Detroit’s first preseason game brought an early scare for Jacob Saylors, with the Lions running back and returner leaving the field after an apparent lower-leg injury in the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Saylors popped off a 27-yard run before going down on the play, where he was tackled by Bengals defender Ceyair Wright. He then limped to the sideline after the run, and TV play-by-play announcer Mike Watts described what he saw on the broadcast: "Looks like a lower leg (injury)," TV play-by-play announcer Mike Watts said during the broadcast. "Struggling to put weight on it after that 27-yard pickup."
The injury cut short a player who was coming off a strong 2025 season on special teams. Saylors led the Lions and ranked ninth in the NFL with 897 kickoff return yards in 2025.
He wasn’t the only Detroit player to leave with a concern. Earlier in the game, Lions defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. also suffered an apparent arm injury and exited.
The injuries added to a week that had already brought several health updates from Dan Campbell. Earlier in the week, the Lions head coach said center Cade Mays sustained a wrist injury that would keep him out for a significant amount of time. Campbell also said backup running back Isiah Pacheco is dealing with an MCL sprain, though he is expected back for Week 1 of the regular season.
Meanwhile, safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and cornerback Brian Branch (achilles) remain on the physically unable to perform list, but Campbell said both are expected back for Week 1.
In Other News...
Boye Mafe Is Already Changing More Than The Bengals Pass Rush
The Bengals brought in Boye Mafe this offseason to give their pass rush and defensive front a needed boost, and early in camp he has already started to look like more than just another addition. Myles Murphy has taken notice of Mafes high football IQ and the veteran presence he brings, calling out the way he has fit into the room and helped set a sharper tone during practices.
Murphy has also been part of that stronger showing on the field, with both players standing out in camp and giving Cincinnati a more confident look up front. For a defense that wanted more consistency and disruption, Mafes impact appears to be reaching beyond the obvious box score benefits, giving the Bengals a steadier edge as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Evan McPherson May Be Giving Bengals Exactly What They Need
Evan McPhersons camp has opened the way the Bengals would have hoped after a season in which the kicker still showed plenty of touch but left a little room for doubt. He enters 2026 coming off a strong 2025 campaign, and so far in training camp he has been clean across the board, with the operation around him looking smooth thanks to punter/holder Ryan Rehkow and long snapper William Wagner.
The encouraging part for Cincinnati is not just the consistency, but the range McPherson has flashed while doing it. He has already hit from 65 yards in practice, a reminder of how valuable he can be when the offense stalls or games tighten late, and it gives the Bengals reason to believe there may still be another level to find after some past inconsistency. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Marr Chase Sees A Different Edge In Joe Burrow This Year
Joe Burrows numbers in 2024 already put him in the thick of the MVP conversation, but the more interesting part for the Bengals might be what JaMarr Chase is seeing from his quarterback away from the stat sheet. Chase said in an interview that he wants to chase an NFL touchdown record, and he pointed to a different kind of edge from Burrow this offseason, one that feels more aggressive and more demanding than before.
For Cincinnati, that kind of internal push matters because Burrow and Chase remain tightly linked to everything the offense wants to become. If Burrow is driving the standard higher in the spring and summer, and Chase is setting his sights on something historic, the Bengals can at least feel good about the competitive tone heading into the next season. The bigger question, as always, is how far that edge can carry them once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]