The Lions continue to add competition for the bottom end of their wide receiving room with the signing of Lawrence Keys. Let’s take a quick dive on Keys’ accomplishments in the world of football.

College

Keys’ spent 2019-2021 with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. None of his numbers were eye popping (18 receptions / 185 yards and no touchdowns, 10 kick returns, 3 punt returns). However, when he moved over to Tulane in 2022 and 2023, he grew as a player. He saw an uptick in receiving and returning (63 receptions / 895 yards / 9 touchdowns, 23 kick returns for 698 yards and an average of 26.8 yards).

NFL

This section will be a bit lacking. Keys’ signed as an undrafted free agent with the Buffalo Bills, but never recorded a stat in the NFL.

UFL

The UFL is where Keys found his footing. He played in 8 games in 2025, bringing in 17 receptions for 179 yards. In 2026 he got even better hauling in 24 receptions for 349 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also had 8 punt returns in 2025 (13.6 yard average), 10 punt returns in 2026 (12.2 yard average), 20 kick returns in 2025 (21.2 average), and 19 kick returns in 2026 (27.3 average).

Something I didn’t say in my last article regarding UFL players, is that I think they almost have to have a “grit” mentality. The UFL is not private jets and big paychecks, it is a developmental league of sorts. Keys’ could have chosen to leave the game when he didn’t catch on anywhere as any undrafted free agent. However, he chose to keep playing.

Athletic Profile

Keys’ Athletic profile is highlighted by his speed, specifically short area speed, though he is no slouch in a long field either (4.54 40 yard). He has a pretty decent short shuttle from his Pro Day at 4.32. All in all he has ok to good agility and good to great speed.

Lions Fit

I see one fit and one fit only for Keys’ personally, if he were to stick he would be a lesser version of what the Lions were wanting out of Kendrick Law. I would venture a guess he will fight to make the team for kick and punt returns, and could be a similar type of rb/wr combination that many expected Law to fill. However, with the likes of Greg Dortch and Tom Kennedy to fight with for kick and punt returns, he will also need to be a special teams contributor to catch on.

Only time will tell what happens, the Lions are certainly setting up a competition in training camp, and bringing in some of the best talent in the UFL to do so.

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Following the injury of Kendrick Law the Lions churned their roster a bit and signed Kyre Duplessis. However, they were not yet done. The Lions have churned their roster a bit more. The Lions have released wide receiver Kyre Duplessis and added wide receivers Tay Martin, Lucky Jackson, and Tarik Black (the latter two receivers of the UFL champion Louisville Kings). Contract details were not yet apparent for any of the signings. Let’s dig in and see what the Lions have added.

Tay Martin

Tay Martin is by far the most experienced receiver of the group. He comes from a five year collegiate career (at Washington State and Oklahoma State), amassing 2810 yards on 95 receptions and 10 touchdowns. He spent time with the 49ers, Titans, and Commanders as an undrafted free agent, logging 4 receptions for 72 yards. Martin’s athletic profile is good, but not great, with his short area quickness being his best trait.

Standing 6’3” and 186 lbs with NFL experience, Martin may have the easiest path to sticking with the Lions. His size being a key trait the Lions may look to add.

Lucky Jackson

Lucky Jackson spent 4 years at Western Kentucky, and had a productive career. Bringing in 210 receptions for 2691 yards, and 13 touchdowns in college. However, while he has played in three regular season games in the NFL (all for the Minnesota Vikings), he has yet to record a stat.

He did catch on with the Louisville Kings in the UFL, and was productive in doing so, logging 32 receptions for 392 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

Standing 6’0” and 186 lbs (the same is Tay Martin, weirdly enough), his calling card of athleticism is speed. He looks to have speed in the realm of a 4.42 40.

Tarik Black

Lions fans may know a little bit about Tarik Black. Black spent 3 years at Michigan and one at Texas bringing in 50 receptions for 747 yards and 3 touchdowns. While he did play one game for the Jets, he logged only one reception for 10 yards. His UFL career has been good this year, logging 27 receptions for 388 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Another tall receiver at 6’ 2”, with elite explosion grades, good speed, and good agility. There is no question Black is athletic enough for the NFL. The question is, can he use it to set himself apart from the pack of receivers on the Lions.

So what?

So what? There’s not a lot of promises for these guys coming into the Lions at this point. However, if we know anything about this team, it is that no matter what your draft position is, you have a chance to fight for a position. No matter if that is WR6, sole special teams contributor, or practice squad player.

If I had to choose one to watch, I would give it to Lucky Jackson. He is a bit older at 28, that’s true. But he doesn’t have a ton of wear on his body, and he has good speed. Kalif Raymond was one of the players that was able to stretch the field for the Lions, and he is no longer with the team. Jackson may be able to find a place stretching the field, and thus may be able to make the 53 man roster.

One final note, Dan Campbell has talked about how the Lions like UFL players as they have played on a “next level” stage. Might I remind you Jake Bates fought for a position on this team as a UFL standout. This just goes to show, if one of these young men can show out in camp, they certainly could have a place on the Lions roster.

Dan Campbell met with the media today ahead of day one of Mandatory Minicamp. While not a lot changed, listening to this press conference I think we saw a little more of the jovial and open coach Campbell that we have seen in previous years. Was he completely off the rails, and threatening to eat kneecaps? No, I think we’re past that. It was a different type of jovial though, more measured and approached. Let’s dig right in to the quick hits on what he had to say

On Players Being Held Out

Coach Campbell stated the “norms” would be held out, so it’s safe to assume Kirby, Branch, and LaPorta (somewhat). He did go on to state that LaPorta would be walking through but not at full speed.

On LaPorta’s Readiness for Training Camp

Coach Campbell stated “We like where he’s going, he’s trending the right way”. So it’s safe to assume no setbacks, and the Lions offense will likely have their top Tight End back in the fold for training camp.

On Rakestraw and Ya-Sin’s Illness

Coach Campbell stated both will be back and working for minicamp.

On Ben Bartch and the Offensive Line

Coach Campbell stated Ben Barch will be back for training camp.

Later on, Coach Campbell spoke at length about the battle at left guard:

“Listen, it’s open. Mahogany is very much in that. He played a couple of games for us in ‘24. Started for us until he had the injury, came back and started again. So we know he’s got ability, he’s got potential. [But] there’s a reason why we brought in Bartch, there’s a reason why Frazier is here, there’s a reason why all those guys are in there, we may try Manu a little bit. We’re gonna let this thing go and see what happens. And it will be good, it will be good for all of them. When you have someone nipping at your heels you’re constantly having to compete with and push, and you guys are all competing for the same thing, it’s good for everybody. Yeah he’s in the running. We expect him to compete, we expect him to put his best foot forward and play some of his best football.”

