The Detroit Lions are barely into 2026 training camp, and the offensive side of the roster is already starting to sort itself out in a few unexpected ways. Injuries have nudged the depth chart around, and that’s opened the door for a handful of bubble players to make their case.
At quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement has turned the backup job into one of the more interesting battles in camp. The most common pick is veteran Josh Dobbs, but Erik Schlitt is alone in backing rookie Luke Altmyer to win the job.
Three other Altmyer votes are tied to the idea of carrying three quarterbacks, which would change the math entirely. Altmyer has done enough to stay in the conversation, but preseason play is likely going to decide where this goes.
Running back has its own wrinkle because of Sione Vaki’s injury. He’s been moved from “assumed in” to “on the bubble” after suffering a broken nose and a poked eye, and it’s still unclear whether that situation will push him to short-term IR.
Beyond that, the real debate is whether Detroit keeps a fourth back. Most of the staff - 9 of 11 - says yes, and right now everyone is leaning toward Saylors over Small.
The wide receiver picture is tightening, too. The WR 5/6 fight is getting real.
Cedrick Wilson came out of the gate strong, then cooled off and is now dealing with an unknown absence. Lovett, by contrast, started camp with the kind of struggles that can bury a receiver, but he’s started to turn things around over the last few practices and has earned more chances.
That’s left the staff split down the middle.
Tight end has been hit hard by injuries, which has made the room harder to read. Sam LaPorta is still working back.
Tyler Conklin is only now getting onto the field after missing the start of camp. And last week, the Lions lost two linebackers to injuries that sent them to IR, Kitselman and Firkser.
That combination makes Conklin’s roster spot look even safer, but it also has Jackson Meeks drawing real consideration as Detroit thinks about carrying a fourth tight end.
Meeks has been uneven, but there’s been enough growth to notice. If the Lions are still serious about using a heavy amount of 13 personnel, then keeping a fourth tight end would make a lot of sense.
Up front, the tackle group looks more settled. Nobody on the staff thinks Detroit should keep a fourth offensive tackle, and the top three appear locked in. Miles Frazier’s ability to move outside only makes it tougher for Sorsdal or Cochran to break through.
The interior offensive line is the one area that could still shift. Scruggs has missed a few practices for undisclosed reasons, and it’s still not clear whether that’s tied to something serious.
Bartch has also been out for nearly two weeks and is only now getting back into some team work. Still, Dan Campbell sounded cautiously encouraged on Sunday.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t hopeful he would have been out there more than now, but I also know there’s no setbacks, anything like that and he’s a veteran guy,” Campbell said. “From what we know about him and the short time we’ve been around him, he’s a guy that, it means something to him. He’s smart, he’s conscientious, all those things.”
“… There’s a reason he’s here, we think he brings outstanding competition. He’s got a shot, but certainly he’s behind the mark.
I mean, he’s missed some days and that’s just part of coming off an injury. That’s the hand you’re dealt.”
In Other News...
Lions Depth Chart Just Put Key Camp Battles In The Spotlight
The first unofficial depth chart always tells you something about where a coaching staff stands, even if the picture is far from final. Ahead of the 2026 NFL preseason, the Lions put their latest roster hierarchy on paper and, as expected, the offensive line and wide receiver spots remain the most interesting areas to watch as camp rolls on. Veterans and rookies are still jockeying for position, and a few of those battles look far from settled.
On the line, the early pecking order leans toward experience, with Larry Borom and Juice Scruggs both sitting above challengers at their respective spots. There is also competition showing up at linebacker and nickel cornerback, where Detroit has a mix of proven depth and players trying to carve out larger roles. Roger McCreary being listed as the top nickel cornerback is another small but meaningful clue about how the Lions are sorting through a crowded summer competition. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Camp Is Creating A Defensive Roster Squeeze Fast
Training camp in Allen Park is starting to sort out the Detroit Lions defensive picture, and fast. Injuries and practice performance have already begun to reshape the depth chart, with battles still simmering at defensive end, tackle, linebacker, cornerback and safety as coaches sort through who fits and who is running out of time.
Devin White and Nick Whiteside have both helped themselves in a crowded group, while other names are drifting closer to the bubble as the roster takes on a more defined look. Roger McCrearys situation is part of that shifting mix, and the next few practices should say plenty about which defenders are truly secure before the pressure gets even tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Cornerback Battle Suddenly Looks Trouble For Ennis Rakestraw
Ennis Rakestraws first training camp has not gone as smoothly as the Lions likely hoped, and the early rotation is starting to reflect that. After an inconsistent opening stretch, the cornerback has been spending more time with the second-team defense while Nick Whiteside has worked into a more prominent role on the first unit, a noticeable shift in a room the Lions expected to be one of the more competitive parts of camp.
Dan Campbell has made it clear the team is still searching for the right mix at corner, even with some optimism around the secondary overall despite the injuries and setbacks that have hit the group. The addition of Trevon Diggs only underscores how much Detroit wants the competition to stay high, and for Rakestraw, the next few practices may go a long way toward determining whether this is just an early camp hiccup or something more concerning. [Read more 🡒]