The Detroit Lions got a mostly encouraging update on the health front Sunday as training camp rolled into Day 4, with Alim McNeill and Christian Izien both back on the field.
McNeill, who left Friday’s practice early, returned for the next workout and said after practice that he had been kicked in the head on Friday and had to go through evaluations. He said he’s fine.
Izien also made his camp debut Sunday after dealing with the flu to open camp. He’s now off the Non-Football Illness list and got work with both the first and second teams at nickel and safety.
Not everyone was back, though. Jahmyr Gibbs was present on the field supporting the team as he continues his hold-in, marking the first time he had been seen out there with the group. He did not speak to the media after practice.
Tyler Conklin appears to be getting closer. He spent most of practice working with a trainer through higher-intensity drills, which usually comes before a player returns to practice itself. That suggests he may still need several more practices before rejoining the lineup.
The Lions are also taking their time with Bartch, who has not yet gotten into team drills as he works back from a 2025 injury. On Sunday, he was only briefly on the field with a trainer, while Juice Scruggs handled most of the first-team reps at left guard.
Rolder is expected to miss some time after the leg injury he suffered Friday. There were mixed reports about how serious it is, but defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard sounded optimistic about his eventual role, saying, “I absolutely see him contributing at some point,” Sheppard said.
At right tackle, Blake Miller worked through walkthroughs and individual drills but did not get any full-team reps or 1-on-1 work. It’s not clear whether that was planned rest or a precaution from the Lions. Larry Borom and Miles Frazier split first-team right tackle duties for most of practice.
In Other News...
Devin White Just Changed A Lions Camp Battle Fans Were Watching
Three days into training camp, the Lions are already sorting through a defense that keeps shifting a little as players move in and out of different lineups. Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson and Devin White have been among the names showing up with the starters, while the team has also been trimming and adjusting around the edges, including the release of Jay Tufele before camp as a sign of confidence in the group up front.
The more interesting wrinkle is in the linebacker room, where the competition for backup roles has not stayed still. Detroit is also keeping close watch on Jimmy Rolder, and any change there naturally affects how the rest of the depth chart sorts itself out. Whites arrival suddenly carries a little more weight in that mix, because the Lions are not just looking for bodies in camp, they are trying to settle who fits where once the real rotation starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Isaac TeSlaa Feeling Pressure In Lions Receiver Battle
Isaac TeSlaa has opened training camp in a spot that is starting to look uncomfortable, and the second-year wide receiver has not done much to settle the competition around him. He has been working through a tough stretch in one-on-one drills against teammates Rock Ya-Sin and Roger McCreary, even while flashing later in practice with a five-yard touchdown catch that showed why the Lions still have reason to keep watching.
The wider battle is getting crowded fast, with veterans Greg Dortch and Cedrick Wilson Jr. making strong cases for the fourth receiver job. Dan Campbell has also pointed to Dortchs value on returns while making clear the Lions like what they already have at the top of the depth chart, which only adds to the pressure on the rest of the group to separate before the roster picture starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Need One Crucial Change To Ease Pressure On Hutchinson
The Lions pass rush got plenty of volume in 2025, finishing with the ninth-most pressures in the NFL, but the distribution was telling. Most of the damage came off the edge from Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad, which is exactly why Dan Campbell has made it clear the next step is finding more push from the middle. Detroit wants to make life easier on Hutchinson by forcing quarterbacks to deal with pressure from inside as well as outside, and that puts added attention on the defensive tackle group.
Alim McNeill remains central to that plan as he works back from injury, with Tyleik Williams and Levi Onwuzurike also in line for opportunities to help change the shape of the rush. The concern for Detroit is not just adding sacks, but creating a front that can win in multiple ways and keep opponents from keying on Hutchinson snap after snap. If that balance starts to take hold, the Lions defense could look a lot less predictable when the games get tighter. [Read more 🡒]