The Lions start their two day minicamp on June 16. On the watchlist are ten players who were limited or out at the end of OTA’s due to various injuries and illnesses – from minor to major. The players are ranked starting with most likely to upgrade their health and participation status.
Here are #6 through #10 as excerpted from Detroit Lions 2026 Minicamp Watchlist: Recovering Players:
#6 Ben Bartch, OG
According to Dan Campbell, Bartch is still recovering from a season-ending Lisfranc surgery, which is why he did not practice in OTA. While the absence may be precautionary, it’s still worth watching.
Lisfranc recoveries can carry uncertainty – as explained in my Bartch Medical Report where I gave him a 9/10 medical concern level.
#7 Sam LaPorta, TE
LaPorta was limited to jog-throughs at OTA. There isn’t much reason to aggravate the spine before the season, even though he might be able to play a game right now.
He should be ready for the start of the season as he heads into the final year of his contract. However, durability will be a concern – as explained in my Sam LaPorta Postseason Analysis.
#8 Brian Branch, S
Branch is over 6 months post Achilles and did not practice in OTA. He posted some low-level rehab work recently on social media. His rehab workouts should be ramping up to sprints and jumping soon, if he hasn’t already.
Dan Campbell squashed the dreams of an early return in September. Mid-season is more realistic.
#9 Kerby Joseph, S
Joseph is in mileage-preservation mode right now, which is why he did not practice throughout OTA. This is consistent with the suspected diagnosis of articular cartilage damage – detailed in Part 2 of the Kerby Joseph Knee Analysis.
As Dan Campbell stated during OTA, we won’t see him do anything strenuous until training camp at the earliest.
#10 Kendrick Law, WR
The only major injury to the team so far this offseason has been to this 5th-round rookie WR. While it’s a long 10-11 month recovery, it shouldn’t have a significant impact to the rest of his career.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions 2026 Minicamp Injury Watchlist: Recovering Players 6-10
Reporting by Jimmy Liao, MD, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
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By Jimmy Liao, MD, Lions Wire | USA TODAY Network
