Ahead of every Detroit Lions game in 2026, we will provide readers with an updated depth chart of the team’s roster based on what we are seeing at practices.
For this initial preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Lions have already said they plan on resting most of their starters, and based on the last few years of preseason games, that could mean approximately 25 to 28 players (give or take a few) from the Lions’ 90-man roster will sit this game out.
“I really don’t see playing a lot
of our guys,” coach Dan Campbell said earlier in the week. “We’ll play some of them. We’ll play some of our guys that are in these; we’ve got some competitions going on at spots, but you ask about (Jared) Goff, I don’t see Goff playing. And we’ll kind of gauge it as we go here.”
To help out your game viewing experience, here are a few keys to keep in mind when exploring this depth chart:
- Players’ numbers are listed (in parentheses)
- Projected starters are bolded
- An asterisk* identifies rookies
- Injuries are noted after a player’s name/number
- Be cautious of two players wearing the same number, including No. 2, 11, 12, 17, and 42
Lions depth chart: Preseason Game 1 vs. Bengals
Quarterback (3)
- Jared Goff (16) — Will not play, per coach Dan Campbell
- Luke Altmyer* (2)
- Josh Dobbs (6)
Here are a couple of excerpts from training camp where Campbell talks about the quarterback group:
“It’ll be Altmyer, who’s a rookie quarterback (to start). And then certainly Dobbs, but Dobbs just stepped in the door. So just learning our terminology.”
“Certainly Altmyer’s going to take a heavy load.”
Running back (7)
- Jahmyr Gibbs (0)
- Isiah Pacheco (10) — MCL strain
- Sione Vaki (33) — Broken nose, eye injury
- Jacob Saylors (25)
- Jabari Small (26) — Undisclosed injury
- Kye Robichaux (34)
- Raheem Blackshear (42)
Campbell on the reserve running backs competition:
“I feel like those two guys (Saylors and Small) are just jockeying with each other right now. One guy’s a little bit ahead. The next day, the other guy’s a little bit ahead. And I love where they’re at on special teams because that’ll be big for both of those players. But it’s a great opportunity for those guys.”
Wide receiver (11)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)
- Jameson Williams (1)
- Isaac TeSlaa (18)
- Greg Dortch (8)
- Dominic Lovett (19)
- Cedrick Wilson (86)
- Tay Martin (17)
- Tom Kennedy (85)
- Malik Cunningham (15)
- Lucky Jackson (11)
- Tarik Black (12)
Injured list
- Kendrick Law* (88) — Injured reserve
Campbell on wide receiver depth and competition beyond the top four:
“An all-out battle. That receiver room, this is the best receiver room we’ve had since I’ve been here in camp, top to bottom. I mean, those guys are gifted. It’s a really good crew, man. And they’re all pretty tough; they’re all a little bit different in the way they’re built. And every one of those guys has flashed on one day or another, has done something pretty damn good. So man, honestly, this thing’s up for grabs.”
Tight end (6)
- Sam LaPorta (87)
- Brock Wright (89)
- Tyler Conklin (83) — Slowly returning from calf injury
- Jackson Meeks (13)
- Thomas Gordon (82)
- Zach Horton (43)
Injured list
- Miles Kitselman* (84) — Injured reserve
Campbell on getting Jackson Meeks, who converted from WR to TE:
“The speed and the ability to separate, catch the football, it really has shown moving him to the tight end position. And I really felt like that’s where we needed to see the most. And then the other stuff will come, like the run game, the blocking. He’s strong, he’s tough, he’s willing. So, as long as you have that, I don’t care if you’re 220, you’ll be just fine. We can use you in a role. […] And I feel like he’s done some good things on special teams. So, we like Meeks. He’s got an opportunity.”
Offensive line (15)
Projected regular-season starters —> starters for this game
- LT Penei Sewell (58) —> LT Larry Borom (79)
- LG Christian Mahogany (73)
- C Cade Mays (64, wrist) —> C Seth McLaughlin (65)
- RG Tate Ratledge (69) —> RG Miles Frazier (71)
- RT Blake Miller* (76)
Best guess second-team OL for this game
- LT Miles Frazier (71)
- LG Melvin Priestly* (74)
- C/G Michael Niese (62)
- RG Mason Miller (63)
- T/G Colby Sorsdal (75)
Reserves unlikely to play due to injury
- C/G Juice Scruggs (70) — soft tissue injury
- G Ben Bartch (78) — undisclosed
- OT Devin Cochran (77) — undisclosed
Injured list
- OT Giovanni Manu (59) — Non-football injury (NFI)
Jared Goff on Seth McLaughin taking starting reps with Cade Mays out with a wrist injury):
“Yeah, he did a good job. He stepped in there nicely and didn’t miss much of a beat, mentally. […] I thought he did a good job.”