On the Competition Ramping Up

Coach Campbell didn’t depart from his stance that the real work comes when they get to training camp: “The competition has been good, it’s been good, you see what it’s going to be, what it can become going into training camp, it becomes live, real bullets are flying. That fires us up”

On Dan Jackson and Colby Sorsdahl

Coach Campbell didn’t offer ringing endorsements of either Jackson or Sorsdahl, but he didn’t put them down either. He did mention how Jackson stayed around and stayed in the playbook when he was injured, and how this would be his first real chance at real reps. He stated “our eyes are open” and that “He’s got to start playing now”

Specifically on Sorsdahl:

“He’s the same. He’s with the rest of those guys. Listen, our eyes are open. Every year whether it’s free agency or draft or any of these you’re acquiring competition. That’s really what you’re doing. And then obviously the more you invest in somebody, you feel like that’s probably the guy that’s going to take that spot. But that’s not a guarantee…”

On Personal Burnout

I have burned out, and I loved this question along the mental health and personal care vein. Coaching has to be one of the most demanding careers I have heard of. Coach Campbell opened up a bit on it:

“I try to be mindful of that, I try to get the work done but also be as smart as I can in the offseason. I feel like every year you’re a little more in tune with that and yourself. I’m not perfect about it. This job is consuming, but I love it, we love it. I’m sure most coaches will tell you that. It’s addictive, it’s consuming, that’s where you gotta be careful. I’ll have a chance to step away for a minute and you know, be ready to go”

He also was asked about a retreat the coaching staff took to Petosky, and while he didn’t provide many details, it sounds as though it was a welcome respite.

On Isaac TeSlaa

Coach Campbell perked up a bit when asked about how it seemed as though they tried to use TeSlaa more when Campbell took over play calling last year. He stated they simply wanted to get him going, just like Jamo, Saint, and Gibbs (paraphrasing). He did say they felt like there was “a lot more meat on the bone”. He stated furthermore that TeSlaa was not the issue last year, and that he is “steady” and “feels like a veteran now”.

We may want to keep an eye on this. It really sounded like TeSlaa may have even more chances coming his way in the Lions offense that already has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to pass catchers.

On Sione Vaki

Coach Campbell stated Vaki was “pound for pound he’s one of our best athletes”. But he says the running back side is raw. And a lot of that is injury. “He’s another guy, our eyes are open” If he helps them to move the ball, they will get him on the field.

Wrapping Up

The “eyes are open” quote was used a lot by Campbell today. This should be no surprise. It certainly sounds like it doesn’t matter who you are or what your draft stock is. If you show the ability, they will put you on the field. This is exactly what the Lions should be doing, not worrying about sunk costs, and worrying about results.

All in all not a ton to unpack, but in the middle of June, I think we will all take whatever football news we can get.

There is not much of a more divisive player from Brad Holmes’ tenure than Ennis Rakestraw. Why is he so divisive? To put it simply, his inability to see the field. Since being selected in the 2nd round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Rakestraw has managed to find the field in only 8 games. He has notched only 9 solo tackles. For a 2nd round pick, that’s nearly no return on investment. However, a glimmer of hope came out of Dan Campbell’s presser that got me thinking today…

Coach Campbell stated in regards to Rakestraw “He’s had a good spring… He’s been out there every day. This year he had a lot of time to really not only rehab but man work back there with [various strength and training staff]. He’s adding a little bit of bulk, he is a little more dense than he was. That’s always going to help the body. But there’s nothing to say, there’s nothing that will tell me that he won’t be prepared, and physically prepared to go into training camp.”

Normally, a single quote from Coach Campbell is nice, but we’ve heard him talk up guys before. He is a coach who builds people up, not tears them down. Generally you find his dissatisfaction in what he doesn’t say, not what he says. However, I think it’s important to note that while Terrion Arnold has finished up his rehab, “word on the street” is that Rakestraw has been repping with the first team.

Perhaps, just perhaps, Rakestraw sees the writing on the wall and has been putting in that extra work. Perhaps he has been showing that grit to get himself back into shape so he can stay on the field, and thus he is earning more reps. So, lets turn back the clock to Rakestraw’s college career and look at what the Lions saw in him when they drafted him (image below per College Football Reference)

You see, he is not an interception machine, but 79 solo tackles and 28 assists over 36 games isn’t terrible at all. Add in a number of TFLs (and/or getting into the back field). If I had to guess, I would bet the Lions picked him up for his ability to come up from coverage and make those tackles. To change on the fly and jump up to play the run. If he can find that, and can add some weight to make himself more available, there may be something here.

His athleticism shows good short line speed with a 1.52 10 yard split. Again, the ability to quickly come up from coverage and get to the tackle, this tracks. The rest of his athleticism is not terrible either, but the 10 yard split is where he separates himself. I think we can see what the Lions saw in him and how he fits their defense.

I’m sure you have all read and seen how I love a good underdog, and Rakestraw is no exception. However, why would I want him to fail? As a Lions fan I am always going to root for the unlikely injured player to stay healthy (so many times with Marcus Davenport). This situation is a little more likely now, though, given his additional training. Perhaps this can be the one thing that will turn this draft pick from borderline bust to solid contributor. I think we can all agree that would be welcome development in his career, and an unlikely boon for the Lions DB room.

The Lions’ have a lot of positions that are likely already set in stone coming into the offseason. Take, for instance, offensive tackle. It’s a foregone (and safe) conclusion that the Lions will have Blake Miller at right tackle, and Penei Sewell at left tackle. However, the roster is far from written in stone. If you know me, you also know I love a good underdog story. Let’s dig in on four Lions underdogs who have a chance to break the 53 man roster.

Ahmed Hassanein - Defensive End

I have loved Hassanein since he was selected by the Lions in the sixth round of last year’s draft. I became even more endeared with him when the Lions waived him with an injury settlement, and he came back to the team that drafted him despite other opportunities. He has shown he is loyal. However, the value doesn’t stop there: Hassanein has good/solid athleticism (see RAS below), and he has very little wear on his tires given he didn’t even start playing football until high school. Add in his 24 sacks at Boise State (largely tallied in his last two years) and you have potential.

He has an uphill climb behind the likes of Aidan Hutchinson, Derrick Moore, DJ Wonnum, and the oft injured Payton Turner. However, if the Lions can raise his level of play just a bit, I truly believe he can become a rotational player, and a feel good story for all Lions players and fans alike.

Thomas Harper - Safety

I really feel like Thomas Harper has an opportunity ahead of him. I do understand the Lions have the likes of Christian Izien and Avante Maddox who are going to be the first players off the bench when it comes to Kirby and Branch missing time. However none of us should sleep on Thomas Harper.

Did he give up a bit too much in coverage? The answer is yes, but many times I saw the flashes. Since coming into the league he has notched 63 tackles, half a sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 interceptions, and 7 pass deflections. None of that happens by accident. If there is any time for him to take the next step, it is now. Keep an eye on Harper, I am not convinced we won’t see him getting more time this year than last.

Jay Tufele - Defensive Tackle / Nose Tackle

This offseason the Lions lost DJ Reader and Roy Lopez, both are nose tackles who were critical to the defensive line. If the Lions deploy the defensive line in the same way they have in the past, then that means it’s time to start looking at Jay Tufele. Now, I don’t have stats to back this one up, this is based on nothing more than a gut feeling. However… Let’s talk through this.

Roy Lopez was not expected to be anything special last year with the Lions. He was likely looked at as a reserve option to DJ Reeder and nothing more. However, he turned out to be very productive in the middle of the Lions’ line. Even if they do change the defensive deployment, Kelvin Sheppard has shown he knows how to effectively use nose tackles. Tufele is plenty athletic for a nose tackle, and was picked in the fourth round by the Jaguars in 2021 for a reason. I have a very strong feeling that if he can take the direction of Sheppard, he has a chance to be a piece in the middle of the defense. Having a giant body to soak up gaps won’t hurt anything either.

