Just like that, the 2026 training camp for the Detroit Lions is over with. Despite it likely feeling like somewhat of an eternity for those in the building, it feels like it was just a few days ago that camp got underway in late July. Now we are into September, and the vast majority of the heavy lifting for the Lions’ roster is in the rearview mirror.
As always, there were some tough decisions that had to be made regarding who was going to stick on the active roster and who would not. All in all,
I believe they accomplished what Lions coach Dan Campbell set out to do earlier in the spring when he expressed a desire to get back to what they were about back in 2022 and 2023. In short, he wanted to get back to a high level of competition around the roster. They opted not to schedule any joint practices this summer, which is a changeup compared to the last several years. Campbell wanted to get their work in to prepare for the regular season, while also going about it in an intelligent manner.
In this episode of, “Before the Roar,” we highlight several Lions players from both sides of the ball that could end up being big contributors at some point during the 2026 season. Players like tight end Jackson Meeks, who made the active roster despite changing positions from wide receiver over the last year. Obviously he isn’t going to be an every-down player, but because of his unique skill set, there can certainly be a role for him depending on the situation or matchup. We also discuss the potential impact of guys like Jacob Saylors, Tom Kennedy, and Jimmy Rolder—among others.
You can watch the entire episode below, as well as listen wherever you get your podcasts.
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