Detroit Lions

Christian Mahogany

G

Mahogany has been cleared to practice after recovering from an undisclosed injury. He's slated to serve as the Lions' starter at left guard for the 2026 season, with his main competition coming from Juice Scruggs and Miles Frazier.

Jimmy Rolder

LB

It's not the start the rookie would have hoped for, but the severity of Rolder's injury is still not clear. Until he's ready to resume practicing, Joe Bachie could see an uptick in practice reps at linebacker.

Alim McNeill

DT

It's not clear exactly what happened, and there's no timetable for McNeill's return to practice at this point. As long as he remains unavailable, Levi Onwuzurike will be a candidate to take the leftover reps with the first-team defensive line.

Anthony Firkser

TE

In a corresponding transaction, the Lions waived tight end Zach Horton. With fellow veteran tight end Tyler Conklin (knee) on the PUP list, Firkser could get a good chance right away to prove he's worthy of a depth role in 2026.

Brock Wright

TE

Wright could earn an expanded role under new OC Drew Petzing, who has a penchant for utilizing sets with multiple tight ends. Tyler Conklin (knee) figures to be Wright's primary competition for the second spot on the depth chart behind Sam LaPorta.

Colby Sorsdal

OT

Sorsdal was sidelined for all of the 2025 campaign after being placed on Detroit's injured-reserve list with an unspecified injury, but he now appears to be healthy again with training camp starting up. He's competing for a depth role on the offensive line in 2026.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

CB

The cornerback suffered a shoulder injury during a training camp practice last August and had to undergo season-ending surgery. Rakestraw played in eight regular-season games as a rookie two seasons ago, seeing more action on special teams than defense. A 2024 second-round pick, Rakestraw should be able to compete for playing time now that he's healthy again.

Levi Onwuzurike

DE

Onwuzurike missed the entire 2025 season with an ACL injury he suffered last July. The starting defensive tackle's return alongside a healthy Alim McNeill means the Lions' defensive interior just got significantly stronger for the 2026 season.

Jahmyr Gibbs

RB

Multiple reports point to the contract situation as the impetus for Gibbs' absence through the first two days of training camp. The back injury is something to keep in mind, but it doesn't sound serious and might heal in a hurry with a new contract in hand. The Lions have Gibbs under team control for two more years after picking up his fifth-year option for 2027 ($14.3 million). A prolonged hold-in is possible if the two sides can't reach an agreement, but the current CBA essentially guarantees that no player on a rookie contract will hold out from actual games. Still, it'd be a minor ding to Gibbs' immense fantasy value if the situation were to drag on and affect his practice participation well into August.

Giovanni Manu

OT

Manu appeared in four games (one start) for the Lions during the 2025 regular season before being placed on injured reserve in mid-October due to a knee injury, which prevented him from playing the rest of the year. He's eligible to participate in training camp practice once he is fully healthy.

Christian Izien

S

It's unclear how severe of an illness Izien is dealing with, but he'll be eligible to participate in practice once he has fully recovered from his ailment. Izien signed a one-year contract with the Lions in March after spending the first three years of his NFL career with the Buccaneers, where he mostly operated on special teams while occasionally working in the secondary in 2025. He finished last year with 25 tackles (16 solo) and one forced fumble across 14 regular-season games.

Troy Reeder

LB

The veteran linebacker played more on special teams than defense in three of the past four seasons. Reeder projects for a similar role in Detroit.

Tyler Conklin

TE

Conklin signed a one-year contract with the team back in March, and it's currently unclear when he picked up his current injury. Once healthy, the 30-year-old is expected to compete with Brock Wright (neck) for backup snaps behind No. 1 TE Sam LaPorta.

Kerby Joseph

S

Joseph is continuing to battle a lingering knee injury that forced him to miss Detroit's final 13 games of the 2025 season. The 25-year-old could now be in danger of missing time during the upcoming campaign if he's unable to progress in his recovery.

Brian Branch

S

Branch's move to the PUP list doesn't come as a surprise, as the 24-year-old is continuing to recover from a torn Achilles suffered last December. While there's currently no concrete timeline on his return, he should resume his role as Detroit's starting strong safety once healthy.

