the team in tackles and finished in the top five in the league. White is now on his fourth team in a little under three years, bouncing from Tampa Bay to Philadelphia, which cut hi...

The Daily DLP breaks down several of the Detroit Lions training camp updates from Friday, July 31st. First up, some good news. Left guard Christian Mahogany was activated from the non-football injury list. Mahogany practiced for the first time, earning starter reps. Mahogany also addressed the media after practice and indicated that he knows he needs to get better, especially in pass protection. He’s in a position battle and he knows it. The Lions made a pre-practice change to the TE room. Out goes Zach Horton, and Horton’s departure makes way for a return by veteran Anthony Firkser. With...

The Detroit Lions defense owned Day 2 of training camp. The offense intentionally worked short-game installs, which muted explosive plays, and Dan Campbell placed Detroit Lions offensive tackle Giovanni Manu on NFI with a previously undisclosed summer injury that will sideline him for a period of time.

Why did the defense win Day 2?

The defense executed, communicated and finished. Detroit Lions linebacker Derek Barnes baited and intercepted quarterback Jared Goff by bluffing a blitz then dropping into the passing lane. Detroit Lions edge rusher DJ Wonnum repeatedly disrupted plays, including blowing up a run and compressing...

Detroit Lions training camp is underway at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park. The Daily DLP explores some of the primary statements and themes from head coach Dan Campbell’s press conference to open training camp. Injury updates Campbell led off with some mixed news on the starting safeties, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Bad news first. Joseph will remain on the PUP for at least a couple of weeks, and Campbell offered that having the All-Pro available for Week 1 would be “a bonus” and looks unlikely at this point. Campbell had better news on Branch, who is recovering from a...

The Daily DLP offers up the final pre-camp position preview for the Detroit Lions. Today hits the EDGE group, which has a superstar at the top, followed by some newcomers with higher-end potential than what Detroit has seen in recent years. Before the EDGEs, the Lions did add another player to the den. The Lions signed veteran linebacker Troy Reeder on Monday. Reeder has spent his entire 7-year NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams. He’s thrived on the Rams’ special teams units, playing on all types of special teams. Defensively, Reeder does have some starting experience. He offers the...

The Detroit Lions must phase out three-linebacker defense and scrap the 3-3 in 2026. They played 657 of 1,050 defensive snaps in 4-3 last season, 62.57 percent, and used the 3-3 front 243 times, far more than any other team. The defense improves when Detroit lives in nickel and dime with more speed on the field.

Should the Detroit Lions ditch three-linebacker packages in 2026?

Yes. They leaned on three linebackers far more than the rest of the NFL, and it invited speed mismatches against modern offenses in 11 personnel. As Jeff Risdon noted, the Lions were in 4-3 on 657 of 1,050 defensive...

Detroit placed safety Brian Branch, safety Kerby Joseph and tight end Tyler Conklin on the physically unable to perform list, and it does not necessarily signal long-term loss. PUP only restricts on-field work at the start of camp, not meetings or rehab, and players can be activated at any time, even after a single day.

Who went on the PUP list and what does it actually mean?

Detroit Lions safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, plus tight end Tyler Conklin, will begin camp on PUP, which means they will not be in the first practice...

Dan Campbell must nail the Drew Petzing offensive coordinator hire so the offense carries the Detroit Lions in 2026. As Michael Grey said on the latest edition of The Grey Area, the offense has the toys and the quarterback to be elite, so execution, cohesion, and health have to match the talent.

Can the Lions avoid another position group wipeout?

Yes, spreading the inevitable injuries across the roster is essential to prevent a fatal hole. As Michael Grey emphasized, the secondary is already unsettled with cornerback Terrion Arnold, Detroit Lions, no longer with the team and...

Can Blake Miller make the Detroit Lions' Week 1 starting lineup at right tackle?

Week 1 is possible, but the baton passes by Week 5. That's the expectation. Blake Miller profiles as the right-side version of Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker, mostly steady with an occasional rookie hiccup.

How big is Derrick Moore’s Year 1 role opposite Aidan Hutchinson?

He plays a lot, even if he does not start Week 1. Moore will push for snaps opposite Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, with Detroit Lions edge rusher DJ Wonnum offering baseline run defense an...