Of course none of this means anything until the production shows up. I may be wrong on all accounts. But if there is one team where these players have a chance, it’s the Lions. The Lions have shown how much you make, where you are drafted, or what you have done in the past doesn’t mean anything to them. Simply show up, take direction, and show them you have what it takes to play. I think all three of these guys have that potential.

In Dan Campbell’s most recent press conference he stated outright that Jahmyr Gibbs would be the Lions bellcow back moving forward. With the addition of Pacheco, and players like Vaki and

Saylers on the roster, what does this mean for them? Let’s dive in and see what we are likely to see in the upcoming year from the Lions running back room.

The first thing that came to my mind was simply breaking down how many snaps are given to a bellcow back from a percentage perspective. The one bellcow back that really came to mind was Saquon Barkley from the 2024/2025 season with the Eagles (shoutout to my aunt who is a big Eagles fan), where he rushed for 2005 rushing yards. If you break down the numbers, Barkley rushed for 345 snaps, and the Eagles rushed for 478 snaps. Meaning Saquon rushed for 72% of snaps. We have our baseline.

For Lions data, I am going to go back to the 2024/2025 season as well. This is given that the Lions struggled to rush last year with their offensive line problems, and rushed less than they had previously from a snap perspective. In 2024/2025 the Lions rushed for 534 snaps, a 72% share of those snaps is 384, divided over 17 games is 23 snaps (rounded up). The remaining snaps are 150, divided over 17 games gives us 9 snaps remaining (rounded up). Because of rounding and such, let’s take Gibbs share down to 22, and bring the remaining snaps to 10.

Given all the data, I think this a pretty clear picture has been painted. There is going to be a share of snaps for RB2 (outside of Gibbs), and probably next to none for RB3. The Craig Reynolds days are done in Detroit, and honestly, I think that is alright. I am excited to see what happens when they shift the rushing methodology.

Furthermore I think this will be a very good thing for RB2 Pacheco (whom I really like). Pacheco has struggled under a heavier running load as of late, with both production and injury. He seems (in my opinion) to come out fresh early, and then fall off. The hope would be, limiting his snaps will play a dual purpose role. For his 10 snaps he should be fresh and ready to go, that’s number one. Secondly, if Gibbs were to need a game or two, Pacheco should be ready to go and fresh enough to fill in on a more consistent basis (with a much larger split for Vaki or Saylers). It makes sense for all parties involved, and aligns with the contract Pacheco was willing to take.

Finally, I do think there could be a snap or two a game either added or taken from Pacheco or Gibbs (or added outright) and given to Vaki or Saylers. Just enough to keep them ready in case they are needed unexpectedly on gameday. We don’t want them getting too rusty.

At the end of the day this is all speculation, none of us will know what is going to happen until the Lions hit the field. However, things are likely to look much different this year. Or who knows? Perhaps this is all a smoke screen. I just think Dan’s comments align far too well with the reality of the roster to be a smoke screen. Only time will tell.

As everyone is now aware, the Lions lost WR Kendrick Law to a torn ACL this week. However the Lions wasted no time reloading and adding UDFA Rookie WR Kyre Duplessis to the roster. Let’s take some time and figure out what he can bring to the table in an already crowded Wide Receiver room.

Duplessis comes from four largely unproductive years at Coastal Caroline followed by a breakout year after transferring to Delaware, where he logged 60 receptions for 824 yards and 5 touchdowns (see image per CFB Reference Below). The question here is can he build upon the upgraded productivity given the large jump from CUSA competition to the NFL.

As far as punt and/or kick returns, he worked in a limited fashion. Returning only 3 punts and 2 kicks. However, one of his punt returns did turn into a touchdown, so maybe there is something there (see image per CFB Reference Below).

Exploring his athletic testing, I was not able to find anything in the RAS database I normally use for him. However draftscout.com was able to provide his pro day numbers. His athleticism is not as high end as Kendrick Law’s was, but it’s nothing to scoff at either.

Tape on Duplessis showed a stark difference to Kendrick Law’s tape. What he lacks in athleticism (again not terrible, just not as good as Law), he makes up for in his ability to run more traditional routes. He doesn’t jump super high but he can go up and get the ball a little. Not a ton of “shake” to his game, but he is not entirely un-elusive. He has decent speed, perhaps the Lions could use him as a gadget player of sorts playing between RB and WR kind of like some folks thought would be done with Law.

At the end of the day, he has similar size to Law, but that’s about where the similarities stop. Can he break the Lions 53 man roster? Perhaps if he can add more to his game in the offseason. Only time will truly tell. While he is less raw, I am just not seeing it at this point.

Dan Campbell’s press conferences as of late have struck a different tone. I would suggest that MCDC seems less jovial and more focused. It is apparent he has not let the pain from missing the playoffs last year fade, and he is not taking anything for granted. Let’s dive in on my top five take-aways from Campbell’s presser and finish up with some quick hits.

1. Kendrick Law - ACL Tear

Before his NFL career has even begun, Kendrick Law has suffered a setback. To be honest he was a long stretch for the roster in my opinion. As time went on he became my least favorite draft pick. However I kept hoping he would prove me wrong, perhaps as a punt and/or kick returner as Jeff Risdon of Detroit Lions Podcast has suggested over multiple podcasts.

Side note, I do not believe we should be overly concerned about this happening so quickly in OTAs as Kendrick Law has spent far more time in his own training and playing and training in Kentucky than with the Lions. If you think about it, he’s likely barely gotten to know the lay of the land (Thanks to Silver & Blues regular contributor MCBC for talking through this with me). Jimmy Liao MD of Detroit Lions Morning Rounds reports that he should be ready for OTAs in 2027, and definitely ready for the 2027 season.

2. Rest and Training Prioritized

Towards the beginning of the presser Dan expressed how today would be a low work day coming off of two days of good work for the players, but that they would continue to focus on training. He stressed how training is important. I think this just continues to show how the Lions are making sure they are approaching this year differently, and are working to be preventative with injuries. Much like the removal of rookie minicamp.

3. On Gibbs Workload

“[Gibbs] is gonna be our bellcow now. He really became more of that last year. But we’re gonna hang our hat on him quite a bit. We’re gonna do a lot of things he does well.” He continued on to complement Gibbs on his ability to do things well in many different schematic deployments. Nonetheless, this doesn’t come as much of a surprise, and likely is good for both Pacheco (who has been prone to injury under heavy snap loads) and Gibbs.

4. On Kirby Joseph, and His Confidence Level on His Productivity

“I don’t know. I honestly do not know. I know this, we have done everything we can do, and he has done everything he can do to this point. And we are trying to be as smart as we can and not push this until we absolutely have to. Because once we’ve done that, then we will know one way or the other. And it’s not worth it right now.” He went on to say “I feel good about that, that we’ve done everything we can and so has he. We probably won’t know until we get into the thick of training camp.” I think this all aligns with expectations for what could prove to be a chronic knee injury requiring long term management. I am supportive of the rest approach, and think that it just furthers the Lion’s more conservative approach to injury management.

