The Detroit Lions have established their initial 53-man roster and filled out most of their practice squad (they still have one spot open) for the 2026 season, making it the perfect time to reset the depth chart. An NFL roster is never truly settled, as the Lions are constantly shifting, adjusting for injuries, and upgrading; this is where things stand as the regular season begins in just over a week.
To help out your viewing experience, here are a few keys to keep in mind when exploring this depth
chart:
- Players’ numbers are listed (in parentheses)
- Practice squad players are identified with a “PS” (in parentheses)
- Projected starters are bolded
- An asterisk* identifies rookies
- Injuries are noted after a player’s name/number
- Of note: Players often change numbers between now and the regular season
Lions depth chart: Initial 53-man roster
Quarterback (2 + 1 PS)
- Jared Goff (16)
- Josh Dobbs (6)
- Luke Altmyer* (2, PS)
Running back (4)
- Jahmyr Gibbs (0)
- Sione Vaki (33)
- Jacob Saylors (25)
- Jabari Small (26) — undisclosed (previous: knee/concussion)
Injured list
- Isiah Pacheco (10) —Injured reserve/eligible to return (MCL strain/Back injury)
Wide receiver (4 + 3 PS)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)
- Jameson Williams (1)
- Isaac TeSlaa (18)
- Tay Martin (17)
- Tom Kennedy (85, PS)
- Lucky Jackson (11, PS)
- Dominic Lovett (19, PS)
Injured list
- Kendrick Law* (88) — Injured reserve/season-ending
Tight end (4 + 1 PS)
- Sam LaPorta (87) — Hip
- Brock Wright (89)
- Tyler Conklin (83) — re-signed on Tuesday
- Jackson Meeks (13)
- Thomas Gordon (82, PS)
Offensive line (9 + 3 PS)
Projected starters for the regular season
- LT Penei Sewell (58)
- LG Christian Mahogany (73)
- C Juice Scruggs (70)
- RG Tate Ratledge (69)
- RT Blake Miller* (76)
Reserves
- OT Larry Borom (79)
- G Ben Bartch (78)
- C Seth McLaughlin (65) — concussion
- RG/T Miles Frazier (71)
- G Mason Miller (63, PS)
- OT Devin Cochran (77, PS)
- G/T Elijah Klein (TBD, PS)
Injured list
- C Cade Mays (64) — Injured reserve/eligible to return (wrist)
- OT Giovanni Manu (59) — Non-football injury (undisclosed)
Interior defensive line (5 + 3 PS)
- 3T Alim McNeill (54)
- DT Tyleik Williams (91)
- 3T/5T Levi Onwuzurike (95)
- 3T Skyler Gill-Howard* (50)
- 3T Mekhi Wingo (94)
- DT Chris Smith (90, PS)
- DT Ben Stille (72, PS)
- 3T Tyre West* (52, PS)
EDGE (6 + 1 PS)
- EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (97)
- Rush End DJ Wonnum (98)
- Big End Tyler Lacy (93)
- EDGE Derrick Moore* (9)
- Big End Ahmed Hassanein (99)
- Rush End Eric O’Neill* (66)
- Rush End Anthony Lucas* (61, PS)
Linebacker (6 + 2 PS)
- MIKE Jack Campbell (46)
- SAM Derrick Barnes (55)
- WILL Devin White (45)
- WILL Malcolm Rodriguez (44)
- MIKE Jimmy Rolder* (41) — hamstring
- SAM Trevor Nowaske (53) — leg
- MIKE Joe Bachie (35, PS)
- WILL Amen Ogbongbemiga (57, PS)
Cornerback (6 + 1 PS)
- CB D.J. Reed (4)
- CB Rock Ya-Sin (23)
- NB Keith Abney* (28)
- CB Ennis Rakestraw (2)
- CB/NB Roger McCreary (21)
- CB Khalil Dorsey (30)
- CB Nick Whiteside (38, PS)
Safety (4 + 1 PS)
- S Avonte Maddox (29)
- S Chuck Clark (36)
- NB/S Christian Izien (27) — undisclosed
- S Thomas Harper (12) — ankle
- DB Aamaris Brown* (42, PS)
Injured list
- S Brian Branch — PUP/eligible to return (Achilles)
- S Kerby Joseph — PUP/eligible to return (Knee)
Specialists (3)
- P Jack Fox
- K Jake Bates
- LS Hogan Hatten
Kick/punt specialists
- Kickoffs — Jake Bates (39)
- Holder — Jack Fox (3)
- Punt Returners — Tom Kennedy (85)
- Kick Returners — Jacob Saylors (25) and Jabari Small (26)
- Gunners — Khalil Dorsey (30) and Christian Izien (27); Tay Martin (17)
- Personal protector (PP) — Sione Vaki (33); Avonte Maddox (29)
At-a-glance projected depth chart
Notes: 1) There are 13 starters listed on defense in order to illustrate who is in line for a starting role depending on the Lions’ Base vs. subpackage formations. 2) Practice squaders are listed with a slightly lighter position color.
