Detroit Lions training camp kicks off in Allen Park on Wednesday, when the battle for starting jobs and roster spots will officially commence.
In preparation, we took a pass at projecting the Lions’ initial 53-man roster.
One quick note about injured players: When a player starts the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, they don’t count against the 53-man roster total but must miss at least the first four games.
Given the lack of positive recovery context for the three players Detroit placed on the PUP list to begin camp — tight end Tyler Conklin and safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph — we chose to project that they’ll start the regular season on the preseason PUP list because they were all unable to participate during the spring as well. Their statuses could, in theory, change for the better at any moment, but they’ve all been out for months, so with the information we have, we’re going to err on the side of them not being available.
However, in the case of left guard Christian Mahogany and safety Christian Izien, who were placed on Non-Football Injury/Illness lists on Tuesday but were not known to be dealing with something beforehand, we left them on. It’s an imperfect science, but hey.
With that out of the way, let’s try to project the Lions’ 53-man roster.
Quarterback (2)
In: Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater
Out: Luke Altmyer
The Lions have only kept three quarterbacks on the roster one time in the Dan Campbell era (2021), and Altmyer didn’t provide any concrete reasons in OTAs and minicamp to believe that’ll change this season. Regarding Bridgewater: the Lions will need to make sure the 33-year-old still has juice, but he’s the clear leader in the clubhouse for the backup job entering camp.
Running back (4)
In: Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors
Out: Jabari Small, Kye Robichaux
Beyond Gibbs, we can assume Pacheco and Vaki will make the roster. That would presumably leave one spot between Saylors, Small and Robichaux. Saylors, the UFL product, appeared in 16 games for Detroit last season and logged 281 snaps on special teams; he has the inside edge at RB4.
Wide receiver (5)
In: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Greg Dortch, Dominic Lovett
Out: Tarik Black, Malik Cunningham, Lucky Jackson, Tom Kennedy, Lawrence Keys, Tay Martin, Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Rookie receiver Kendrick Law was dealt an extremely unfortunate blow when he tore his ACL in the spring. But if we assume he was destined to earn a roster spot, as most drafted rookies do in Detroit, his absence could potentially open the door for someone who wouldn’t otherwise make the roster.
Kennedy is the most proven of the bubble players, but he’ll turn 30 on the first day of camp, and history has proven that the Lions don’t need to put him on the 53-man roster to keep him around. The next leading candidate is Lovett, a second-year player who needs to earn an enhanced role on special teams if he hopes to stick. Then there’s Cunningham, who spent nearly all of last season on Detroit’s practice squad; perhaps his familiarity with the staff helps him make the team out of camp.
Tight end (3)
In: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Jackson Meeks
Out: Miles Kitselman, Thomas Gordon, Zach Horton
PUP/NFI: Tyler Conklin
This battle likely would be cut and dry had Conklin not been placed on the PUP list Sunday, which opens the door for an outside challenger to make the roster if Conklin can’t get right before the end of camp. Meeks, last year’s preseason darling, is an obvious one to watch after making the transition from receiver to tight end.
Offensive tackle (4)
In: Penei Sewell, Blake Miller, Larry Borom, Giovanni Manu
Out: Devin Cochran, Melvin Priestly
After Sewell, Miller and Borom, the Lions will need to find an extra piece at offensive tackle. Manu is entering a make-or-break camp, but he was ahead of Cochran on the depth chart last season and could begin getting reps at guard, which would increase his value. Priestly, an undrafted rookie, will have his work cut out for him to make the team.
Interior offensive line (5)
In: Cade Mays, Christian Mahogany, Juice Scruggs, Tate Ratledge, Miles Frazier
Out: Ben Bartch, Seth McLaughlin, Michael Niese, Colby Sorsdal, Mason Miller
The Lions brought in Bartch and Scruggs to challenge Mahogany for the starting job at left guard, and both of the newbies have pretty ample starting experience. Then there’s Frazier, a second-year player who just completed his first healthy offseason in the pros. Assuming Mays, Mahogany and Ratledge are locks to make the roster, that likely leaves two spots for Bartch, Scruggs and Frazier and the field. We have Scruggs making it over Bartch because of his ability to be the team’s backup center.
Edge (3)
In: Aidan Hutchinson, D.J. Wonnum, Derrick Moore
Out: Ahmed Hassanein, Payton Turner, Anthony Lucas, Eric O’Neill
The Lions revamped the top of the depth chart at edge, but after the additions of Moore and Hassanein, there’s not much proven talent. That might not be an issue if the team’s projected edge defenders can stay healthy, since the Lions like to use some of their interior players — Levi Onwuzurike, Tyler Lacy, and others — out on the edge. But realistically, all of the players we currently have on the outside looking in have a path to making the roster if they can prove themselves worthy.
Interior defensive line (7)
In: Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, Skyler Gill-Howard, Tyler Lacy, Tyre West, Mekhi Wingo
Out: Myles Adams, Aidan Keanaaina, Chris Smith
We’re considering West a bubble player, but he has the benefit of being a drafted rookie. Wingo, entering Year 3 after being inactive for all but two games last season, has his work cut out for him, but he could find a home out on the edge.
Author’s note: The Lions released defensive tackle Jay Tufele, who we had making the roster, shortly after this story was posted. 0-for-1.
Linebacker (7)
In: Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Jimmy Rolder, Trevor Nowaske, Damone Clark, Troy Reeder
Out: Joe Bachie, Erick Hunter
Seven linebackers might be a bit rich, but the Lions’ lack of depth at corner, plus their injury situation at safety, will probably make it easier for some of these end-of-depth-chart players to make the roster, especially ones like Reeder and Clark, who have ample special-teams experience. But keep an eye on Hunter, one of the crown jewels of Detroit’s undrafted free agent haul.
Cornerback (6)
In: D.J. Reed, Ennis Rakestraw, Rock Ya-Sin, Keith Abney, Roger McCreary, Khalil Dorsey
Out: De’Shawn Rucker, Nick Whiteside
Whiteside or Rucker will have ample opportunity to make their mark in camp, but the top six players in Detroit’s cornerback room all feel like pretty safe bets to make the roster. Dorsey is a terrific gunner, McCreary will enter camp as the front-runner to win the starting job at nickel corner, and Abney is a touted rookie.
Safety (4)
In: Thomas Harper, Avonte Maddox, Christian Izien, Chuck Clark
Out: Dan Jackson, Loren Strickland, Aamaris Brown
PUP: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph
Like we said at the top: until we get a positive timetable update on Branch or Joseph, we’re projecting both to be on the PUP list to close camp. Behind them, the Lions have four serious contenders — and some under-the-radar candidates — who could realistically earn the right to start in their place, and we have them all making the roster in our end-of-summer projection. Izien was placed on the Non-Football Injury list with an illness on Tuesday, but barring something extremely serious, that likely won’t prevent him from being ready to start the season.
Specialists (3)
In: Jack Fox, Jake Bates, Hogan Hatten
Out: N/A
Not much debate here. We’re a little surprised the Lions didn’t bring in any competition for Jake Bates after he showed a bit of regression in 2025, but with only three specialists on the roster, our job here is easy.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions 53-man roster projection: Who’s in, who’s out entering camp?
Reporting by Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
