The Detroit Lions’ 17-13 win over the Washington Commanders at Ford Field didn’t just provide another preseason checkpoint. It also sharpened the picture of what the 2026 53-man roster could look like, and a few battles are clearly heading toward a finish-line decision.
At quarterback, the veteran had a rough moment early with an interception, but the response mattered too. His mobility and the way he settled in after the mistake stood out.
Dan Campbell also said he wants Altmyer, the first-year quarterback, to keep working toward playing faster. Another week of practice should help the undrafted free agent when the Lions face the Colts next weekend.
The backfield projection keeps Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco and Jacob Saylors in the mix, with Trayveon Williams, Jabari Small, Raheem Blackshear and Sione Vaki on the outside looking in. Vaki’s special teams value is real, but the concern is bigger than that. He has battled injuries and has not looked like someone the team can count on, especially with Saylors stacking a strong preseason.
At receiver, the group projects to include Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Greg Dortch and Tay Martin.
Dominic Lovett, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Malik Cunningham, Tom Kennedy, Lucky Jackson and Tarik Black are projected out, while Kendrick Law is listed on injured reserve. Wilson’s situation got more complicated after he suffered a concerning injury against Washington, which could land him on an injury list.
Tight end looks fairly clear with Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin and Jackson Meeks in. Thomas Gordon and Zach Horton are out. Meeks has been one of the better stories of camp, continuing to trend upward and backing it up with a strong week and a standout showing at Ford Field.
Up front, the offensive line picture includes Penei Sewell, Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge, Blake Miller, Larry Borom, Juice Scruggs, Miles Frazier, Melvin Priestly and Seth McLaughlin. Devin Cochran, Michael Niese, Ben Bartch, Colby Sorsdal and Mason Miller are projected off, while Giovanni Manu is on NFI and Cade Mays is injured. Bartch, in particular, looks like a tough fit right now after missing too much time to seriously push for a starting job.
On the defensive line, Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Tyler Lacy, Levi Onwuzurike and Skyler Gill-Howard make the cut, with Tyre West, Mekhi Wingo, Myles Adams and Chris Smith out. Gill-Howard has become the camp favorite in a hurry.
The edge group projects to feature Aidan Hutchinson, D.J. Wonnum, Derrick Moore, Ahmed Hassanein and Eric O'Neill, with Payton Turner, Anthony Lucas and Ben Stille off the roster. O'Neill is making a real push after a strong week of practice, and the preseason finale against the Colts could go a long way toward locking him in.
Linebacker may be one of the more interesting spots if the Lions decide to carry extra depth because of schematic changes on defense. The projection includes Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Devin White, Malcolm Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske and Erick Hunter. Troy Reeder, Joe Bachie, Amen Ogbongbemiga and Damone Clark are out, while Jimmy Rolder is injured.
In the secondary, the projected cornerback group is D.J. Reed, Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw, Nick Whiteside, Keith Abney, Khalil Dorsey and Christian Izien.
Aamaris Brown, Roger McCreary, Ryan Cooper Jr. and Ekow Boye-Dow are off the list. Abney keeps earning chances on the outside and at nickel, and his competitiveness plus the way he bounces back should help him as a rookie.
He did give up an explosive play against Washington, but teammates were right there with coaching tips on the sideline.
Safety includes Chuck Clark, Avonte Maddox, Dan Jackson and Thomas Harper, with Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch on PUP. Jackson may be facing the most difficult roster call of the summer. The room has plenty of depth, but he needs his best week of camp and a strong showing in the preseason finale to strengthen his case.
Specialists remain unchanged: Jake Bates at kicker, Jack Fox at punter and Hogan Hatten at long snapper.
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 🡒]