Interior defensive line (9)
- 3T Alim McNeill (54)
- DT Tyleik Williams (91)
- 3T/5T Levi Onwuzurike (95)
- 3T Mekhi Wingo (94) — groin
- DT Chris Smith (90)
- 3T Skyler Gill-Howard* (50)
- DT Myles Adams (96)
- DT Ben Stille (72)
- 3T Tyre West* (52)
Injured list
- NT Aidan Keanaaina* (60) — Injured reserve
Campbell on the interior defensive line depth and variety of skill sets:
“Certainly there’s some clay to mold, but between Wingo and (Gill-Howard) Sky, and certainly (McNeill) Mack and Levi’s (Onwuzurike) back, they all kind of bring a different flavor. […] We like the body types, the ability.”
EDGE (8)
- EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (97)
- EDGE DJ Wonnum (98)
- Big End Tyler Lacy (93)
- EDGE Derrick Moore* (9) — groin
- Big End Ahmed Hassanein (99)
- Rush End Anthony Lucas* (61)
- Rush End Eric O’Neill* (66)
- EDGE Payton Turner (92) — back
Campbell on Lacy starting in the “Big End” role in base formations:
“He’s a football guy. He’s a pro. This guy prepares. He practices hard. He’ll do whatever you ask him to do, run over there and take special teams reps. He doesn’t bat an eye. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s stout, he’s physical. And, so for that big end, especially big end in base, he’s like the perfect big end in base.”
Linebacker (11)
- MIKE Jack Campbell (46)
- SAM Derrick Barnes (55)
- WILL Malcolm Rodriguez (44) — ankle
- WILL Devin White (45)
- MIKE Jimmy Rolder* (41) — hamstring
- WILL Damone Clark (11) — undisclosed
- SAM Trevor Nowaske (53)
- MIKE Joe Bachie (35)
- WILL Erick Hunter (48)
- MIKE Troy Reeder (51)
- WILL Amen Ogbongbeniga (57)
Campbell on the addition of veteran Devin White, who is expected to compete with Rodriguez for a starting WILL role:
“I like where he’s at. He looks like a different guy than what we saw in Vegas last year on tape. I mean, he’s moving well, he’s thumping, pretty smart. He’s got speed, still has that speed. […] It’s pretty exciting right now; let’s see where he’s at. He’s going to play in his preseason game, and let’s see where he can go.”
Cornerback (8)
- CB D.J. Reed (4) — groin
- CB Rock Ya-Sin (23)
- CB Nick Whiteside (38)
- CB/NB Ennis Rakestraw (2)
- CB/NB Roger McCreary (21)
- CB Khalil Dorsey (30)
- NB/CB Keith Abney* (28)
- CB Ryan “Bump” Cooper (40)
Campbell on the ascension of Nick Whiteside:
“Well, you can’t ignore him. And a guy like him, a guy like him, he is rising. Here’s what I love about Ironsides (Whiteside) is it is not too big for him. He doesn’t care who’s across from him. […] This guy, it doesn’t matter who’s there. He’s going to try to use his craft and compete, and you love that. Special teams, he makes plays every day.”
Safety (7)
- S Avonte Maddox (29)
- S Chuck Clark (36)
- NB/S Christian Izien (27)
- S Thomas Harper (12)
- S Dan Jackson (17)
- S Loren Strickland (24)
- DB Aamaris Brown* (42)
Injured list
- S Brian Branch (PUP) — knee
- S Kerby Joseph (PUP) — Achilles
Campbell’s latest update on Kerby Joseph’s injury:
“His rehab is coming along very well. I still see him on the Branch plan (potentially practicing in September), if that makes sense. And Branch is doing well too. So those guys, we’re talking about on down the road, the season’s already begun, but I like where Kerby is at.”
Specialists (3)
- P Jack Fox
- K Jake Bates
- LS Hogan Hatten
Kick/punt specialists
- Kickoffs — Jake Bates (39)
- Holder — Jack Fox (3)
- Punt Returners — Greg Dortch (8); Dominic Lovett (19); Tom Kennedy (85)
- Kick Returners — Greg Dortch (8) and Jacob Saylors (25); Dominic Lovett (19) and Jabari Small (26)
- Gunners — Khalil Dorsey (30) and Christian Izien (27); Nick Whiteside (38) and Tay Martin (17)
- Personal protector (PP) — Loren Strickland (24); 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) Players listed in Red (with a white background) are currently dealing with an injury in training camp (listed above) and may not play in this game.