Undrafted quarterback Luke Altmyer is the only Detroit Lions rookie free agent with a realistic path to the 53, and he profiles as a practice-squad lock while the staff decides on carrying two or three quarterbacks. Roster spots are scarce, so most UDFAs are competing for developmental roles on the practice squad.

Is Luke Altmyer a lock for the Detroit Lions roster?

Luke Altmyer, quarterback, Detroit Lions, locks down the practice squad and stays in the QB pipeline, while the 53 hinges on whether Detroit carries a QB3. As Jeff Risdon noted on the Detroit Lions Podcast...

The Daily DLP previews the Lions' tight end room, which could already be set ahead of training camp.

Is Sam LaPorta fully cleared and what does it mean for the Detroit Lions offense?

Yes. Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is fully cleared to participate in training camp after a microdiscectomy for his back. As Jeff Risdon noted, the procedure carries some recurrence risk, but LaPorta’s efficient production, route versatility and red-zone finishing restore a core option for quarterback Jared Goff in Detroit’s NFL-best skill group.

LaPorta is the clear number one...

The Daily DLP tackles a lot of good and interesting questions from the Detroit Lions Podcast member Slack channel. Ahead of Lions training camp, there are a lot of ideas and questions about what might be happening with the team and what we may see in Allen Park in the coming weeks.

Among the questions:

Which young players make the biggest jump?

Who wins the CB2 role?

Is Kelvin Sheppard on the hot seat?

Do any UDFAs have a chance to make the roster?

What would I...

Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors are the returning Detroit Lions kick returners right now, with Khalil Dorsey and Greg Dortch pushing hard to take the job. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp values ball security and net field position, and Kennedy checks those boxes. So does Saylors, but not with a lot of dynamic ablity. With today’s kickoff rules, reliability beats boom-or-bust.

Who leads the Detroit Lions kick return battle?

Tom Kennedy leads because he is the clean, assignment-sound option, and Khalil Dorsey and Greg Dortch are the most credible challengers for explosive plays. Detroit Li...

The Detroit Lions have a deep, flexible safety room that still needs defined roles. Injury concerns to both regular starters complicate the safety spot, and that will make for a very intriguing training camp in Allen Park.

Is Kerby Joseph the turnover engine this defense needs?

Yes, when Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph is on the field, the defense gains its best ballhawk. As Jeff Risdon noted, Joseph is "exceptionally good at creating opportunities for the defense to turn defense into offense." Risdon explicitly wants him healthy for 17 games because nobody else has provided that...

The Detroit Lions cut cornerback Terrion Arnold to eliminate a season-long distraction and build around playable depth at corner. The legal case, including a million dollar bond and interstate court travel, limited availability and focus. As Scott Bischoff said, the timing and transparency issues pointed to a commissioner's exempt-list outcome anyway.

Why did the Detroit Lions cut Terrion Arnold now?

Detroit acted to remove a major distraction and move forward with players who can practice and play. Cornerback Terrion Arnold, Detroit Lions, faced kidnapping and robbery charges, a million dollar bond, and repeated travel for...

Who starts at left guard for the Detroit Lions in 2026?

Detroit Lions left guard Christian Mahogany enters camp in pencil as the starter, but the job is open. He returned from injury late last season and did not lock down the role, and both Juice Scruggs and Ben Bartch will push him in a true competition.

Mahogany has flashed the ability to be an effective NFL starter, but it will take more consistent performance and health to lock up the starting job in 2026. Newcomers Juice Scruggs and Ben Bartch are more experienced and also bring...

The Detroit Lions have the top-end talent to win a championship. PFSN's Top 100 lists seven Lions, with offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 4, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson at 12, running back Jahmyr Gibbs at 18, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown at 20. Health, execution, and timely plays must now match that talent.

How many Lions made PFSN's Top 100, and who headlines it?

Seven Detroit Lions made the list, led by offensive tackle Penei Sewell at No. 4 as OT1, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson at 12, running back Jahmyr Gibbs at 18, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown at 20. That is...

Detroit Lions Prepping For Camp

The quietest part of the NFL calendar rarely stays quiet for long. With training camp roughly 10 days away, the Detroit Lions have entered the final stretch before the real evaluations begin. The roster is largely set, the offseason program is complete, and every conversation now shifts toward one question: what are we about to learn once the pads come on?