5. On What Can Be Done for the Offense at this Point in the Year

“...Solve issues. Create Issues and Solve issues [and] we’re doing a much better job of that this time this year from last year.”

Given the issue running the ball down the stretch last year, and the hot and cold offense of last year, this is appropriate stuff to hear. You want to be troubleshooting that offense, fixing what you can, and doing a smoke test to find where additional problems lie

Quick Hits:

• For Spring, Campbell likes the progress DJ Reed has made bouncing back from his significant hamstring injury. That paired with the fact that he has been starting in drills, I think all looks good for a productive and needed cornerback.

• Campbell observed Petzing is doing a good job tying the offense together. He didn’t say it, but it sounds like what he was getting at is that it is more cohesive. Furthermore, he expressed how Petzing helped with communication on the offense. I always wondered last year if they may have been having communication problems at times, perhaps this was a way of saying that without bashing on Morton (previous OC).

• Campbell wanted to see if they could add more juice to the pass rush this year. However, he stressed that the players have to be able to do everything, especially play the run. I think this clarification helps us understand why Al-Qadin Muhammad was allowed to walk this year, as playing the run was a weakness of his. Derrick Moore and DJ Wonnum can both play the run well, so we can start to build a picture of how Campbell and Holmes are hoping to adjust the defense. (He also talked about interior pass rush and was not solely focused on the edges)

• Luke Altmyer appears to be doing exactly what they expected him to at this point. Said he is getting the ball to the right places at the right times and picking things up well. Campbell opened by stressing that Altmyer doesn’t lack confidence. I was a huge Hendon Hooker fan, but I really never saw that confidence out of him. He always seemed to be wide eyed and almost scared. I am hopeful that Altmyer can become the developmental QB the Lions badly need.

A lot of information for a fourteen minute presser, but good stuff no matter who you are. Campbell may be holding things a bit close to his chest with his new approach, but he still gives good information on what is going on, and I will always appreciate that about him.

The Lions continue to adjust, tweak, and finalize things for the 2026 season and beyond. It goes far beyond the roster, with the addition of Chris Grier to their front office in the position of Personnel Executive.

Grier joins the Lions with a rich history in the NFL that includes both the Patriots and Dolphins. In the latter he advanced all the way from the position of Scout to General manager, giving him a lot of perspective in how the league works, and what it takes to succeed and fail in the evaluation of talent. Lions fans may remember former Dolphins first round draft pick Charles Harris who was a flash in the pan in Detroit when he was signed shortly after the hiring of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell. Harris notched 7.5 sacks, 65 tackles, and 15 QB hits in 2021 before returning to his middling ways in 2022 and beyond (see graphic below courtesy of Pro Football reference).

Initially I was questioning this signing, given how the Dolphins have fared from both a talent and roster construction perspective. I would argue the Dolphins made questionable decisions over his tenure. Furthermore, the team didn’t produce from a record perspective, which is a combination of coaching and player performance. However, his picks certainly weren’t all misses.

Why should we not be concerned about this move? Much like John Dorsey (Senior Personnel Executive with the Lions) , he is a former NFL GM with a seat at the table to let his voice be known. If we have learned anything about this Lions team it is that they function in a collaborative way for many decisions. I highly doubt that Grier is going to be making any decisions on his own, and rather will provide another perspective for Brad Holmes to consider. This isn’t a bad thing at all. It simply provides more information from a professional that has been around the block in the NFL.

Welcome to a new series here at Silver & Blues, outlining some of the most memorable Lions games in the modern history of Detroit as we wait for football to return to us in the fall. Today let’s turn the clock back to 2009 in a very memorable game at a time where there was not much to hope for.

November 22, 2009 - Browns @ Lions, Ford Field Detroit

Things were not going well for Detroit. Heading into this game the Lions stood at a record of 1 and 8 coming into week 10 of the 2009 season. The Lions offense was still finding its footing behind the likes of Dante Culpepper and rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions defense was still finding its identity as well. The city of Detroit, and the Detroit Lions, were still reeling from the 0-16 record the previous year, and were hoping to put some gas in the tank to finish strong. Hope came in the form of Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and Jim Schwartz.

Cleveland Comes Out Hot, The Lion Sleeps… for now

The game started out with the Lions and Browns trading field goals (The Lions FG kicked by none other than old man Hanson). However the Browns then went on a tear, with Brady Quinn throwing touchdowns to the likes of Mohamed Massaquoi, Chansi Stuckey, and Joshua Cribbs. I was not there, but I can imagine the air being sucked out of Ford Field as Lions fans braced for another brutal loss. However, the day was not over yet, in fact, the first quarter wasn’t even over.

Some would argue this is the game the Lions started to feel different. Started to… fan the embers of hope that something might just be brewing in Motown. On this day, it started with a 26 yard pass from Matthew Stafford to Aaron Brown bringing the score to 24-10 Cleveland.

The Lions Awaken

This is when the Lions and Matthew Stafford woke up. In later years games like this would become classics. Where Stafford lifted the game on to his shoulder and played what some call “hero ball”.

Stafford proceeded to throw a 25 yard pass to Kevin Smith for a touchdown. A 75 yard pass to Calvin Johnson for a touchdown. A 1 yard pass to Will Heller for a touchdown. Through the 2nd and 3rd quarter the Lions scored 3 touchdowns where the Cleveland Browns were held to a field goal and a safety on Stafford. Heading into the 4th quarter the game was tight and hope was truly alive again.

The Injury, The Legend

Most Lions fans know what happened next. Part way through the fourth quarter Cleveland was up 37-31 after a Brady Quinn pass to Michael Gaines, the Lions just couldn’t hold them one more time. As Stafford was marching down the field with little time left, he took a nasty sack causing a very apparent injury to his left shoulder.

However, the Browns gave the Lions one more chance to come back, and to earn the badge of the Cardiac Cats we all knew for so many years. The Browns lined up with too many men on the field and were forced to call a timeout, that stopped the clock and gave the Lions one untimed down to try to seal the game. It seemed as though Dante Culpepper would make his way in to relieve Stafford. We have all seen the videos though. Stafford realized that he could now substitute in.

Stafford lined up, took the snap, and threw the game winning touchdown to Brandon Pettigrew. With a separated shoulder that would sideline him for the rest of the year. The crowd went wild.

While this game was 17 years ago now, it has one quality that we see much more often with the Lions of today: Grit. This game is exactly what Dan Campbell preaches about. He had nothing to do with it and the game was many many years ago. However, you can see it in this game, and I am glad this is how we play football today. (Lets stay away from Goff trying anything like Stafford did though)

OTAs are underway, and while there are no pads involved yet, we have our first taste of NFL football since the superbowl. While we don’t know a ton for sure, there is a lot to talk about. Let’s dive right in!

Jared Goff Shows Early Confidence in Petzing

Jared Goff was supportive of John Morton early, and he is giving the same treatment to Petzing. He is quoted as saying the following (per 97.1 the ticket)

“He’s got a great feel for what it’s like to run an offense and run a room and how to balance volume with intentionally attacking a defense ... There’s a lot more to it than just drawing up plays, and he’s got that extra part to it. “

Maybe I am reading a bit too much into it, but I think what we saw in the Morton “era” in Detroit was an inability to run a balanced and nuanced offense. Perhaps this was Goff simply explaining that he appreciates that Petzing knows how to run the “whole offense” whereas it became apparent that Morton struggled to do the same. I’m not saying Goff is digging at Morton, I am simply saying Goff may be thankful for what he missed before.

