For those that bleed Honolulu blue, it’s been a long winter, spring and summer.
But, that long wait is nearly over. The Lions’ rookies will report to training camp next weekend on Saturday, July 25 and then veterans will report on Tuesday, July 28. From there, it’ll be off and running in the Lions’ 2026 training camp from the Meijer Performance Center.
That’s music to diehard Lions’ fans ears.
With the 2026 campaign nearly upon us, CBS took a look at the Lions’ best- and worst-case scenarios. Detroit captured a fourth straight winning season with its 9-8 finish in 2025, but the Lions also finished in the NFC North cellar and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season.
CBS’ Tyler Sullivan examined the Lions’ best- and worst-case scenarios for the 2026 NFL season.
Lions’ best-case scenario in 2026 NFL season
Here’s your glass half full scenario:
After a down year in 2025, the Lions get right back into the thick of the Super Bowl conversation. The secondary returns healthy after an injury-riddled campaign, while the offense hums with Jahmyr Gibbs playing at an Offensive Player of the Year level. Detroit reclaims the NFC North, winning the division for the third time in four seasons.
Lions’ worst-case scenario in 2026 NFL season
And your glass half empty scenario:
The arrow continues to point in the wrong direction in the Motor City. Jared Goff starts to look like a quarterback entering the latter stages of his career, and the hiring of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing doesn’t result in any substantial improvements. The defense again ranks in the bottom half of the league in key categories, and the Lions miss the playoffs for the second straight year, begging the question of whether their window has closed entirely.
ESPN tabbed first-round 2026 NFL Draft pick Blake Miller as the Lions’ X-factor. Miller’s ability or inability to be a plug-and-play right tackle will go a long way toward determining how much progress Detroit makes up front. NFL free agency acquisition Cade Mays needs to be a difference maker, too.
Even with its offensive line regression and shortcomings up front last season, the Lions’ offense ranked tied-fourth in scoring offense (28.3 points per game), fifth in total offense (373.2 yards per game), third in passing offense (253.1 passing yards per game) and 14th in rushing offense (120.1 rushing yards per game).
It feels pretty reliable that Detroit’s offense will remain one of the league’s most explosive in 2026. While there’s questions to be answered offensively, the health of Detroit’s defense and the state of its secondary feels like the most important piece to deciding which direction the Lions’ 2026 season ultimately heads.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: CBS’ best-, worst-case scenarios for Detroit Lions’ 2026 NFL season
Reporting by Josh Helmer, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Josh Helmer, Lions Wire | USA TODAY Network
