The Lions have built themselves a deep roster, and that’s great news in August - until the cuts start looming. Detroit has talent stacked across the board under Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, but that kind of depth always creates a few uncomfortable decisions when camp winds down.
A handful of younger players have already made noise early, and that pressure is starting to squeeze some veterans closer to the roster bubble. Three names stand out right now: Levi Onwuzurike, Giovanni Manu, and Trevor Nowaske.
Onwuzurike appears to be slipping a bit in camp, according to reports, even though he’s back in Detroit after his contract tolled because he missed the entire season last year. He still has something to prove if he wants to be part of the team in 2026.
At his best, Onwuzurike gives the Lions a useful mix of athleticism and power. The issue is whether he can still deliver that at a high enough level, especially with Detroit having added depth at the position. That’s where the competition gets real.
Tyler Lacy has been one of the early standouts at that spot. The waiver pickup from last training camp has shown tackle/end versatility, which is exactly the kind of flexibility the Lions can use. Onwuzurike’s main projected role would be at big end, lining up opposite Aidan Hutchinson and helping set the edge against the run, and Lacy has shown he can handle that job too.
Ahmed Hassanein has also flashed early in camp, giving Detroit another young edge option and adding even more variety to the mix. The Lions can still give Onwuzurike a chance to prove himself in the preseason, but if that doesn’t go well, his future with the team could be in jeopardy.
Manu’s situation looks even tougher. He suffered a setback on the first day of camp when he seemingly reaggrivated an undisclosed injury and landed on the Non Football Injury list. Dan Campbell said the return timeline is between 12 and 14 weeks, which would keep him out well into the regular season.
It’s a big third year for Manu, and so far his Detroit career hasn’t gone the way the team hoped after trading up to draft him in 2024. He has made just one start in two seasons, and the Lions’ offseason moves only made the path harder.
Detroit’s most notable draft addition was first-round tackle Blake Miller, and that pushes Manu further down the chart. The Lions also have Miller and Larry Borom competing to start opposite Penei Sewell, while Miles Frazier has shown guard/tackle versatility. Add Devin Cochran into the mix, and Manu is staring at a steep climb whenever he gets back.
Nowaske has been around the Lions’ linebacker room and special teams for most of his three NFL seasons, and he’s been a steady piece of the rotation. He also had a brief run with the Cardinals in 2023 after they claimed him off waivers, before Detroit brought him back when he was cut ahead of the 2024 season.
In a vacuum, there should be room for him on special teams and as a linebacker depth piece. But the Lions have loaded up the position with veteran help, turning what once looked like a straightforward role into a true battle.
That said, there is at least one possible opening. Malcolm Rodriguez left Tuesday’s practice to be evaluated for an injury, and the details haven’t been revealed. If that turns into something significant, Nowaske’s odds would improve.
Detroit has already taken one hit at linebacker with Jimmy Rolder expected to miss some time after a hamstring injury. Even so, the Lions have added Troy Reeder and Devin White within just over a week. Reeder has built a strong career on special teams and at linebacker, while White is a former Second Team All-Pro in Tampa Bay and posted a career-high in tackles last season.
Nowaske is still in the fight, but he’s competing against Reeder, White, Rodriguez, Damone Clark, and Joe Bachie. He has a path to the roster, sure - just not an easy one.
In Other News...
Lions May Finally Be Getting An Answer At Cornerback
Training camp has given the Lions a closer look at one of their most important unresolved spots, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is right in the middle of it. With D.J. Reed locked in as the top corner, Detroit is sorting through the options for the job on the other side, and Rakestraw has earned first-team work while healthy enough to take part in the competition.
For a player whose early pro career has been slowed by injuries, simply being available has mattered almost as much as anything he has shown on the field. Dan Campbell has sounded encouraged by Rakestraws progress, even if the work remains uneven, and Rakestraw has kept his focus narrow - stay healthy, take it one day at a time, and try to keep stacking the kind of practices that can settle a position battle. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookies Are Already Facing Two Early Camp Pressure Points
Training camp has already turned into a proving ground for the Lions rookie class, with some young players getting pushed into bigger jobs earlier than expected. Blake Miller is in the thick of a competition for a starting role, while the rest of the first-year group is trying to sort out new responsibilities and earn trust before the preseason opener against the Bengals. It is the kind of August stretch that can shape a rookies first impression fast, especially on a roster that is not shy about letting competition sort things out.
The bigger concern has come on the injury front, where a couple of rookies have been forced to step back just as the camp battles heat up. That has already altered the mix at linebacker and helped lead Detroit to bring in veteran Devin White for depth and insurance, a reminder that even early training camp can expose how thin the margin is for young players. The next few practices should tell a lot about how the Lions plan to keep the rookie class on track while the roster keeps shifting around them. [Read more 🡒]