Incumbent Starter Mahogany Back at Left Guard

Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit has reported that “the most common” lineup of starters on the offensive line seen at OTAs on Friday was Sewell at Left Tackle, Mahogany at Left Guard, Mays at Center, Ratledge at Right Guard, and Miller at Right Tackle. None of this should come as a surprise to any of us. The only real positionary battle on the offensive line is likely to be the Left Guard spot.

The only observation I will provide here is it is simply too early to know if this is how things will stick long term. If Mahogany returns to form he likely is the best option at the position, however Frazier did flash real potential in his limited snaps last year. While it may be a bit lackluster, this should be a position we all keep a close eye on.

Three Linebacker Sets Return

A question I had heading into OTAs was if the Lions would change their personnel deployment. Jeremy Reisman reported that it was business as usual with the Lions continuing to use three linebacker sets. Furthermore they seemed to use the same defensive deployment as last year.

I am not sure if this is where the defense lands, I at least see some shakeups on the DL and how they are deployed coming. I also believe we will see more two linebacker sets. Let’s also remember that not every practice is open to the media, so they may have simply moved past that phase.

Strike a Pose

A lot can be ascertained from what the Detroit Lions official social media accounts put out. The usual suspects were seen there, Jack Campbell, Derek Barnes, Aiden Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and many more. I did note that Isiah Pacheco looked fast and completely ripped. However, perhaps more could be said of those who we wanted to see and didn’t.

No Terrion Arnold, Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, or Sam LaPorta. Campbell addressed the latter three stating they were all improving. Word has largely been very optimistic around Sam LaPorta. I don’t think we will get much more word on Branch or Joseph. Arnold actually was there but had a red no contract jersey on as reported by Jimmy Liao MD, and he called this a “mild disappointment”.

Quick Levi Update

On the health front Dan Campbell also stated “I liked where Levi Onwuzurike’s at and I’ll leave it at that. He’s working. He feels good.” That is about as good as we could hope for. Jimmy Liao MD has a great breakdown on him in this article:

Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds

Levi Onwuzurike & Josh Paschal: Lions contract tolling and injury analysis

News recently dropped that Lions soon-to-be free agents Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal surprisingly are still under contract for the 2026 season due to obscure tolling rules…

Read more

4 months ago · 5 likes · Jimmy Liao MD

And Finally…

The Detroit Lions may have the best social media team in the business, and thus I give you their creation, the many emotions of Jack Campbell:

Final Note: Pride of Detroit’s breakdown of Friday’s OTA is really informative and well written and is worth a read: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-analysis/165116/detroit-lions-ota-week-1-practice-observations-notes

OTAs are upon us. If you’re not familiar, these are organized team activities that are bringing the players back and give us our first taste of the Lions new roster. Let’s quickly dig in on a few story lines to follow during the next few days.

Logjam at Left Guard

The incumbent starter, Christian Mahogany, returns at Left Guard for OTAs. However, the burning question here is will he continue to be the starter at this position. The Lions have no lack of potentially capable replacements. Let;s not forget that Christian Mahogany looked pretty rough last year. Players to watch are Miles Frazier, Ben Bartch, and Juice Scruggs.

QB2 Old or New?

When the Lions signed Teddy Bridgewater I sighed a sigh of relief. In the limited time we have seen him serve as the Lions backup he has been capable. However, let’s not forget that he retired last year before returning this year. The question is, did his play drop off at all? Or is Luke Altmyer poised to take a step and snag Bridgewater’s spot?

RB3 Vaki?

Is Vaki really the RB3? I tend to think not. I don’t see his usage beyond special teams working out. Erik Schlitt from Pride of Detroit tends to disagree, and sees the upside. I lean more the Jacob Saylors route, who was very productive in the UFL not that long ago. If you consider the improved offensive line in front of him, perhaps he could be the RB3 and unseat Vaki

Is Laporta really good to go?

The most burning question for me is if Sam LaPorta is good to go and play? I’ve read a lot of things leaning the way as of late, but also a lot of skeptical writers. Any information we can obtain from OTAs about Laporta’s health would be helpful to put these debates to bed one way or the other.

Who is the Lions Nickel?

Finally, who is the Lions new nickel? There are no lack of options: Roger McCreary, Ennis Rakestraw, Christian Izien, Keith Abney. This battle is going to be the most fun to watch, especially as we head into training camp.

There are no definitive answers, but definitely questions we can dig into as Lions news drops over the next few days.

Just when we think Brad Holmes is done shaking the free agent tree, he changes things up! The Lions have signed veteran receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. Contract terms are not readily apparent, but it is likely safe to say he will bring close to veterans minimum with little to no guaranteed money.

Wilson was drafted 208th in round 6 of the 2018 NFL Draft. His athletics are solid but not elite, with his hughes marks coming with a borderline elite vertical jump. Wilson will be 31 for the 2026 NFL season making him markedly one of the oldest veterans on the Lions. Wilson most recently from Miami, and has history in New Orleans in 2024, and Dallas from 2019 through 2021. During his time in the league he has amassed 126 catches for 1524 yards, an average of 12.1 yards per reception. He had a relative down year last year, playing in only 10 games, and only logging 5 receptions for 44 yards.

Where does Wilson stack on the Lions depth chart? I would say he comes in close to the bottom (if not dead last) with the opportunity to work his way up. He reminds me a lot of the Allen Robinson signing in 2024. In my opinion he is here to be a veteran presence in the receiver room, and push Jackson Meeks and Dominic Lovett. He also (as with Robinson) could find himself as a practice squad stash who comes up when/if the Lions are dealing with a short term injury to one of their other receivers.

While the Wilson signing may not move the needle, it comes with little downside. We know how Jared Goff liked veteran Tim Patrick, perhaps a similar type of relationship could bloom. We simply have to wait and see.

I’m excited to come back to a Silver & Blues mailbag for the offseason. I’ll likely be putting these out every few weeks to field any questions subscribers (or non subscribers) may have. If you have any other questions that you don’t see this time, please feel free to comment below and I will address them in the next mailbag. That all said, let’s dig in! The great thing about this week’s mailbag is, while it is two separate questions they are very much in the same vein.

Garrett C asks: “Compared to last year how improved is the depth across the board and specifically the LB core?”

So, overall I feel better about the depth of the whole team at a high level for one very specific reason: The Lions are trying to address their health problem. Jimmy Liao MD of Detroit Lions morning rounds has a great article that not only breaks down the lower relative age and health concerns of the Lions draft picks, but also recaps the lower average age and medical concern of the free agents, that article can be found here. The nutshell is the Lions got considerably younger and more dependable from a statistical standpoint. At the end of the day, none of this matters if nothing changes during the season. However, I think the Lions have taken a step in the right direction.

Now, zeroing in on the linebacker core, I feel they have done a very good job of building depth with additions like Jimmy Rolder and Damone Clark. A lot of folks have surmised that the Erick Hunter signing (UDFA LB out of Morgan State signed for 3 years) is more of a special teams pickup. However, I think this signals something bigger, which is a potential schematic change (I’ll get into that more in the next question).

