The Detroit Lions are still being treated like a team that can get into the postseason and make some noise, even if they’re not sitting anywhere near the Super Bowl favorite tier.
That’s the basic read after the first wave of NFL power rankings following initial roster cuts, where plenty of pundits placed Detroit outside the top 10 despite all the offensive firepower on the roster. The Lions’ young core still gets plenty of respect league-wide, but the broader perception seems to be that they have more to prove before they can climb into the very top group.
One of the biggest reasons to keep Detroit in the conversation is Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The fourth-round pick from the 2021 draft is already sitting on 547 career receptions, and he’s in position to keep chasing history this season. He could move past Justin Jefferson’s 579 catches for the most receptions by a player in his first six NFL seasons, a mark that could fall near midseason.
St. Brown also has a shot to become the first player with at least 100 receptions in five of his first six seasons.
The concern, though, is on the defensive back end. Both starting safeties, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, are on the physically unable to performs list and will miss at least the first four games.
Branch is working back from a torn Achilles, while Joseph is dealing with a knee injury that sidelined him for the final 11 games of last season. Detroit also placed center Cade Mays on injured reserve, and Seth McLaughlin is now set to step into the starting lineup.
That means the Lions will open at home against New Orleans without either projected starting safety, a rough early test for a defense already dealing with key absences.
Still, not everyone is backing away from Detroit. One insider take pointed to the same issue that has hovered over the roster, saying, "Injuries to the back end of their defense are a big problem, and they always seem a pass-rusher short to me. But there is a lot of talent on this offense and having a year now to get over the loss of Ben Johnson should serve them better."
The betting market still sees plenty of upside. Based on Super Bowl odds of +1900, the Lions came in ninth in the power ranking. That outlook came with a strong endorsement: "This may be the year for Dan Campbell and Co., and I'm very bullish on the Lions, who have the easiest schedule in the NFL.A fourth-place finish (at 9-8) last season has set the Lions up with a bunch of easy games, and they still finished last season in sixth in EPA/Play on offense and 14th in EPA/Play on defense.
The Lions have a ton of talent on offense, and if they can stay healthier than they did last year defensively, they're an intriguing worst-to-first bet in the NFC North. At +1900, they're one of the better values on the board."
Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
In Other News...
Lions Add To Crowded O Line Picture With Another Intriguing Move
The Lions kept adding to an already busy offensive line mix by signing former Buccaneers lineman Elijah Klein to the practice squad. A sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Klein has already appeared in 26 games with one start, giving Detroit another young blocker with some pro experience to evaluate as the roster takes shape.
Detroit has plenty of offensive linemen around the building between the active roster and the practice squad, so this is less about a clear immediate role and more about creating competition and depth. For Klein, the next step will be figuring out where he fits in a group that is already crowded, which makes his path with the Lions worth watching as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Already Have A New Reason To Feel Great About Blake Miller
The Lions went into the preseason looking to sort out the right side of their offensive line, and Blake Miller has wasted little time making the decision easy. Detroit took the tackle with the No. 17 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, then watched him work his way into the starting right tackle job by outplaying veteran Larry Borom and earning steady praise from the coaching staff and the media.
Miller has looked comfortable in both phases of the game, showing the kind of power in the run game and reliability in pass protection that can settle an offense quickly. For a team that values stability up front, it is an encouraging early sign that the rookie is not just holding his own, but pushing the Lions to feel better about a spot they needed to get right. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch Could Give Lions Defense A Huge Early Lift
Brian Branchs arrival on the sideline this fall is still expected to come with a delay, but the Lions have reason to believe the wait wont be a long one. The versatile defensive back is slated to open the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after the Achilles injury he suffered in December 2025, a setback that would normally cloud a players early-season availability much more heavily than this one appears to.
Branchs recovery has reportedly been moving in the right direction, and there is already a sense he could be back at practice after only two weeks on PUP. If that timetable holds, Detroit could be talking about getting one of its most valuable defensive pieces back by Week 6 or Week 7, a boost that would matter even more given how much the unit leans on his range and flexibility compared with the situation around Kerby Joseph. [Read more 🡒]