The Detroit Lions got a clean bill of health in the most important place on Tuesday: nearly everyone was out there when practice ramped up for Sunday’s season opener against the New Orleans Saints at Ford Field.
With the team moving into its first full-workload session of the week, the biggest question was whether any key players would be held back. According to league sources, Detroit had every member of its active roster in attendance and participating. The only player not on the field was practice squad offensive tackle Devin Cochran.
Safety Thomas Harper, who had been dealing with an injury near the end of training camp, was back on the field Monday afternoon, and Dan Campbell sounded optimistic about his workload heading into Tuesday.
“Harper's gonna be running around out there today. And then, hopefully everything goes well today, we see him taking more reps tomorrow,” Campbell said.
“We're anticipating he'll be ready to go. We feel good about that room right now.”
Campbell’s comments came in response to a broader question about the safety group, and he did not offer a specific update on Christian Izien.
Detroit also continues to manage a handful of injured players on reserve lists. Center Cade Mays, who has a wrist issue, was placed on the injury list on cut day with a designation to return. Running back Isiah Pacheco was added to injured reserve in the days that followed.
At safety, Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are still sidelined on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Campbell said Joseph had returned to the building after spending time away because of a personal matter.
Elsewhere, a recent Sports Illustrated preseason roundup pointed to the Lions having settled on a dependable backup for Jared Goff. After Teddy Bridgewater retired unexpectedly, Detroit signed Josh Dobbs, and he made his case in the final preseason game against the Colts.
As Eva Geitheim wrote, “After Teddy Bridgewater suddenly retired, the Lions signed Josh Dobbs, who solidified himself as the team’s backup quarterback behind Jared Goff. In the final preseason game against the Colts-a contest that saw Indianapolis play some of its starters-Dobbs completed 15-of-19 passes for 128 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks in his best preseason performance. Goff has been durable for the Lions and has not missed a game since the 2021 season, his first in Detroit, but the Lions have found a good backup.”
In Other News...
Lions Receiver Decision Suddenly Carries Bigger Weight For The Opener
The Lions receiver room looked a little thinner than expected when Detroit trimmed down to four wideouts on its initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season, but the first-week picture is already taking shape. Dan Campbell said veteran Tom Kennedy is expected to play in Week 1, and the staff is looking at him not just as a depth option on offense but as a possible kick returner too.
Dave Fipp has also weighed in on the return-game plan, underscoring that kickoff and punt duties are part of the bigger roster puzzle rather than separate afterthoughts. With only a handful of receivers on the active roster, Kennedys role carries more significance than it might have in camp, and the opener will offer the first real look at how Detroit intends to balance his value on offense with what he can do on special teams. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Receiver Depth Suddenly Looks Like A Real Roster Concern
The Lions entered the week with a thinner wide receiver room than they probably expected after roster cuts, and the picture looks more important when you zoom out beyond Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Detroit is carrying just four receivers right now, which leaves little margin if injuries or another shakeup hit, and it has pushed the depth conversation into the foreground as the team tries to protect an offense that relies heavily on timing and spacing.
One name that naturally comes up in that context is Darius Slayton, who was just released by the Giants and has a history with Lions passing game coordinator Mike Kafka. He would bring experience and another layer to the position, but Detroit is also working within financial limits that could make a move tricky. For a team that wants to stay aggressive without overextending, the fit is obvious enough to keep watching, even if the path to actually making it happen is not especially clean. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Goff And Detroits New OC Face Immediate Pressure In Week 1
The Lions have spent the offseason trying to keep the offensive machine humming, and the early signs from Jared Goffs partnership with new coordinator Drew Petzing have been encouraging. Dan Campbell has praised the way the two have worked together, with Goff also speaking positively about Petzings play-calling and the confidence he has brought to the job, a useful sign for a team that wants continuity even with a new voice shaping the offense.
Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints will be the first real test of how quickly that relationship translates from the meeting room to the field. Petzing does not need to reinvent anything for Detroit, but he does need to show he can fit into what Goff does best while still leaving his own imprint, and that balance is already going to matter when the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]