The Detroit Lions dropped their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season—see it here—and there were plenty of big surprises in their choices. Now, the Lions are likely to make some tweaks over the next 48 hours, so it’s important not to overreact until they truly settle on a Week 1 roster.
But here are 6 shocking decisions the Lions front office made with this initial roster.
Five running backs
A few weeks ago, Dan Campbell noted that the RB4 competition between Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small was neck-and-neck. However,
since then, it’s been almost all Saylors. He finished the preseason with more scrimmage yards than any other player in the NFL, while Small failed to stay on the field. Small missed the first preseason game with an injury, left Game 2 with a concussion, and left Game 3 with another injury.
Yet the Lions liked enough of what they saw in Small to give him a coveted roster spot. That is perhaps the most shocking decision of all.
Four receivers and no punt returners?
Not far behind was Detroit’s decision to only keep four receivers. While everyone had Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, and Tay Martin on their 53-man roster predictions, a fifth almost seemed necessary and certain.
Greg Dortch is a trusted veteran who looked great as a punt returner all August and had experience with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. When it was revealed that Dortch was being released, it was certainly Tom Kennedy who won the spot, right? Nope, he was released in the final cuts as well.
So…. what is the Lions’ plan at punt returner? Just a few weeks ago, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said the competition was between Dortch and Kennedy. So, either one (or both) is coming back to the practice squad (or 53-man roster), or some unknown player on the roster will step up. But in all honesty, I don’t have the faintest of clues who on the current roster could take over those duties.
Meeks over Conklin
Not many questioned whether Tyler Conklin’s spot on the roster was in jeopardy. He frequently repped ahead of Jackson Meeks, and looked just fine in his role as TE3 behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. For as many two- and three-tight end formations the Lions are expected to use, having an experienced veteran like Conklin seemed like a no-brainer—especially after the struggles they went through last year when LaPorta and Wright went down with injuries.
And while many of us had Meeks on the roster as TE4, trusting him as the team’s TE3 is a risky move for a player who is still learning the nuances of the position. That said, Meeks earned it on special teams, and that’s where his initial role will be.
One final thing to keep in mind: as a vested veteran, Conklin’s salary would have been fully guaranteed if he was on the active roster in Week 1, and this could be their way of circumventing that rule. If they add him to the practice squad, they could elevate him in Week 1, then re-sign him to the active roster in Week 2.
Lions go pass-rush heavy over size
EDGE Eric O’Neill: 6-foot-2, 250
EDGE Ahmed Hassanein: 6-foot-2, 275
DT Skyler Gill-Howard: 6-foot, 280
DT Mekhi Wingo: 6-foot, 282
These four players shined during the preseason predominantly because of their pass rush, while their abilities as run defenders are still a work in progress. Meanwhile, these players:
EDGE Anthony Lucas: 6-foot-5, 265
DT Chris Smith: 6-foot-1, 310
DT Ben Stille: 6-foot-4, 296
None of them made it. This represents a pretty clear shift in the preferences of their defensive linemen, with a newfound lean into getting to the quarterback.
That isn’t to say they don’t have size on the roster. Alim McNeill (6-foot-2, 310), Tyleik Williams (6-foot-3, 325), Levi Onwuzurike (6-foot-3, 304), and DJ Wonnum (6-foot-5, 262) are all big for their positions. But it appears they want some juice with their reserves.
Jimmy Rolder avoids IR
Maybe not the biggest shock, considering Rolder himself told the media that he believes he’s close to a return. But when the injury happened, it appeared the Lions’ fourth-round rookie was going to miss significant time. Instead, the Lions believe his development is important enough to stay on the roster and avoid a four-week absence on IR.
Detroit had enough linebacker reserves that they would’ve been fine if Rolder went on IR, but they clearly believe in Rolder’s health and ability to make a difference early this season.
No Nick Whiteside
Through a few weeks of training camp, there was no better story than Nick Whiteside. He had worked his way up from the bottom of the depth chart to sharing some first-team defense reps at cornerback. He played a physical style of game that seemed like a great fit.
And while he admittedly cooled down a bit toward the end of training camp, some of that was simply due to him having to cover the safety position that was plagued by injuries. I thought flashing that versatility would only strengthen his case for the 53-man roster. Instead, Detroit favored guys like Ennis Rakestraw, who has more potential, and Khalil Dorsey, who is one of the team’s best special teamers.
