The Detroit Lions got back to work Thursday at the Allen Park Performance Center, and the injury picture stayed relatively clean as Week 1 approaches.
All players on the active roster were present, and only three were listed as limited: Christian Izien, Derrick Moore and Mekhi Wingo. Izien was dealing with a groin issue, Moore with a hamstring, and Wingo with a groin problem. Sam LaPorta, meanwhile, has not appeared on the injury report at all this week, a good sign as the Lions get set to open the 2026 season.
Before practice, Detroit’s coordinators met with local reporters and talked about the challenge of establishing an early identity against the New Orleans Saints. New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing made clear he wants the same edge every time the Lions step on the field.
"I mean, you want to have success every single time you take the field. And that was my mindset from the first meeting with those guys," said Petzing.
"We're out there, we want to win. I don't care if it's practice.
I don't care if it's a game. I don't care if it's a preseason game.
So, I don't put any more emphasis, I would say, on any given game. I always laugh and this has been true throughout the NFL, this is a must win Week 16.
Well, was Week 2 not? They count the same.
"And I say that almost as a joke, but that's real. This League, every single game matters. So, whether it's the first one or the last one, we're going to walk out there with the same attitude and intensity and approach.”
Petzing will get his first game with the Lions on Sunday, and he’ll be doing it against defensive coach Brandon Staley.
"Fired up. I mean, this is why you do it," said Petzing.
"So, cannot be more excited to get out there on the field and let it rip and watch guys compete and have fun doing it. Really excited.”
The rest of the Thursday report included several full participants: Keith Abney, Thomas Harper, Trevor Nowaske, Ennis Rakestraw and Jimmy Rolder all practiced without limitation. Abney was listed with a hand issue, Harper with an ankle injury, Nowaske with a knee injury, Rakestraw with an ankle issue and Rolder with a hamstring problem.
In Other News...
Lions Make An Unexpected Week 1 D Line Move Before Saints
The Lions made an early defensive line adjustment ahead of their season opener, releasing Levi Onwuzurike from the active roster and rookie Tyre West from the practice squad. Onwuzurike had spent much of training camp on the roster bubble after dealing with injuries, but he still broke camp on the initial 53-man roster, making the move a notable shift this close to Week 1.
It is the kind of transaction that suggests Detroit is still fine-tuning the back end of its defensive front while the games now count for real. Dan Campbell also addressed the teams travel plans for an upcoming game in Germany, another reminder that the Lions are already juggling more than just the Saints and the usual opening-week prep. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Part Of A Bills Gameday Twist Detroit Fans Will Notice
Before the Lions kick off at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 13, the pregame scene will carry a distinctly cross-border flavor. The Bills announced they will play both the American and Canadian national anthems, with Aulii Cravalho handling the U.S. anthem and the Barenaked Ladies performing the Canadian one, a small but notable nod to the audience Buffalo has long tried to reach north of the border.
It also fits with the Bills broader push to deepen ties with Canadian fans, including an expanded radio network now reaching three major Canadian markets. For Detroit, it is just another wrinkle in a road trip that already comes with plenty of attention, because the atmosphere around this game is shaping up to be about more than what happens once the opening whistle finally sounds. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Are Taking A Real Gamble With One Starting Spot
The Lions are heading into Week 1 with an open question on the left side of their offensive line, and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing says the team plans to keep leaning into it. Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch are set to share the work at left guard as Detroit tries to sort out who fits best in the spot, with the competition framed less as a setback than as a chance to sharpen the depth chart before the season settles in.
Petzing stressed that the rotation is part of the process and is expected to keep going unless something breaks down. For Detroit, it is a calculated gamble at one of the most important spots up front, because the Lions are still trying to determine whether they already have the answer on the roster or whether the job will eventually belong to one player alone. [Read more 🡒]