In this installment of our Detroit Lions 2026 training camp preview series, we examine the Lions’ wide receiver room, speculate on current and future roles, and discuss how many players from this group could make the 53-man roster.
Previous training camp previews:
- Quarterback: Can Luke Altmyer force a QB3 role?
- Running back: How RB roles could shift in 2026
Roster construction
Under the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have typically kept between five and six wide receivers on the active roster and at least two on the practice squad. Let’s take a look at what they’ve done in the previous four seasons:
Let’s take a look at what they’ve done in the previous five seasons:
- 2021: Opened the season with seven WRs on the roster but quickly cut that number to six and played out the season with those players.
- 2022: Opened with five WRs but expanded to six once Jameson Williams returned from the NFI list.
- 2023: Opened with five WRs with Williams suspended, but opted for six once he returned.
- 2024: Opened the season with five but expanded to six for Weeks 2-10 (after they released Isaiah Williams), and closed out the rest of the season with just five.
- 2025: Opened with five WRs (after trading Tim Patrick), added a sixth (Tom Kennedy) for the final month of the season; only keeping five WRs active on game day.
New veterans and returning youth
With Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams locked into WR1 and WR2 roles, respectively, and Issac TeSlaa securing a WR3 role at the end of his rookie season, the Lions return all their starters for 2026. The biggest loss from the wide receiver group was Kalif Raymond’s departure in free agency, but the Lions added Greg Dortch—who was with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing in Arizona over the last three seasons—as a replacement.
Additionally, the Lions drafted Kendrick Law to compete for a key depth role, but he tore his ACL in OTAs and is expected to miss the season. The Lions are also hoping to see their returning young players like Dominic Lovett and Jackson Meeks take another step in their development, but have also added or re-signed several veterans like Cedrick Wilson, Tom Kennedy, and Malik Cunningham, as well as four receivers from the UFL in Tarik Black, Tay Martin, Lawrence Keys, and Lucky Jackson for depth competition.
The battleground
Is Greg Dortch comfortably WR4?
While most fans believe Dortch should easily win the Lions’ WR4 role, he will face considerable competition, including from four returning depth and/or practice squad receivers. His connection with Petzing will certainly give him an advantage, as will his experience; Dortch has played in 66 games, including 17 career starts, and has averaged at least 35% of offensive snaps the previous four seasons.
For Dortch to succeed in the Lions WR4 role, Petzing will need to feature Dortch’s quickness and ability to create yards after the catch (YAC). When given his opportunities, he’ll also have to show dependable hands and prove to be someone Jared Goff can count on.
Can Dominic Lovett overcome his drops?
Lovett didn’t have a very impactful rookie season, but the Lions kept him on the roster all of last year for a reason, and he’ll likely get every opportunity to siphon snaps from Dortch. While Lovett lacks Dortch’s experience, he possesses the long speed to stretch the field vertically (which Dortch lacks), which is an important component in the Lions offense.
Lovett’s biggest obstacle to finding the field will be his inconsistent hands. Drops limited Lovett’s opportunities during his rookie season, and they showed up again in the spring during OTAs. For him to challenge for a WR4 role, or secure a spot as WR5, he’ll need to clean up that part of his game.
Will Jackson Meeks’ cross-training at tight end earn him a role?
Despite a terrific preseason that saw Meeks excel in the WR-X role, he didn’t make the 53-man roster and was relegated to the practice squad for the majority of the season. Meeks was elevated for two games due to injuries, but he only saw the field on offense for five snaps and didn’t record a stat. Meeks and Tom Kennedy would battle it out for the Lions WR6 role all season, but it was Kennedy’s contributions on special teams that earned him the role over the last month of the season.
Meeks is an above-average contested-catch receiver with above-average blocking skills, and, at 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, the Lions elected to cross-train him at tight end last season as the team dealt with injuries. Since then, Meeks has packed on muscle and, according to the team’s website, now weighs 235 pounds. In the spring during OTAs, Meeks continued to work mainly with the receivers but also got some time with the tight ends group.
While Meeks finished last season as WR7, his ability to play multiple positions could give him an advantage over the majority of the depth players on the roster. This range could allow Meeks to elevate to as high as a WR5/TE4 role this season, but he’ll need to prove that he can consistently play both spots.
Can a veteran WR (Tom Kennedy, Cedrick Wilson, Malik Cunningham) carve out a role?
The Lions love their veterans, and they’ll have a few solid options who will challenge for depth roles.
Kennedy found himself on the active roster for six games last season, mainly due to his special teams contributions, but it’s worth recognizing that he caught all four passes thrown his way and converted two first downs. With his experience, he should enter camp as WR5 or WR6, and will need to work to hold off Lovett, Meeks, and likely Cedrick Wilson.
Wilson is entering his eighth season in the NFL (93 games and 16 starts), and earned a ton of praise from coaches this spring for his versatility and consistency. Wilson was a late offseason addition to the roster, but he has the potential to challenge for a spot on the 53-man roster and could climb all the way to WR4 with a great training camp.
Cunningham’s ability to act as a gadget player (he’s a former dual-threat college quarterback) got him elevated to the Lions roster for a game last season, but unless he can show more consistency as a true receiver, he will likely face an uphill battle to be more than a practice squad player.
Do any of the UFL WRs have a shot?
As OTAs/Minicamp came to a close, the Lions added four UFL wide receivers to their 90-man roster, all hoping to show something in training camp. Tarik Black and Lucky Jackson are fresh off a UFL Championship and should provide the Lions depth on the outside; Black at WR-X and Jackson at WR-Z. Tay Martin also brings solid size on the outside to the Lions, while Lawrence Keys gives them depth in the slot and as a punt/kick returner. Keys’ special teams skills will certainly be a wild-card factor for his chances of surprising.
