The Lions got encouraging early looks from several members of their last two draft classes, and the first week of the regular season started to separate the players who already have jobs from the ones still fighting for one.
At the top of the group is Tate Ratledge, who has already locked down the starting right guard spot. After starting every game last year as a rookie, he’s positioned for a bigger second season, and his presence matters even more with so much uncertainty on the left side at guard. Ratledge gives Detroit stability on the right side and a steady partner for rookie tackle Miller.
Miller made a strong first impression in his NFL debut. He gave up just one pressure in pass protection and also held up well in the run game, which matters when you’re stepping in to replace a decade-long fixture like Taylor Decker.
There’s some concern about his availability for Thursday because of an ankle injury, but the quick turnaround suggests the issue may not be long-term. Even after one game, he looks like a fit for Detroit’s scheme.
Williams also looks ready for a meaningful role on the defensive interior in his second season. The Lions’ 2025 first-round pick played 35 snaps against the Saints and finished with one pressure, while also grading out well overall defensively via Pro Football Focus. He still has work to do as a pass-rusher, but his ability to help as a run-stuffer on early downs makes him a useful piece next to Alim McNeill.
Gill-Howard might have been the biggest snap-count surprise of the opener. After a strong preseason, he played 47 snaps, second among interior defensive linemen only to McNeill.
He added two pressures and showed the same burst that stood out in August. Some of that workload likely came from the game script, but there’s enough there to think he can stay in the rotation and help the pass rush over the course of the season.
Moore also got a rotational role after missing late camp time with an injury. He was on the field for 18 snaps and didn’t register a tackle or pressure, but the Lions already have Aidan Hutchinson, D.J.
Wonnum and Tyler Lacy ahead of him in the pecking order. Moore should get another chance on Thursday, and the question now is how much he can grow into that role as he settles into the pro game.
On offense, TeSlaa has the kind of second-year buzz that comes from flashing real ability as a rookie. Sunday wasn’t much of a receiving showcase, though, because he saw only one target and didn’t catch a pass.
The bright spot was his work as a blocker in the run game, which was part of why the Lions liked him in the first place. The next step is obvious: more production through the air.
Abney made his NFL debut count. He was active ahead of third-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw, which says plenty about where he stands, and he handled a solid workload as the secondary got hit hard in the second half. Detroit could look to expand his role from here, especially with opportunities available both in the slot and potentially on the boundary.
O’Neill, an undrafted free agent who stuck after a strong preseason, quickly showed why he made the team. He was a factor on coverage units, finishing with three special teams tackles, including two solos. He also played four snaps on defense and 17 on special teams, giving Detroit immediate value in the kicking game.
Frazier has settled into a depth role on the offensive line behind Ben Bartch at backup guard. When Christian Mahogany went down in the first quarter, Bartch was the one who stepped in, and Frazier did not play any offensive snaps. He did, however, log five special teams snaps.
Hassanein was inactive for the opener despite turning in a solid training camp. With no apparent injury late in the week, that looks more like a healthy scratch, and he’ll need to keep working to earn a role.
Rolder also sat out the season opener after missing most of training camp with an injury. He was not on the injury report at the end of the week, but the Lions may be easing him back carefully so he doesn’t reinjure anything before he’s fully ready. He should have a role early in the season at some point, but Detroit appears to be taking the recovery slowly.
Law’s season is already over because of a torn ACL suffered in offseason workouts. If he had stayed healthy, he might have had a shot at contributing on special teams, but now the Lions will have to wait until next season to see that investment pay off.
In Other News...
Jake Bates Just Changed The Lions Conversation In A Big Way
Week 1 gave the NFL a little bit of everything, and for the Lions it gave them a one-point overtime escape in New Orleans. Detroits 31-30 win over the Saints was part of a strange opening slate in which every game was decided by a different margin, but the biggest reason the Lions left with a victory was Jake Bates, who drilled all five of his kicks and accounted for seven points, including the game-winning extra point.
For a team that carried some preseason questions about the kicking game, Bates turned the conversation on its head in a hurry. The Lions are 1-0, the margin for error in the NFC is still as thin as ever, and a night that could have opened old anxieties instead gave Detroit something it badly needed early - a little confidence in a spot where confidence has not always come easy. [Read more 🡒]
Kalif Raymond Just Added To A Lions Question Fans Already Had
Kalif Raymond opened his 2026 season in Chicago by immediately becoming the Bears most active receiver, finishing with eight catches for 84 yards and seeing nine targets in their first game. For Lions fans, the performance was hard to ignore because it came from a familiar face who had spent five seasons in Detroit in a much different role, one that rarely featured this kind of volume.
Raymonds usage in Chicago only sharpened the conversation around Detroits current wide receiver picture, where the question is not just who is producing, but whether the Lions let a useful piece get away before fully tapping into what he could do. His debut doesnt answer every question, but it does add another uncomfortable layer to a debate that was already lingering around the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Holmes May Have Found A Lions Rookie They Can't Ignore
Skyler Gill-Howard was never supposed to be a player who forced his way into the conversation this quickly, but the rookie defensive tackle has already changed the tone around his spot on the Lions roster. What looked in the summer like a practice-squad path turned into a place on the 53-man roster, and he made the most of his first extended chance in Week 1 against the Saints, drawing attention for the kind of steady interior work Detroit has been looking to add.
Gill-Howards early production has given the Lions something useful to monitor as the season moves along, especially with tougher tests ahead. He said he feels confident in his role and is looking forward to the next games, including a matchup with the Bills, which should offer another chance to see whether his strong opening was a one-week flash or the start of something more durable. [Read more 🡒]