Dan Campbell’s blunt warning after the 2023 NFC Championship has only aged more sharply with time.
“This may have been our only shot,” the Detroit Lions head coach said after the loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
For a while, that line looked painfully accurate. Detroit came up short again in 2024 and 2025, and last season even ended without a playoff berth. But heading into 2026, there’s a real case that the Lions can flip the script and make that down year look like a temporary detour.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell put Detroit among the five NFL teams most likely to improve next season. He pointed to the concerns around depth and health, but still expects the Lions to get back into the postseason. As Barnwell put it, “Their margin for error is narrower given the lack of depth on the roster, and the injuries on offense and defense are already concerning, but the Lions should push their way back into the postseason after an unexpected year off.”
The argument for a rebound starts with the simplest thing in football: talent usually doesn’t disappear overnight. After finishing 9-8, the Lions were one of the league’s unluckiest teams, and their 2-5 record in one-score games stands out as a major reason the season went sideways. That alone gives Detroit a strong path back to relevance.
But for this group, simply “better” won’t feel like enough. The bar is higher now. A return to the NFC Championship Game should be the goal.
There are concrete reasons to think Detroit can get there. The offensive line should look cleaner after a rough 2025.
First-round rookie Blake Miller is stepping in at right tackle, taking over the spot vacated by Penei Sewell, who has shifted to the left side. Cade Mays will miss the early part of the season, but when he returns, he should give the group a boost at center.
There’s also the new voice running the offense. Drew Petzing’s arrival could help push the unit back toward elite production. He proved with the Arizona Cardinals that he can build competent offenses without a ton of talent, and Detroit gives him far more to work with.
The roster isn’t spotless. The secondary is banged up, and that remains the most obvious concern.
Still, if the Lions can stay healthier on both sides of the ball, they have enough to make another serious run. After a year off, a playoff return would count as improvement.
For Campbell’s team, though, the expectation is bigger than that.
In Other News...
Taylor Decker's Next Move Has Become A Real Lions Offseason Twist
Taylor Deckers status has turned into one of the more unusual offseason storylines around the Lions. After asking for and getting his release from Detroit, the veteran lineman is still on the market with final preseason roster cuts looming, even as teams such as Washington and the Rams have shown interest along the way. For a player who has long been a familiar piece of the Lions offensive front, the lack of a landing spot has made this a far different finish to the summer than anyone would have expected.
The real wrinkle is that Deckers next move may not be a simple choice between one team and another. He has made it clear he would be reluctant to land with NFC North rivals like the Bears or Packers, which narrows the options even more, and his playing future is now genuinely uncertain. Retirement is on the table, but so is the possibility that he waits for the right opening and resurfaces in season if the right opportunity finally comes along. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Preseason Win Came With New Roster Concerns
The Lions got what they wanted out of their only home preseason game against Washington, leaving with a 17-13 win and a few encouraging signs on both sides of the ball. Even without some of the key backs in uniform, Detroit still showed a sturdy running game, while the defense chipped in with sacks and steady quarterback pressure that helped keep the Commanders from settling in.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. also went down, adding another name to a roster that is still being sorted out, and offensive lineman Michael Niese was hurt as well. Jabari Small was part of the injury mix too, entering concussion protocol, which means the postgame mood in Allen Park carried the usual preseason split: some optimism about depth, and some fresh concern about availability as the roster picture gets tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Running Back Fight Worth Watching
The running back room has been one of the quieter trouble spots in camp, but the Lions are adding another body as the final week of training camp gets underway. Detroit is reportedly signing undrafted rookie Roydell Williams to help with depth after a stretch in which injuries have thinned the group and forced the team to keep shuffling answers at the position.
Williams comes in with a decent pedigree, having played at Alabama and Florida State before a recent release from the Indianapolis Colts. For a team already navigating injuries to Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small, the next question is less about whether there is room for another back and more about whether Williams can make this late push matter. [Read more 🡒]