The Detroit Lions may not be done shaping their roster just yet.
Even after the team’s official 53-man roster was released on Sunday night, there’s still a Monday afternoon waiver deadline looming, and that could send a few more players into - or back out of - the mix. The cutoff to claim waived players is 1 p.m.
EST, and once that hits, teams will be awarded players according to their spot in the waiver order. More than one team can put in a claim on the same player, but the team higher on the order gets the edge.
For Detroit, the biggest question is whether cornerback Nick Whiteside makes it through waivers and finds his way back to the practice squad. That’s the sort of path the Lions have used before with Tom Kennedy, and it would make sense here with a depth piece like Whiteside.
A few Lions cuts are now part of the waiver conversation. Players with fewer than four years of service time go on waivers after being released following training camp and the preseason, which is why Whiteside qualifies. Wide receiver Greg Dortch does not; after Detroit let him go, he becomes a free agent.
Michael Niese is also on the wire after being waived with an injury designation. The center was viewed as a potential backup option for the Lions heading into the season.
Detroit’s position in the waiver order is 17th. That placement is tied to this past April’s draft order, with trades stripped out. And because the Lions already have all 53 roster spots filled, they would need to make room if they are awarded anyone on waivers.
That said, it would not be a surprise if Detroit is already planning some movement. The Lions could clear spots to get Dortch back into the picture and to accommodate any other players they land through waivers. Whiteside, meanwhile, remains the name to watch if he can pass through and return to Detroit on the practice squad.
Other players the Lions may try to bring back to the practice squad include Mason Miller, Luke Altmyer, Tyre West, Lucky Jackson, Dominic Lovett, and Dan Jackson.
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Lions 53-Man Roster Leaves One Big Question Fans Wont Ignore
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The biggest thing left hanging is the kind of special-teams detail that can shape a roster spot just as much as any depth-chart battle. With no clear punt returner identified and some players who seemed to have a path to the team ending up on the outside, the Lions may not be done adjusting this group yet. That leaves the final version of the roster still open to a few more changes in the coming days, which is exactly the sort of unfinished business that keeps this time of year interesting. [Read more 🡒]
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The first practice squad move after cutdowns gave a decent read on how the Lions are sorting through the back end of the roster. Detroit kept a number of the waived players who cleared, building out the initial 2026 group with familiar depth and developmental pieces, while also choosing to move on from running back Trayveon Williams rather than circle back with a return to the practice squad.
Luke Altmyer was among the players retained, a sign the Lions want to keep working with the rookie quarterback as he settles in behind the scenes. Altmyer also offered some perspective on the preseason interception he threw, a small reminder that Detroit is still using these early roster decisions to balance short-term depth with longer-term evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Initial 53 Sets Up Early Depth Questions After Camp Cuts
The Lions first 53-man roster is in place after training camp, and it already tells a clear story about how Dan Campbells team wants to open the season. Joshua Dobbs gives Detroit a veteran presence behind the starter at quarterback, while the roster leans young at wide receiver and tight end. Up front, the team kept nine offensive linemen, with rookie Blake Miller expected to get the first crack at right tackle, a sign that the staff is willing to trust youth where it believes the upside is real.
Even with the initial roster set, this is hardly a finished picture. Several players are slated to open the season on injured reserve, which means the Lions will be sorting through the early weeks with some moving parts still unresolved. The biggest question is how those decisions ripple through a roster that looks deeper at linebacker and in the secondary, but still has a few spots where one injury or one emergence could quickly change the conversation. [Read more 🡒]