The only real hole I see in the linebacker room is the Alex Anzalone role of a solid coverage linebacker. So either there is going to be a change in how personnel are used, or they are expecting Rolder or someone else to step into that role this year. Take a moment and think back to when Anzalone broke his arm and missed a considerable amount of time. It wasn’t pretty if you could make it past our defensive line.

You can find a full depth chart breakdown I did recently here. In a nutshell I ranked linebacker as a 1/5 need specifically because of the lack of a true coverage linebacker. If they had filled that role I would have them at a 0/5.

Sam Doornbos asks: “Is the defensive scheme going to change at all with new personnel or will it be the same as last year? And does anybody know the real health situation for Branch and Joseph?”

Lets tackle the defensive scheme first: This plays right into the earlier question. We could assume that the Lions are just planning to try to make Rolder work in coverage at the LB spot, or someone else like Jack Campbell. However, I think the linebacker room signals a potential change in personnel usage. We may see less three linebacker sets, and more use of a nickel corner who can tackle such as Roger McCreary or Keith Abney. Erick Hunter also would be a great player for this type of change as he has played linebacker, but is built more like a defensive back. We also could see safeties coming up to play the run more, however they are currently in short supply on this roster.

As far as the real health situation with Branch and Joseph, I don’t think anyone knows the full truth. What we do know is Kerby’s knee is likely going to require long term management which is never a great thing. Branch will be back, but not until mid way through the season. I rated safety as one of the Lions biggest standing needs in my recent article, and this is why. Branch probably won’t be fully himself until next year even when he hits the field. We can only hope that Kerby can play the whole season. Avante Maddox is a solid starter until Branch gets back but he’s not perfect. Izien and Hunter could help out here as well.

Knowing how the Lions are trying to get more healthy, but have left safety a pretty pressing need, makes me think they have something planned. We simply don’t know what yet.

Jimmy Liao MD also has an article on postseason injury updates which can be found here.

Welcome to a new series here at Silver & Blues, outlining some of the most memorable Lions games in the modern history of Detroit as we wait for football to return to us in the fall. Today let’s step back to the 2011 season of the Lions. Back when the likes of Stafford, Burleson, Best, Scheffler, and of course Smith were playing for our Lions.

Jahvid Best Injured

In week 6 of the 2011 season, Jahvid Best suffered a concussion which led to him ultimately being placed on season ending injured reserve. However, before sustaining his concussion he had managed to rush for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns and an average of 4.6 yards per attempt. Things seemed pretty bright, until his concussion. However, this led to a very memorable comeback for another well known Lions running back.

Kevin Smith: From the Couch to the Turf

While Kevin Smith hadn’t panned out always for the Lions to this point, they needed a running back in the worst way. Kevin Smith was unsigned to this point in the season, but brought with him a familiarity with Detroit and the scheme being run, so it made perfect sense to sign him right off his couch. He signed with the Lions on November 6, 2011, and found himself thrust into action almost immediately.

A Messy Day at Soldier Field

The Lions made the trek down to Soldier Field with the recently signed Kevin Smith back on the roster. While it would have been nice for Smith to make an immediate impact, he only logged 4 rushes for 19 yards. Nothing to write home about. The Lions and Bears had plenty of fumbles and interceptions (Stafford was actively playing through a broken finger) leading to an ugly 37-13 loss for the Lions.

The Lions Return Home and Take Care of Business

However, the Lions then returned to Ford Field. Smith had a week to get his legs back under him. The Panthers and rookie Cam Newton made the trek to meet the Lions on the gridiron, and the result was a thing of legends. Smith roared back on to the field and rushed 16 times for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nate Burleson and Tony Sheffler also logged touchdowns, propelling the Lions to a 49-35 win over the Panthers at home.

Would Smith make performances like this a regular thing for him? The answer is no, though his numbers are nothing to bat an eye at. Remember, the 2011 Lions made it to the wild card!

The thing about this game for me was the ability to root for the underdog. Smith had been at home not playing, no NFL team was beating down his door. However, the Lions brought him back and he didn’t take his chance for granted. Sure, after four games his yards per attempt fell off, but it was an exciting four games thinking perhaps he would be able to shoulder the load left by Jahvid Best.

I’ll never forget watching this game from my couch, texting with a friend who said their grandfather was going crazy about the Lions turning in this performance. It definitely injected some hope into the veins of a fanbase who badly needed some after a messy loss, and I was among them. We all know how the 2011 season ended, but nonetheless we will always have this memorable game to look back upon.

Information sourced from: ESPN, Pro Football Reference, CFB Reference

The Lions roster is likely mostly set at this point. However, there are always the few signings that come around training camp, and sometimes even close to the season. I remember July of 2016 when the Lions signed Anquan Boldin, and he notched 67 catches for 584 yards and helped them secure a wild card spot in the playoffs. So let’s go position by position through the roster and see where the needs still lie. I will rank each position 0 out of 5, with 0 being no need at all, 5 being we need to sign an entirely new room.

Quarterback:

Jared Goff

Teddy Bridgewater

Luke Altmyer

I don’t think we need to make any changes here. We have a competent backup, and a potential developmental prospect. All looks good from my end. They may add another camp arm, but I honestly doubt it.

TLDR: 0/5 Need

Running Back:

Jahmyr Gibbs

Isiah Pacheco

Sione Vaki

Jacob Saylers

So I may think differently than most people here. I see Jahmyr Gibbs, and then I see a bunch of question marks. Can Pacheco stay healthy with a lower amount of snaps? Can Vaki bring something outside of special teams? What does Jacob Saylers have to offer? It is likely one of the three will work out, but I am concerned in not having a third known commodity, but not overly concerned.

TLDR: 2/5 Need

Wide Receiver

Amon-Ra St. Brown

Jameson Williams

Isaac TeSlaa

Greg Dortch

Kendrick Law

Tom Kennedy

Jackson Meeks

Malik Cunningham

There is no shortage of talent and youth in the wide receiver room. Two very proven receivers top the chart. TeSlaa certainly looks the part. Dortch is your gadget guy to replace Kalif Raymond (less speed, but more shiftyness). Tom Kennedy always finds a way to play every year. Kendrick Law can block and return. Meeks and Cunningham are unknown commodities. I wouldn’t shy away from adding someone, but there certainly is no need in this room.

TLDR: 0/5 Need

Tight End

Sam LaPorta

Tyler Conklin

Brock Wright

Zach Horton

The Tight End room is a bit concerning to me. I know we have Sam LaPorta, and Brock Wright is certainly a mid range tight end (good TE2/3). Tyler Conklin comes as the productive vet coming off of a down year, but I and many other fans believe he will be just fine in this offense. Zach Horton is the relatively unknown blocking TE. I’m pretty shaky in this room. LaPorta is coming off of a potentially serious injury, and while it looks good we don’t know for sure. Conklin needs to have a bounce back year. Brock Wright seemed… less productive in extended use last year. And Zach Horton seems destined to round out the bottom of the depth chart always. It would make me very happy to see another mid range tight end added to this room.

