Detroit Lions

Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

CB

The cornerback suffered an upper-body injury during the first half of Detroit's Aug. 13 preseason loss to Cincinnati, but this appears to be a new issue. Rakestraw missed the 2025 campaign after injuring his shoulder during a training camp practice.

Jimmy Rolder

LB

The fourth-round rookie was injured early in camp and has missed the past three weeks with a strained hamstring. It sounds like he's going to miss the remainder of camp and the preseason. As a rookie, Rolder is expected to work as a depth linebacker and special teams player.

Sam LaPorta

TE

The issue stems from a hit LaPorta took to his hip in practice. At this stage, Campbell doesn't think that LaPorta's injury is serious, but the team will have more information after seeing how the tight end responds to a few days of rest. "I feel like we'll be OK, but I don't know," Campbell said regarding LaPorta's status for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Saints, per Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com.

Jared Goff

QB

Joshua Dobbs will get the start and is expected to split the game evenly with Luke Altmyer. Goff is healthy and locked in atop Detroit's quarterback depth chart, while the organization is using the preseason to evaluate Dobbs and Altmyer as backup options following Teddy Bridgewater's retirement.

Jameson Williams

WR

After missing Detroit's last two sessions due to a minor shoulder injury, Williams was back on the field and made an immediate impression in team drills, gathering in a pass from QB Jared Goff on a deep comeback route to the left in tight coverage with the offense backed up inside its 5-yard line. Williams later beat coverage in 7-on-7 work on a deep crosser for a significant gain. His activity level indicates he's back to normal and poised to serve as the big-play threat in the Lions offense moving forward.

Payton Turner

DE

questionable

Mekhi Wingo

DT

questionable

Isiah Pacheco

RB

questionable

D.J. Reed

CB

questionable

Kye Robichaux

RB

ir

Malcolm Rodriguez

LB

questionable

Jacob Saylors

RB

questionable

Cade Mays

C

out

Thomas Harper

S

Sione Vaki

RB

Dan Jackson

S

Christian Izien

S

Trayveon Williams

RB

With Jacob Saylors (ankle) and Kye Robichaux (foot) both suffering lower-leg injuries, the running back depth for the Lions has taken a significant hit since Thursday. Williams was likely signed to bolster the preseason corps. The 28-year-old played in three regular-season games for the Chargers last year, playing 56 total snaps and rushing three times for a loss of one yard.

Jahmyr Gibbs

RB

The star running back was among a number of key skill players rested by the Lions on Thursday, a group that also included QB Jared Goff, WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, as well as TE Sam LaPorta. Since he signed a lucrative three-year contract extension with the team last week, Gibbs -- who had previously reportedly been dealing with a minor back issue -- has been practicing, and is thus slated to reprise his role as the clear-cut top option in Detroit's backfield, and in turn maintain his standing as an elite fantasy option ahead of the 2026 regular season.

Joshua Dobbs

QB

Dobbs made his Lions debut four days after singing with the team Sunday in the wake of Teddy Bridgewater's retirement. Luke Altmyer got the start Thursday and turned the ball over three times, so the undrafted rookie seems unlikely to challenge Dobbs for the second spot on the depth chart behind Jared Goff once Dobbs familiarizes himself with Detroit's playbook. Dobbs is likely to play more extensively against the Commanders on Aug. 22 in the Lions' second preseason game.

Luke Altmyer

QB

Altmyer played most of the game in his NFL debut, but the undrafted rookie out of Illinois didn't help his chances of winning the second spot on Detroit's QB depth chart. He threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Tarik Black with 1:28 left in the fourth quarter and ran in the ensuing two-point conversion, but Altmyer also turned the ball over three times. The recently signed Joshua Dobbs seems likely to beat out Altmyer for the backup role, but both options will likely see action int he team's next preseason game, Aug. 22 against the Commanders.

Isaac TeSlaa

WR

TeSlaa couldn't get on the same page with quarterbacks Luke Altmyer and Joshua Dobbs as the Lions rested key starters, including Jared Goff. Detroit's 2025 third-round pick will likely continue to get opportunities in the preseason as TeSlaa tries to nail down the third spot on Detroit's wide receiver depth chart behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. The Lions' second preseason game will be Aug. 22 against Washington.

Amon-Ra St. Brown

WR

St. Brown is entering his sixth season in Detroit, and he just notched his fourth straight campaign with over 1,100 receiving yards. The 26-year-old caught 117 of a career-high 172 targets for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns over 17 regular-season contests in 2025. Jameson Williams has come into his own has a prolific big-play threat, opening the field up for St. Brown in the middle of the field. Additionally, Detroit has high hopes for second-year wideout Isaac TeSlaa and free-agent addition Greg Dortch this season. Having an impressive group of wide receivers around St. Brown could prove to benefit the 26-year-old, allowing him to see higher quality targets in Year 1 under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.

Brian Branch

S

Branch continues to recover from a torn Achilles that he suffered in December, which prompted the Lions to place the 2023 second-rounder on the active/PUP list to start training camp. He won't play in any of the Lions' three exhibition games, but depending on how his recovery goes over the next month, Branch could be available for Detroit's regular-season opener against New Orleans on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Kerby Joseph

S

Campbell relayed that Joseph is currently away from the team to attend to a personal matter but added that the fifth-year safety's rehab from his knee injury is "coming along very well." Joseph missed the final 13 games of the regular season due to a knee injury and opened camp on the active/PUP list. A stint on injured reserve may not be necessary for the 2022 third-rounder, though it's unclear whether he'll suit up for the Lions' regular-season opener against the Saints on Sunday, Sept. 13.