Sam LaPorta

TE

LaPorta remains Detroit's top tight end after a 2025 regular season in which he was limited to nine games due to a herniated disc, and the arrival of new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing could be especially relevant for his fantasy outlook. Under Petzing, the Cardinals' offense leaned heavily on multiple TE packages last year, and Trey McBride put together a monster 126-1,239-11 campaign. As has been the case in recent seasons, the main thing clouding LaPorta's ceiling will be competition, with wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa, plus Pro Bowl RB Jahmyr Gibbs, all looking for targets from Jared Goff as well.

Isaac TeSlaa

WR

TeSlaa flashed touchdown upside as a rookie, finishing with 16 catches for 239 yards and six scores, including eight catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns over Detroit's final three regular-season games. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams remain Jared Goff's top two targets, with RB Jahmyr Gibbs and TE Sam LaPorta also highly involved, but Kalif Raymond's departure gives TeSlaa a clear path to the No. 3 WR role. If TeSlaa's added strength and cleaner route breaks help him separate more consistently, he could take a step forward in Year 2 despite Detroit's crowded offense. Head coach Dan Campbell also praised TeSlaa's maturity during mandatory minicamp.

Isiah Pacheco

RB

Running backs coach Tashard Choice has challenged Pacheco during spring activities to "love every possession," emphasizing the importance of maximizing a complementary workload behind Gibbs rather than focusing on snap counts. After injuries slowed Pacheco over the past two seasons in Kansas City, the 27-year-old is embracing his new opportunities and is expected to play a key role in Detroit's backfield. While Gibbs remains the Lions' clear workhorse, Pacheco's physical running style should earn him steady touches and give him significant fantasy upside if he's forced into a larger workload. Sione Vaki is also in the mix for reps behind Gibbs.

Jameson Williams

WR

While St. Brown and Williams will be reprising their key pass-catching roles in 2026, TeSlaa figures to see an uptick in volume in his second pro campaign. Though St. Brown is entrenched as Detroit's clear-cut WR1, Williams will have ample opportunity in his fifth campaign as a pro to make a mark from a fantasy perspective. The 2022 first-rounder is coming off a 2025 regular-season in which he recorded career-highs in catches (65), targets (102) and receiving yards (1,117) en route to notching seven TDs in 17 games.

Amon-Ra St. Brown

WR

As Twentyman notes, St. Brown, the NFL's leader in receptions (547) over the last five years, remains QB Jared Goff's security blanket ahead of the coming campaign and "was a tough cover for Lions defenders all throughout (the June 16-17) minicamp." After racking up 117 catches (on 172 targets, second in the league among WRs) for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games last season, St. Brown remains a high-level fantasy option in 2026, while continuing to pace a Detroit WR corps that also features Jameson Williams and Isaac TeSlaa.

Jackson Meeks

WR

Meeks inked a reserve/future contract with the Lions in January after spending the entire 2025 season on the team's practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster twice last year but didn't record any stats, playing five snaps on offense and 23 snaps on special teams. In order to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, Meeks will need to display impressive development at his new position, particularly as a blocker.

Lawrence Keys III

WR

Lawrence last spent time with the Bills in 2024 but was let go prior to the season due to a leg injury. The 26-year-old had one catch for 13 yards in his singular preseason game in Buffalo. The former Tulane prospect will compete for a spot on the Lions' 53-man roster as the offseason program continues.

Kendrick Law

WR

Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters in early June that Law tore his ACL during practice, so his move to IR comes as no surprise. Law, a 2026 fifth-round pick from Kentucky, appeared in 12 games during his final collegiate season, catching 53 passes for 540 yards and three touchdowns. In related moves, Detroit signed wideouts Tay Martin, Tarik Black and Lucky Jackson.

Lucky Jackson

WR

The 28-year-old was one of three receivers brought in by the Lions on Wednesday, joining Tay Martin and Tarik Black. Jackson last appeared in three regular-season games for the Vikings in 2023, failing to record an offensive stat across 35 total snaps (32 on special teams, three on offense).

Tarik Black

WR

Black spent time with the Dolphins during the 2025 offseason but ultimately failed to make the 53-man roster. His last in-game NFL action came with the Jets in 2021, when he caught one of two targets for 10 yards during one contest. Now with the Lions, expect the Texas product to compete for a reserve role as the offseason progresses.