TLDR: 3/5 Need

Offensive Tackle

Penei Sewell

Blake Miller

Larry Borom

Giovanni Manu

Devin Cochran

Mason Miller

I am less concerned about the tackle room. Generally the Lions have been pretty good with three primary tackles. You have Penei shifting to LT, and he has been nothing but available. The iron man rookie Blake Miller slotting in at RT. Larry Borom is coming in to play the backup tackle / Dan Skipper role (and Borom has lots of experience starting). I really like how this room has built out. Manu looked rough last year in limited action but hopefully he continues his developmental arc. While I could see a depth piece added, that was Devin Cochran and Mason Miller provided their health is good.

TLDR: 0/5 Need

Offensive Guard

Tate Ratledge

Christian Mahongany

Juice Scruggs

Miles Frazier

Ben Bartch

Colby Sorsdal

Melvin Priestly

(Michael Niese, dual position with center)

This room has a question at left guard. However, you have Christian Mahogany who is solid if he returns to form (having a quality center, and playing next to Penei could help that). Juice Scruggs who has plenty of experience. Miles Frazier who looked great in spot duty. The rest are just depth pieces (however I think Sorsdal is done). No need to add anyone here, we will find a starter and depth from the group the Lions have assembled.

TLDR: 0/5 Need

Center

Cade Mays

Michael Niese

Seth McLaughlin

(Juice Scruggs, dual position with guard)

This room saw a big upgrade going from Graham Glasgow to Cade Mays. I’m sorry (not really), but I hated our center play last year. I think it is part of why Mahogany struggled so hard, I think it really just tore our line apart. Graham fought hard, but we needed the upgrade we got. Backup center is a big question (to be honest, I thought Trystan Colon was going to be good last year and look where that got us). I am hopeful that we can find a backup with some combination of McLaughlin and Scruggs, but hope is not a strategy. I think Niese is on his last chance with the Lions. However, there is still a small need at backup center with no clear path there right now. Who knows maybe a backup center is a luxury and not a need.

TLDR: 1/5 Need

Defensive Tackle

Alim McNeil

Tyleik Williams

Mekhi Wingo

Levi Onwuzurike

Jay Tufele

Chris Smith

Skyler Gill-Howard

Aidan Keanaaina

Defensive Tackle is an interesting spot. Alim looks like he is bouncing back from his injury. Tyleik looked pretty good and is primed for sophomore jump. Levi has back issues, but is good when he is on the field. Tufele could be a good depth piece. Wingo and others need to still prove themselves in Lions uniforms. I see one gaping hole, and that is the spot Roy Lopez filled last year. We need a nose like tackle who can play where the Lions need him to play. So there is a need here, and I think it’s sneakily bigger than people think.

TLDR: 2/5 Need

Defensive End

Aidan Hutchinson

Derrick Moore

DJ Wonnum

Tyler Lacy

Ahmed Hassanein

Tyre West

Payton Turner

I really like the moves made to upgrade this room. DJ Wonnum adds the ability to stop the run more effectively opposite hutch (Sorry AQM). Derrick Moore is simply a good all around edge. Ahmed Hassanein is in his second year and has shown the desire to fight for the Lions, and has very little “wear on his tires”. Payton Turner is the athletic phenom who needs to learn to stay healthy for just one year. We also have a bevy of players to develop. The Lions have done a nice job rounding this room out better than it has been in years.

TLDR: 0/5 Need

Linebacker

Jack Campbell

Derrick Barnes

Malcolm Rodrigurez

Jimmy Rolder

Trevor Nowaske

Damone Clark

Joe Bachie

Erick Hunter

I’m not going to go very deep into this room. We have great starters. We have good developmental prospects. We only have one thing that needs to be filled, and that’s the coverage linebacker spot that Alex Anzalone used to fill. I am confident that one of these guys (Rolder, Barnes, Nowaske, Hunter) can fill that spot.

TLDR: 1/5 Need

Cornerback

DJ Reed

Terrion Arnold

Rock Ya-Sin

Keith Abney

Roger McCreary

Christian Izien

Nick Whiteside

Khalil Dorsey
Ennis Rakestraw
Amaris Brown

De’Shawn Rucker

This may be the best filled out room on the whole team. DJ Reed should be healthy again. Terrion Arnold has a chance to take the next step. Rock Ya-Sin proved he is a solid corner last year. Keith Abney could be your natural Amik Robertson replacement drafted at amazing value. Roger McCreary is there if Abney needs time. Izien can do lots of things, including play safety. Nick Whiteside has looked good at times, so has Kahlil Dorsey. The rest are unproven. However, that’s a lot of quality depth. We have shown we can make do with lesser corners, and I am confident Sheppard will also take the next step and this secondary will be in good shape.

TLDR: 0/5 Need

Safety

Brian Branch

Kerby Joseph

Avonte Maddox

Chuck Clark

Dan Jackson

Thomas Harper

Loren Strickland

This almost feels like reviewing the cornerbacks room again, however there is one difference. Branch won’t be back until mid season, and Kerby is a question mark on if he is going to need regular weeks off to manage his injury. I was glad when they brought Maddox back as he can start in place of Branch, and Chuck Clark/Thomas Harper should be good to fill in where needed. However, I feel this is still a pretty pressing need with all the question marks.

TLDR: 3/5 Need

Specialists

Jake Bates

Jack Fox

Hogan Hatten

We return the entire crew, and everyone should be happy that we seem to have some stability in the specialist room.

TLDR: 0/5 Need

Top 3 Needs

Safety

Tight End

Defensive Tackle

I didn’t know where I would land when I started out this article. I tried to step back and throw aside my initial thoughts and review the rooms. However, I probably would have told you at that point that these were the Lions top three needs. I’m only listing Safety above tight end because of the injury factor. Tight end is critical in this offense. The defensive tackle position also needs help. However, this is still a very filled out roster, and if we add no one else, I think that the Lions will be just fine at everywhere but the safety position. The one question is can they fast track the development of linebacker Erick Hunter who looks a lot like he can play safety, and use him in this room (shout out S&B contributor MCBC again on this)? Only time will tell!

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The Lions have done a pretty good job adding talent in free agency and the draft in recent years. Given this fact, there will always be players with a decent skill level at the bottom of the roster. Let’s dive into a few of the players who I think are on make or break seasons. Like the Lions of old, they must be “Cardiac Cats” and make a comeback of their own, or they will likely find themselves hunting for a new team.

Michael Niese - OG/C

You know, for some reason I have always found myself rooting for Niese (perhaps it is his positional versatility). While Niese has found a way to play a decent amount of special teams snaps, averaging in at 19.8 percent over his three years in the NFL (all the with the Lions), this is not enough. When you look at his offensive snap production, he has only clocked over 20 percent of offensive snaps in one game, despite making appearances in 26 games. You could argue that he has a good opportunity to be the backup center, however we have Juice Scruggs and Seth McLaughlin who will fight for that spot (one could argue Juice has a pretty good chance of landing it). Add in the infusion of newer and younger talent on the offensive line this offseason, and Niese must take a step or face being cut.

Ennis Rakestraw - CB

Rakestraw was an awesome pick to root for when he was picked in the 2nd round of the 2024 NFL draft. The Lions always seem to find themselves needing more defensive backs (see the Legion of Whom), and Rakestaw looked like yet another answer to this need. However, now two full seasons in, he has only managed to find the field for 8 total games and has notched only 6 total tackles. Don’t get me wrong, at only 23 years old he has a very good chance of finding some way to get on to the field. I know I will certainly be rooting for him, but with the likes of Keith Abney, DJ Reed, Rock Ya-Sin, Terrion Arnold, and Roger McCreary, he has an uphill battle ahead of him.

