The Detroit Lions may be getting a friendlier road to their season opener before they even get to Ford Field.
With preseason still rolling and two games left against the Washington Commanders and Indianapolis Colts, the Sept. 13 opener against the New Orleans Saints is already drawing a closer look. And based on the latest Saints injury updates, Detroit’s defense has reason to feel a little better about the assignment.
Two players expected to be central to New Orleans’ offense are likely to be sidelined to start the year: running back Alvin Kamara, who suffered an MCL injury, and 2026 No. 8 overall pick Jordyn Tyson, who could miss two months with a hamstring injury.
That’s a significant hit for a Saints offense that was supposed to lean on both players in its push for an NFC South division title. Kamara has been the engine of New Orleans’ ground game for years, piling up 7,250 rushing yards and 61 touchdowns in his NFL career.
Tyson entered the league with real buzz after starring at Arizona State, after beginning his college career at Colorado. He finished his collegiate run with 2,282 yards and 22 touchdowns.
For Detroit, those absences trim down the list of problems to solve in Week 1. The Lions defense will likely be dealing with its own personnel questions, with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch expected to be out for the opener. Even so, the matchup is looking a bit cleaner than it might have a week ago.
And the timing matters. A win to start the season would give the Lions a useful jolt before a Week 2 Thursday night meeting with the Buffalo Bills.
Detroit has had some success opening the year recently, winning two of its last three season openers. Last season, though, the Lions stumbled out of the gate with a 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
The Saints and Lions are set to kick off at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 13, with FOX carrying the game.
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Lions Get An Early Break In A Week 1 Matchup That Matters
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Lions Still Have Big Lineup Questions Heading Into Saturday
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The back end of the defense has only become trickier with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph on the physically unable to perform list, leaving Detroit to manage some early-season uncertainty at a premium position group. For a team that likes to build its identity on depth and versatility, these are the kinds of decisions that can shape how the first month looks, even if the final answers are still a little ways off. [Read more 🡒]