The 2026 NFL schedule release is less than a week away. On Thursday, May 14, the NFL will release the 17-game schedule for all teams, which is really the final offseason event before the countdown to training camp begins (aside from OTAs and minicamp).
For the Detroit Lions, one of the more fascinating parts of the schedule release is identifying where their bye week. For a team that has had as many injuries as they’ve suffered over the past few seasons, the timing of the bye week could be crucial
for Detroit to get to full health at the most important times. Additionally, the bye week placement can be helpful for resetting expectations or for spending some extra time fixing a clear problem.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
When is the perfect time for the bye week?
My answer: Well, my personal preference would be for the Lions to get a bye week right after their game in Germany. With the game expected to be in November based on historical trends, getting that extra rest in before their shortened Thanksgiving game seems like an optimal use of the bye week. That’s especially true because it’s right around the middle of the season—an ideal placement to ensure it isn’t too early or too late in the season.
Unfortunately, the Lions didn’t put in a request for a post-Germany bye, and they aren’t expecting to get one.
So what is ideal then? My general feeling is that landing right in the middle of the season should be ideal. That way, there’s almost certainly an injured player or two who can get some extra rest. Plus, there’s enough time before the bye to get a good sample size of your team, leaving you also enough time to adjust and hit your prime for a playoff run.
However, that’s exactly how things played out last year. Detroit had a Week 8 bye—not quite in the middle, but close. They were plenty injured and had some notable issues on both sides of the ball at that point. But they came out of the bye week flatter than they entered it. They went just 4-6 after the break, and their problems only seemed to magnify.
So in my mind, the bye week doesn’t really matter all that much. As long as it isn’t too early (Week 5 or 6), I don’t really care where it lands.
What are your thoughts on the Lions’ bye week? Share your preferences in the comment section below.
