With training camp just days away, it’s time to start our Bubble Watch series.
For those new to the site, every week during training camp and the preseason, our staff of 11 voters will make their predictions for every player we believe is currently on the roster bubble. We’ll both list out a chart of all of our votes, and break down all of the training camp battles and trends for each player.
We kick off the series by predicting the fate of 15 different players who I picked as entering training camp
on the roster bubble. Below are our predictions, and under that is a more detailed breakdown of each position battle.
Quarterback:
- Assumed in: Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater
- Luke Altmyer: 1 “IN” vote
For now, I believe Detroit’s top two quarterback positions are set. That could certainly change if Teddy Bridgewater struggles this preseason, but I think the Lions value his mentorship abilities too much to put him on the bubble.
That leaves the conversation as to whether undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer can justify a spot on Detroit’s 53-man roster as QB3. Entering camp, only one staffer—Brett Whitefield—has him in.
Running back:
- Assumed in: Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki
- Jacob Saylors: 9 “IN” votes
Again, some may take issue with Sione Vaki being an assumed in, but he’s arguably Detroit’s best special team player, and I don’t see the team departing with him. As of now, it really feels like only Jacob Saylors could justify keeping a fourth running back after a strong special teams outing in 2025. But if Kye Robichaux or Jabari Small show out in the preseason, they could work their way onto the bubble.
Wide receiver:
- Assumed in: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Greg Dortch
- Cedrick Wilson Jr.: 8 “IN” votes
- Dominic Lovett: 8 votes
- Tom Kennedy: 1 vote
- Jackson Meeks: 0 votes
Detroit’s 1-4 receivers feel pretty set for the time being, and most of our staff has the Lions keeping two others: veteran Cedrick Wilson Jr. and second-year wideout Dominic Lovett. But a few staffers had Detroit only keeping five receivers, and Tom Kennedy snuck in a vote after some surprise special team contributions last year.
I found it mildly surprising that Jackson Meeks didn’t receive a vote, but he also still feels like a bit of a project as he continues to work at both tight end and wideout.
Tight end:
- Assumed in: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright
- Tyler Conklin: 11 “IN” votes
- Miles Kitselman: 1 vote
- Zach Horton: 0 votes
It should be noted that most Pride of Detroit staffers made their predictions before Conklin was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to start training camp. However, we still don’t know the severity of the injury he suffered during spring practices, so it’s still very possible he wins the TE3 spot. That said, undrafted rookie Miles Kitselman—one of Detroit’s most praised UDFA signings—also managed to get in a vote. And if Conklin sits for an extended amount of practices, don’t be surprised if Kitselman, Meeks, or Horton start to get some hype.
Offensive tackle:
- Assumed in: Penei Sewell, Blake Miller, Larry Borom
- Giovanni Manu: 3 votes
- Colby Sorsdal: 0 votes
Is this the end of the line for Giovanni Manu? Just about three-fourths of our staff believe so. With the addition of Larry Borom as the clear preferred OT3, Manu will have to show enough growth to justify keeping a fourth offensive tackle. As of right now, the staff isn’t buying it.
Interior offensive line:
- Assumed in: Tate Ratledge, Cade Mays, Christian Mahogany, Miles Frazier
- Ben Bartch: 11 votes
- Juice Scruggs: 11 votes
- Seth McLaughlin: 0 votes
- Michael Niese: 0 votes
Even though the starting left guard position is up for grabs and there’s a lot of new competition among Detroit’s interior offensive line depth, the entire staff is unanimous agreement about the roster spots filled by this group. Ben Bartch will challenge for the starting left guard position—and should, at worst, be an upgrade of Michael Niese. Meanwhile, Juice Scruggs enters camp as the heavy favorite to win the backup center job.
