The Lions’ running back room has already settled at the top, with Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco locked in. After that, though, the picture is still blurry, and it may come down to just one or two roster spots when the dust settles.
Sione Vaki remains part of that conversation because of what he brings on special teams, but there’s still curiosity about what he can do with a bigger offensive role in his third season. Jacob Saylors has also pushed his way into the mix, carrying a strong stretch of camp into the preseason opener and then turning 11 touches against the Cincinnati Bengals into 83 yards from scrimmage.
Vaki has been working his way back in practice after missing time when he got poked in the eye and suffered a broken nose. In theory, he could have played in the second preseason game against the Washington Commanders, and maybe even should have, but he was not spotted during pregame warmups and did not dress.
That opened the door for Trayveon Williams, and he made the most of it.
The Lions signed Williams on Aug. 16 in a running back-for-running back move, waiving injured Kyle Robichaux to clear the way. Against Washington, Williams was positioned to soak up a heavy workload simply because Detroit had its top three backs unavailable. Even if the night had gone no further than that, it would have given him a chance to put useful film out there for other teams once his time in Detroit ended.
Instead, Williams gave the Lions something more to think about.
He finished the game with 36 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, with a long run of 14 yards. He also chipped in a 24-yard catch and run that helped set up his one-yard score.
Big play, Tray ‼️ pic.twitter.com/GIxmBsAs6A
- Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 22, 2026
Trayveon punches it in for the lead! pic.twitter.com/BdPgcOX4Gf
- Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 22, 2026
On the drive where he scored, Williams accounted for 38 of his 60 total yards.
Saylors kept his own push going, averaging 5.3 yards per carry against Washington and continuing to make a real case for a spot. But Williams did exactly what he needed to do in his first real chance since arriving, and maybe a little more than that. With fresher legs after not being in a training camp before signing, he looked like a player who was ready to be noticed.
His path to the 53-man roster still looks steep. A mid-August addition usually carries that “camp body” label for a reason. But Saturday’s performance made it harder to dismiss him, and the preseason finale against the Indianapolis Colts could give him one more shot to force the issue.
In Other News...
Lions Could Raid Ben Johnsons Bears For Help After Cutdowns
As the roster churn settles after cutdowns, the Lions could be watching Chicago a little more closely than usual. The Bears have a few players who may draw interest around the division, and Detroit is in the kind of spot where depth pieces, special teams help and insurance at more than one position can matter just as much as splashier additions.
Kyler Gordon is the most intriguing name in the group because of his versatility, while Roschon Johnson could appeal as a physical back with room to fit into a rotation. Jamree Kromah is more of a developmental flier, but those are the kinds of low-cost bets teams often make in late August. Nothing is guaranteed, and it all depends on how Chicago sorts out its final roster, but Detroit has enough familiarity with Ben Johnsons new home to keep an eye on what shakes loose. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Center Battle Just Got More Unsettling Before Week 1
Detroits center picture took another hit in the preseason game against Washington, when reserve center Michael Niese went down with a right knee injury and did not return. Niese had been in line to compete for the starting job, so his absence matters beyond just one preseason outing. It trims down a position group the Lions were already sorting through as they try to settle the middle of the offensive line before Week 1.
Dan Campbell acknowledged the situation, and now the competition appears to be narrowed to Juice Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Tate Ratledge. For a team that values continuity up front, every practice rep at center carries extra weight, and injuries only make the evaluation more complicated. The Lions still have options, but the path to a dependable answer in the middle looks a little less straightforward than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie DT Is Flashing But One Issue Still Threatens His Role
Skyler Gill-Howard made a strong impression in the Lions preseason win over Washington, flashing the kind of disruptive presence that can turn a rookie into a quick favorite around camp. The defensive tackle earned the highest PFF grade among Detroit defenders who played at least 20 snaps, and his best moment came on a tackle for loss against the Commanders. Dan Campbell singled out his relentlessness and effort, the kind of traits that tend to travel well from August into the regular season.
Gill-Howard has already shown enough juice to make the conversation interesting, especially as a situational pass rusher with a path toward early snaps. But he also knows there is still work to do as he adjusts to the NFL, and he pointed specifically to run defense as an area he needs to sharpen. For a young lineman trying to carve out a role on Detroits front, that part of the evaluation still matters, because the flashes are real but the margin for error at defensive tackle is never very wide. [Read more 🡒]