Two under-the-radar names have already started making noise at Detroit Lions training camp, and both are forcing their way into the conversation early.
Cornerback Nick Whiteside and wide receiver Greg Dortch have stood out while the focus around camp has mostly centered on the Lions’ top-end talent and 2026 draft class. Through the first stretch of practice, each has given the staff something worth watching.
Whiteside is trying to carve out his place again after bouncing between the Lions’ 53-man roster and practice squad last season. His best moment in 2025 came in Week 7 against Tampa Bay, when he posted the highest Pro Football Focus grade of any Detroit defender in that game. That version of Whiteside has shown up again in camp.
He started this week with the third-team defense, but a strong day in coverage quickly pushed him into work with the second unit. Whiteside finished with three passes defensed, flashing the kind of timing and instincts that can change a coaching staff’s opinion in a hurry. If he keeps stacking days like that, he could lock down a reserve defensive back role in 2026.
Dortch, meanwhile, arrived in Detroit as a free-agent addition this offseason and has already shown why he’s more than just a depth piece. He’s built a career as a reliable slot receiver and a valuable special teams player, with punt and kick return experience to his name. In 2025, he returned 31 kicks for 811 yards, a 26.2-yard average.
The 28-year-old is also expected to factor into the Lions’ passing game in 2026. He comes off a 29-catch, 206-yard season with the Arizona Cardinals and has topped 200 receiving yards in each of the last four years. His game has long included quickness after the catch, and last season he averaged 6.9 yards after the catch, matching Jameson Williams for the seventh-best mark in the NFL.
So far in camp, Dortch has looked comfortable handling punt-return duties and has meshed well with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s scheme. If that carries over into the regular season, he has a real chance to become a useful piece on both offense and special teams in 2026.
In Other News...
Terrion Arnold Faces Door Closing On NFL Return
Former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold is now fighting for his future off the field after serious legal charges landed him in a far different spotlight than the one he once occupied on Sundays. The case carries the possibility of a life sentence, and it has already complicated any discussion about what comes next for a player whose NFL path had been hanging by a thread.
Even with some reported curiosity from teams like the Seahawks and Jets, there has been no real sign of a stable landing spot, and New York has already framed its interest as due diligence rather than a commitment. For Arnold, the combination of legal trouble and limited production has made a return to the league look increasingly remote, with every new development pushing the door a little closer to shutting for good. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookies Are Turning Heads Before The Real Depth Chart Battle
Detroit opened 2026 training camp with three straight practice days, and the early takeaway has been that the rookie class is already making itself felt. All seven draft picks took part, with first-rounder Miller getting a heavy look with the first team as he works through the first real test of camp against Aidan Hutchinson on the edge. Elsewhere, rookies Moore and Rolder have both flashed enough to get noticed in the earliest stages, while the Lions also moved on from veteran Jay Tufele before camp even got underway.
There is still a long way to go before the depth chart settles, and these first practices are only the opening sketch of what the roster might look like in September. For now, the bigger question is less about who has made a play and more about how much movement there could still be once the pads come on and the Lions start making harder evaluations at spots where youth and opportunity often collide. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick Moore Is Giving Lions Fans Real Hope Up Front
The first week of Lions training camp at the Meijer Performance Center has already given the front office reason to feel better about a defensive line that needed a jolt. Second-round pick Derrick Moore has been one of the most noticeable players on the field, and the early buzz has centered on the kind of pass-rushing burst Detroit hoped to add when it traded up to get him.
Moore is arriving at just the right moment for a defense looking to reshape its edge group after Al-Quadin Muhammads departure. There is still plenty of camp left, but the rookie has clearly put himself into the conversation for meaningful playing time, and that is the kind of early development the Lions were hoping to see as they built toward a tougher, deeper front. [Read more 🡒]