On this week's Detroit Lions Podcast, Chris and Jeff Risdon look ahead to one of the most important training camps of the Dan Campbell era. From position battles to injury...

The Detroit Lions defense in 2025 was not bad, it was untimely. They ranked 22nd in scoring defense but finished 17th in yards allowed per game and ninth on third downs, and Pro Football Focus graded them as a top-five defense overall. The real issue was explosive plays and situational lapses at key moments.

Was the Detroit Lions defense actually bad in 2025?

No. The unit performed better than its reputation. As Jeff Risdon noted, the Lions were 22nd in points allowed, 17th in yards per game at 332.8, and middle of the pack at 5.4 yards per play...

Penei Sewell is an elite NFL offensive tackle, not the 10th-best, as ESPN pundit Mike Clay ranked him. He finished third in pass protection efficiency at 98.2 with only two sacks, six hits, 11 hurries, and 19 total pressures allowed, plus a 95.1 overall and 96.7 run blocking grade from Pro Football Focus.

Is ESPN underrating Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell?

Yes. Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell ranks among the NFL’s best, not 10th. As Jeff Risdon noted, Pro Football Focus graded Sewell at 95.1 overall with a 96.7 run blocking grade, and he allowed just two sacks, six quarterback hi...

The Daily DLP welcomes Bish and Brown co-host Russ Brown to the latest episode. The show focuses on some of the recent Lions developments, including the team's dismissal of cornerback Terrion Arnold. Brown argued that Detroit can evaluate and win with the corners on hand while focusing entirely on football.

Are the Detroit Lions better without Terrion Arnold?

Yes. The roster and locker room benefit from removing a high-profile distraction and empowering the rest of the room. Detroit Lions cornerback DJ Reed, Ennis Rakestraw and Keith Abney give the staff multiple perimeter options.

...

Colby Sorsdal makes the Detroit Lions 53-man roster as a reserve guard in Jeff Risdon’s current projection. His roster case centers on a cleaner guard fit, size and strength, and a depth chart that now places other tackles ahead of him. Spring reps and versatility keep him in the fight.

Is Colby Sorsdal on track to make the 53-man roster?

Yes, Jeff Risdon currently has Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal on the final 53, in pencil, as a reserve interior option. As Jeff Risdon noted, Sorsdal drew meaningful spring reps and remains in the co...

Slot-Only Profile in a Crowded Detroit Lions Room

The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Dominic Lovett, No. 19, and his roster odds as training camp nears. The NFL squeezes slot receivers who lack a clear special teams role, and Lovett sits right in that pinch point. He is listed at 5-10, 185 and profiles as a slot-only receiver. At Georgia, his routes rarely stretched beyond 8 to 10 yards. The usage leaned horizontal. Quick slants. Hitches. Get it out, make the first tackler miss. He has speed, but the vertical element was not a staple of his tape.

...

The risk-reward corner Detroit needs to actually see

The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Ennis Rakestraw, the 2024 second-round pick who has become the clearest test of risk versus reward in the Lions secondary. The talent fits. The availability has not. He missed all of last season after a shoulder and pec injury in practice. Before that came a torn season in 2021 and a groin issue that cost him games in 2023, plus core muscle surgery that kept him out of the postseason showcase. Three NFL summers in, the team still lacks a full evaluation on the field.<...

Roster reality for a third-year project

The Detroit Lions Podcast zeroed in on Giovanni Manu and a blunt truth. Year three is now or never. A third-round investment to move up for a fourth-round pick will not protect a spot. Brad Holmes said it would be irresponsible to assume a past developmental pick will be the guy. He also said there is no conviction Manu is ready to be a major contributor. The message is clear. Earn it.

A fresh 53-man projection left Manu off. The competition is real at tackle and inside. Larry Borom...

Honolulu Blues: How a Losing Football Team Created a Winning Man

The Detroit Lions Podcast hit pause on the recent noise and leaned into what makes Detroit different. Jeff Risdon sat down with author and lifelong Lions fan Joel Walkowski to unpack Joel's upcoming book, Honolulu Blues: How a Losing Football Team Created a Winning Man. The book is a Lions history that doubles as a memoir about fathers, fandom, and getting sober. The book lands on July 14 and mixes hard truth with humor. It is rooted in Sundays, shared rooms, and the way a football team...