The Detroit Lions enter training camp with high expectations, but also questions surrounding exactly how the 2026 roster will shake out. As the team takes the field to forge the new squad, here’s what you need to know about every player:
0: RB Jahmyr Gibbs
Vitals: 5 feet 9, 202 pounds.
The buzz: Has an NFL-record 49 total touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons and will play an even bigger role on offense this fall.
1: WR Jameson Williams
Vitals: 6-1, 184.
The buzz: Speedy receiver has upped his receptions and yards each of past three seasons.
2: QB Luke Altmyer
Vitals: 6-1, 213.
The buzz: Undrafted rookie from Illinois battling for backup QB job.
2: DB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Vitals: 5-11, 192.
The buzz: Second-round pick in 2024 limited to 46 defensive snaps past two seasons because of injuries.
3: P Jack Fox
Vitals: 6-2, 218.
The buzz: First-team All-Pro in 2024 had two touchbacks in 56 punts last year.
4: DB D.J. Reed
Vitals: 5-9, 190.
The buzz: Lions’ top cornerback missed time with a severe hamstring injury in 2025.
5: QB Teddy Bridgewater
Vitals: 6-2, 217.
The buzz: Back as the Lions’ No. 2 QB after spending last season with Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
8: WR Greg Dortch
Vitals: 5-7, 183.
The buzz: No. 4 WR and return man spent past three seasons with new Lions OC Drew Petzing with the Arizona Cardinals.
9: DL Derrick Moore
Vitals: 6-3, 260.
The buzz: Second-round pick had a team-leading 10 sacks for Michigan last year.
10: RB Isiah Pacheco
Vitals: 5-10, 210.
The buzz: Physical runner expected to spell Jahmyr Gibbs on offense.
11: LB Damone Clark
Vitals: 6-2, 240.
The buzz: Could force his way into linebacker rotation because of coverage ability.
11: WR Lucky Jackson
Vitals: 6-1, 185.
The buzz: One of four UFL receivers Lions signed late in spring.
12: WR Tarik Black
Vitals: 6-3, 213.
The buzz: One-time Michigan product played with Jackson on UFL-champion Louisville Kings.
12: DB Thomas Harper
Vitals: 5-8, 195.
The buzz: Played well in nine fill-in starts at safety for Lions last season.
13: TE Jackson Meeks
Vitals: 6-2, 235.
The buzz: Switching to tight end full-time after signing with the Lions as a UDFA receiver.
14: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
Vitals: 6-0, 202.
The buzz: His 547 catches are the most in the NFL since he entered the league as a fourth-round pick in 2021.
15: WR Malik Cunningham
Vitals: 6-1, 190.
The buzz: Former college QB at Louisville is vying for a backup job at receiver.
16: QB Jared Goff
Vitals: 6-4, 217.
The buzz: Has four straight 4,000-yard passing seasons; Sam Darnold is the only other QB to hit that mark in just the past two.
17: DB Dan Jackson
Vitals: 6-1, 195.
The buzz: Seventh-round pick in 2025 missed entire rookie season with leg injury.
17: WR Tay Martin
Vitals: 6-3, 186.
The buzz: Led UFL’s Columbus Aviators in receptions (42) and receiving yards (483) in the spring.
18: WR Isaac TeSlaa
Vitals: 6-4, 214.
The buzz: Had six TDs on 16 catches last season and should serve as Lions’ No. 3 receiver this fall.
19: WR Dominic Lovett
Vitals: 5-10, 185: Seventh-round pick last year in the mix for No. 5 receiver job.
21: DB Roger McCreary
Vitals: 5-11, 190.
The buzz: Free agent addition expected to man slot cornerback position this fall.
23: DB Rock Ya-Sin
Vitals: 5-11, 195.
The buzz: Journeyman cornerback could replace Terrion Arnold in starting role.
24: DB Loren Strickland
Vitals: 5-10, 206.
The buzz: Appeared in nine games, mostly on special teams, past two seasons.
25: RB Jacob Saylors
Vitals: 5-11, 195.
The buzz: Regular contributor on special teams in 2025 after two seasons with UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.
26: RB Jabari Small
Vitals: 5-11, 208: Competing for No. 4 RB job with Saylors and Kye Robichaux.
27: DB Christian Izien
Vitals: 5-10, 206.
The buzz: Versatile defensive back could fill starting spot at safety after playing mostly on special teams with Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025.
28: DB Keith Abney II
Vitals: 5-9, 187.
The buzz: Rookie fifth-round pick was a youth roller skating champion.
29: DB Avonte Maddox
Vitals: 5-9, 191.
The buzz: Detroit native back for his second season with hometown team.
30: DB Khalil Dorsey
Vitals: 5-8, 190.
The buzz: One of the NFL’s top gunners has missed time with broken leg/wrist past two years.
31: DB Kerby Joseph
Vitals: 6-0, 210.
The buzz: NFL leader with 20 interceptions past four seasons, but career is in flux because of knee injury.
32: DB Brian Branch
Vitals: 6-0, 203.
The buzz: Tore his Achilles tendon last December. One of the NFL’s best safeties when healthy.
