The Detroit Lions’ first 53-man roster for the 2026 season came with more than a few head-turning calls, and the front office clearly isn’t done yet. With tweaks still possible over the next 48 hours, this is one of those rosters that can’t be judged as final just yet.
Still, the initial cuts told a story. Detroit leaned into some unexpected choices, and a handful of them stood out right away.
The most jarring might be the decision to carry five running backs. A few weeks ago, Dan Campbell said the RB4 battle between Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small was close.
Since then, though, Saylors has surged. He led the NFL in scrimmage yards this preseason, while Small had a rough stretch of availability, missing the first preseason game with an injury, leaving Game 2 with a concussion, and exiting Game 3 with another injury.
Even with that, the Lions kept Small. That makes him one of the biggest surprises on the roster.
Detroit also went light at receiver, keeping only four wideouts: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and Tay Martin.
That was already a shorter group than many expected, but the real shock came when Greg Dortch was released. Dortch had looked strong all August as a punt returner and had familiarity with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
When Tom Kennedy was also cut in the final wave, the obvious question became what Detroit plans to do at punt returner.
Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp had recently said the competition was between Dortch and Kennedy. So now the answer may be that one or both come back via the practice squad or the 53-man roster, or that someone else on the current roster takes over. Right now, it’s hard to see who that player is.
At tight end, the Lions chose Jackson Meeks over Tyler Conklin, which is another decision that raised eyebrows. Conklin had been working ahead of Meeks and looked steady as TE3 behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. Given how much Detroit is expected to use two- and three-tight end looks, keeping an experienced veteran seemed like the safer play, especially after last season’s injury issues with LaPorta and Wright.
Meeks had been viewed by many as a TE4 type, not the kind of player trusted to open the season as TE3. But he earned his place on special teams, and that appears to be where his role begins.
There may also be some roster mechanics at play. Because Conklin is a vested veteran, his salary would have become fully guaranteed if he were on the active roster in Week 1. The Lions could be working around that by placing him on the practice squad, elevating him in Week 1, and then re-signing him to the active roster in Week 2.
Detroit’s defensive line decisions pointed in a clear direction too: pass rush over bulk. Eric O’Neill, Ahmed Hassanein, Skyler Gill-Howard, and Mekhi Wingo all made the 53, and all four stood out in the preseason because of their ability to get after the quarterback. Their run defense remains a work in progress.
Meanwhile, bigger bodies like Anthony Lucas, Chris Smith, and Ben Stille were left off the roster. That looks like a real shift in what the Lions want from their reserve linemen. The team still has size where it matters - Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Levi Onwuzurike, and DJ Wonnum all bring it - but the depth pieces appear to be about juice and disruption.
Another notable call: Jimmy Rolder avoided injured reserve. When he got hurt, it looked like the Lions’ fourth-round rookie could be headed for a long absence. Instead, Detroit kept him on the roster, suggesting they believe he can return soon enough to matter this season.
Rolder had already told the media he believed he was close, and the Lions evidently agree. Even with enough linebacker depth to survive without him, they clearly value his development enough to keep him active rather than send him to IR for four weeks.
And then there was the case of Nick Whiteside, who was one of camp’s best stories for a while. He climbed from the bottom of the cornerback depth chart all the way to getting some first-team defensive reps. His physical style fit what Detroit wanted, and even after he cooled off late in camp, part of that came from being shifted around because of injuries at safety.
That versatility seemed like it might help him stick. Instead, the Lions went with players like Ennis Rakestraw, who carries more upside, and Khalil Dorsey, one of the team’s stronger special teams pieces.
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