33: RB Sione Vaki
Vitals: 5-11, 216.
The buzz: Core special teams player but limited as a running back with seven carries in first two NFL seasons.
34: RB Kye Robichaux
Vitals: 6-0, 213.
The buzz: Injured last summer after signing with the Lions as an undrafted free agent.
35: LB Joe Bachie
Vitals: 6-2, 238.
The buzz: Former Michigan State standout likely will have to make roster on special teams.
36: DB Chuck Clark
Vitals: 6-0, 210.
The buzz: Heady veteran gives the Lions insurance at safety after spending first nine seasons in the AFC.
38: DB Nick Whiteside
Vitals: 6-1, 200.
The buzz: Local product vying for backup job after splitting time between active roster, practice squad in 2025.
39: K Jake Bates
Vitals: 5-10, 205.
The buzz: Owner of one of NFL’s strongest legs but was just 4-for-9 on 50-plus-yard field goals last year.
41: LB Jimmy Rolder
Vitals: 6-2, 238.
The buzz: Fourth-round pick out of Michigan could push for rotational role at linebacker with strong camp.
42: DB Aamaris Brown
Vitals: 5-10, 198.
The buzz: Undrafted rookie made college stops at UNLV, South Florida and Kansas State.
43: DB De’Shawn Rucker
Vitals: 6-0, 195.
The buzz: Speedy undrafted rookie joins Brown as a top candidate for practice squad.
44: LB Malcolm Rodriguez
Vitals: 5-11, 230.
The buzz: Favorite to replace Alex Anzalone at weakside linebacker two years removed from torn ACL.
46: LB Jack Campbell
Vitals: 6-5, 246.
The buzz: First-team All-Pro signed four-year extension that made him the NFL’s second-highest-paid linebacker this offseason.
47: Anthony Firkser
Vitals: 6-2, 245.
The buzz: Journeyman tight end back for a third stint with the Lions after catching eight passes last season.
48: LB Erick Hunter
Vitals: 6-2, 224.
The buzz: Undrafted rookie out of Morgan State has good coverage ability at linebacker.
49: LS Hogan Hatten
Vitals: 6-2, 239.
The buzz: Third-year long snapper has seven special-teams tackles in his career.
50: DT Skyler Gill-Howard
Vitals: 6-0, 280.
The buzz: Rookie sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech could give the interior pass rush more bite.
51: LB Troy Reeder
Vitals: 6-3, 245.
The buzz: Reeder spent six of his first seven NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, predominantly playing on special teams.
52: DL Tyre West
Vitals: 6-1, 190.
The buzz: Rookie seventh-round pick out of Tennessee collected 10 sacks in 48 games with the Volunteers.
53: LB Trevor Nowaske
Vitals: 6-3, 237.
The buzz: Canton native who re-signed with the team this offseason and has become one of the Lions’ top backups at linebacker.
54: DT Alim McNeill
Vitals: 6-2, 310.
The buzz: Struggled to regain top form in 2025 after returning mid-season from a torn ACL and meniscus suffered the previous year.
55: LB Derrick Barnes
Vitals: 6-0, 240.
The buzz: The team’s strongside linebacker, Barnes started all 17 games last season.
58: OT Penei Sewell
Vitals: 6-5, 335.
The buzz: Widely viewed as the best player at his position, the three-time All-Pro selection is flipping to the left side to become Goff’s blindside protector.
59: OT Giovanni Manu
Vitals: 6-7, 345.
The buzz: The former 2024 fourth-round pick, who has appeared in just four regular-season games, is fighting to keep his spot on the roster and is now expected to miss approximately three months with an undiclosed injury.
60: DT Aidan Keanaaina
Vitals: 6-3, 320.
The buzz: One of the Lions’ more high-profile rookie undrafted free agents, Keanaaina still has to beat the odds to make the team.
61: EDGE Anthony Lucas
Vitals: 6-5, 265.
The buzz: During organized team activities, Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard called the UDFA pass rusher a “game wrecker.”
62: OL Michael Niese
Vitals: 6-5, 300.
The buzz: Since joining the team in 2024, Niese has mainly played on special teams when he has been on the active roster.
63: OL Mason Miller
Vitals: 6-7, 318.
The buzz: Miller spent last season on the practice squad after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2025.
64: C Cade Mays
Vitals: 6-6, 325.
The buzz: The most significant free-agent acquisition this offseason, Mays was tabbed as the replacement for Graham Glasgow.
65: C Seth McLaughlin
Vitals: 6-4, 304.
The buzz: A starter at Alabama and Ohio State, McLaughlin spent his rookie year on Cincinnati’s practice squad before signing with the Lions in January
66: EDGE Eric O’Neill
Vitals: 6-2, 250.
The buzz: An undrafted free agent who played at three college programs, O’Neill is a longshot to make the cut.
69: OL Tate Ratledge
Vitals: 6-6, 322.
The buzz: During his rookie season in 2025, the former second-round pick started all 17 games and distinguished himself as a solid run blocker.
70: OL Juice Scruggs
Vitals: 6-3, 320.
The buzz: Acquired from Houston in the David Montgomery trade this past March, Scruggs has made starts at all three interior positions during his NFL career.
71: OL Miles Frazier
Vitals: 6-6, 325.
The buzz: An offseason knee injury delayed his rookie debut until Week 14, but the 2025 fifth-round pick eventually saw some time left guard, where he logged 46 snaps.
73: OL Christian Mahogany
Vitals: 6-3, 330.
The buzz: The former sixth-round pick was the team’s starting left guard last season, but there is no guarantee he keeps his job.
74: OL Melvin Priestly
Vitals: 6-4, 316.
The buzz: The rookie undrafted free agent started 41 games at tackle in college but he has been working at guard since joining the Lions.
75: OL Colby Sorsdal
Vitals: 6-6, 315.
The buzz: A 2023 fifth-round pick, Sorsdal missed all of last season with a leg injury and hasn’t played a single offensive snap since he was a rookie.
76: OT Blake Miller
Vitals: 6-6, 320.
The buzz: The top pick of the Lions’ 2026 draft class is projected to start at right tackle this year.
77: OT Devin Cochran
Vitals: 6-7, 322.
The buzz: Cochran, who spent last season on the Lions’ practice squad, has appeared in nine games during his NFL career.
78: OL Ben Bartch
Vitals: 6-6, 318.
The buzz: Signed in March, Bartch could push for a starting role at left guard.
79: OT Larry Borom
Vitals: 6-5, 325.
The buzz: A former Birmingham Brother Rice standout, Borom is expected to serve as the Lions’ top backup at tackle.
80: WR Lawrence Keys
Vitals: 5-11, 175.
The buzz: Signed in June, Keys was one of the top return specialists in the UFL this past season.
82: TE Thomas Gordon
Vitals: 6-4, 250.
The buzz: Gordon signed with the Lions in January following a brief stint on the Chicago Bears practice squad late last season.
83: TE Tyler Conklin
Vitals: 6-3, 245.
The buzz: The Macomb County native signed with the team in March following stints with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers.
84: TE Miles Kitselman
Vitals: 6-5, 251.
The buzz: Undrafted rookie free agent played at both Alabama and Tennessee during his college career.
85: WR Tom Kennedy
Vitals: 5-10, 195.
The buzz: The former pro lacrosse player is now the longest-tenured Lion, having joined the team in 2019.
86: WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Vitals: 6-2, 205.
The buzz: Wilson has appeared in 93 games during his NFL career but will have to beat out several players for a roster spot.
87: TE Sam LaPorta
Vitals: 6-3, 245.
The buzz: The Lions sorely missed LaPorta after a herniated disk caused him to miss the final eight games last season, but the good news is he’s back on the field.
88: WR Kendrick Law
Vitals: 5-11, 203.
The buzz: The rookie fifth-round pick suffered a torn ACL during an offseason OTA practice in June and is on the injured reserve list.
89: TE Brock Wright
Vitals: 6-5, 254.
The buzz: Entering his sixth season, Wright is expected to reprise his role as the team’s blocking tight end.
90 DT Chris Smith
Vitals: 6-1, 320.
The buzz: The former Cranbrook-Kingswood standout appeared in five games in 2024 but never got on the field last season.
91: DT Tyleik Williams
Vitals: 6-3, 325.
The buzz: The 2025 first-round pick started 10 games last season and that number should increase now that DJ Reader is no longer on the team.
92: EDGE Payton Turner
Vitals: 6-6, 272.
The buzz: A former first-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, the oft-injured Turner signed with the Lions in March after breaking his ribs last August and missing the 2025 regular season.
93: DL Tyler Lacy
Vitals: 6-4, 300.
The buzz: Lacy started four games last season and could play significant snaps at the big end spot opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
94: DT Mekhi Wingo
Vitals: 6-0, 282.
The buzz: : The 2024 sixth-round pick could be in danger of losing his roster spot after he made just two appearances last season.
95: DT Levi Onwuzurike
Vitals: 6-3, 304.
The buzz: A former 2021 second-round pick, Onwuzurike missed all of 2025 after undergoing ACL repair surgery.
96: DT Myles Adams
Vitals: 6-2, 299.
The buzz: Adams, who was re-signed in March, spent the entire 2025 season on the Lions’ practice squad.
97: EDGE Aidan Hutchinson
Vitals: 6-7, 268.
The buzz: One of the NFL’s premier pass rushers, Hutchinson led the Lions with 14½ sacks and 100 pressures last season.
98: EDGE DJ Wonnum
Vitals: 6-5, 262.
The buzz: One of the Lions’ top free-agent acquisitions this offseason, Wonnum was signed in the aftermath of Al-Quadin Muhammad’s departure.
99: EDGE Ahmed Hassanein
Vitals: 6-2, 275.
The buzz: After becoming the first Egyptian drafted in the NFL, the charismatic 2025 sixth-round pick suffered a pectoral injury last August and never appeared in a regular-season game.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions training camp roster: What to know about every player
Reporting by Dave Birkett and Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Dave Birkett and Rainer Sabin, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