Levi Onwuzurike - DT

Levi is one of my favorite stories. He fought his way back from a serious spinal fusion surgery to play 10 games in 2023, and 16 games in 2024. When he is healthy, he certainly makes his presence known on the field. However, last year was a step back. He did not log a single snap in the 2025 season. His contract “tolling” and automatically being placed back on the roster were likely the best thing that could have happened to him. I’m not sure the Lions would have kept him with their youth/health movement they seem to be pursuing. However, he may be the guy I am rooting for the most on this list. I want to see him come back, appear in every game, and show that he can put his back behind him (ha).

I have always rooted for the underdog. I loved the likes of Tom Kennedy, Craig Reynolds, Dan Skipper, Antoine Green, Kevin Strong, Isaac Nauta, Bo Scarbrough and many more. I will continue to root for guys on the practice squad and bottom of the roster. Here’s to hoping at least one of these players can pull themselves out of the downward swing and make an impact on gameday in 2026.

The Lions 2026 schedule has dropped. While the schedule doesn’t mean everything, it certainly has some bearing on the outcome of a season. Just think about it, a difficult game coming at the wrong time of year can be the difference between a team having a playoff berth or them watching the playoffs from their couch. According to strength of schedule predictions the Lions have the easiest schedule in the NFL. Let’s take some time and break down the schedule and make some early predictions on if the Lions can take advantage of their schedule.

Special thanks to Silver & Blues contributor MCBC for talking through each game with me, helping me get my thoughts out, and pointing out where I had missed something.

Week One - New Orleans Saints - Home

The Saints have struggled in years past. While there are some analysts that seem to think they have turned a corner, and that they have their franchise quarterback in the building. I am not one of them. I believe the Lions are without question the more complete team, and no combination of Tyler Shough, Zach Wilson, and Spencer Rattler is going to convince me otherwise. The Lions also have a great home advantage. Give me the Lions in this one.

Week Two - Buffalo Bills - Away

The Buffalo Bills are a tough matchup no matter which way you hash it. Yes, they do have a new head coach. However this is not the only change at play here. The Buffalo Bills will also be breaking in their new stadium in primetime. Add in the Lions short turnaround for a Thursday night game. I simply think that the cards are stacked against the Lions in this one: Give me the Buffalo Bills.

Week Three - New York Jets - Home

The prodigal son Aaron Glenn returns to Detroit against a well rested Lions team. I will say that I believe the Jets have a good possibility of taking a step in the right direction this year. Perhaps they will start their launch into being a competitive team. However, there is not enough there to overcome the Lions talent and homefield advantages. Give me the Lions.

Week Four - Carolina Panthers - Away

I think most people would agree with me when I say that the Panthers are ascending. With young players like Bryce Young, Tetaiora McMillian, and Ikem Ekwomu they likely have a bit more to grow yet. However the Lions are also young, and have more proven talent than the Panthers do. Give me the Lions.

Week Five - Arizona Cardinals - Away

The Cardinals lost their previous franchise quarterback to free agency (for better, or for worse). While they have plenty of capable talent on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, you have to score points in order to win. I don’t see the combination of Jacoby Brisset, Gardner Minshew, and Carson Beck providing those points. I truly think that the Lions new OC Drew Petzing was a lot of the reason Jacoby did as well as he did last year with the Cardinals. Give me the Lions.

Week Six - Bye Week

The Lions get an early bye. I never like early bye weeks. I always find myself pining for an extra week for players to get healthy down the stretch. Perhaps the changes the Lions have made will help them stay healthy down the stretch, but I still would prefer this come later.

Week Seven - Green Bay Packers - Home

Am I the only one who seems to think that the Packers lost more than they gained this offseason thus far? I am just not seeing this plan work out for them. However, I also know that the Lions have historically played poorly coming out of the bye under Dan Campbell. I unfortunately think the rust overcomes the Lions here, and they are handed their first home loss of the season. Give me the (*gulp*) Packers.

Week Eight - Minnesota Vikings - Home

I also don’t see what the Vikings are doing. The loss of Jonathan Greenard is a big one. I am not a Kyler Murray fan. Who knows what is going to happen with JJ McCarthy. Aaron Jones is at the ripe old running-back age of thirty one. TJ Hockenson has not looked the same as of late. Want me to go on? The Lions roar back into form at home. Give me the Lions.

Week Nine - Miami Dolphins - Away

The Dolphins are in full blown rebuild mode. Tua is gone, and I don’t see Malik Willis as more than a high end backup quarterback. Now don’t get me wrong, they got some nice pieces in the draft. I am higher on Max Llewelyn than most, and think he may end up starting on one side or the other by the end of the season. However, I don’t see them being very good this year. Give me the Lions.

Week Ten - New England Patriots - Home (Munich, Germany)

The Patriots have been ascending as of late. I know, I know, the news that is floating around about Vrabel hasn’t been great. However, with the type of culture the Patriots have historically had, I don’t think that moves the needle. This is a very hard game. The Lions are on the road even though this is a “home” game. This is a hard one. I think there will be a good fan turnout too given St. Brown’s connection to Germany. This is a coin flip, so I flipped a coin and it came up in favor of the Lions. Give me the Lions.

Week Eleven - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Home

The Buccaneers and Lions have always fought each other hard as of late. Last year when the LIons played the Buccaneers it came down to how the “Legion of Whom” performed, and they were up for the task. Kelvin Sheppard has an arguably better group of defensive backs this year, though the injuries to Branch and Kerby leave question marks. I think this game will come down to the defensive back play of the Lions. To me this is another coin flip, and this time the Lions come out on the wrong side of the coin. Give me the Buccaneers.

Week Twelve - Chicago Bears - Home (Thanksgiving)

The Lions have not performed well on Thanksgiving as of late. Last year the Lions had the Bears number. The season is getting close to the home stretch here and the Lions are going to want to show they can not only perform on Thanksgiving, but that Drew Petzing can call an offense that will rival Ben Johnson’s. The Lions deliver for the Home crowd and eat turkey legs on national television. Give me the Lions.

Week Thirteen - Atlanta Falcons - Away

The Falcons are building something, and I think they might be on their way back to being a consistently good team. We may know this for sure by week thirteen. However, I still think that the Lions are the more complete team at this point. Give me the Lions.

Week Fourteen - Tennessee Titans - Home

I just don’t see what the Titans are building. When you look at some teams that have been on the lower end of the spectrum as of late, you can see what they are trying to do clearly. I don’t see it here, I really don’t. I think this is an easy win. Give me the Lions.

Week Fifteen - Minnesota Vikings - Away

While I do think that the Vikings are not going to be great this year (in fact I think they will be firmly at the bottom of the division), I think that home field advantage will play a big part in this game. The gap between contending in this league and not contending in this league is a slim one. I think the Vikings and Lions split. Give me the Vikings.

Week Sixteen - New York Giants - Home

The Giants have a new head coach, and time will only tell if this marriage between John Harbaugh and the Giants is a good thing. We are getting down the stretch and the Lions are going to feel the pressure to finish strong. The Giants will be playing in a new system, and it’s hard to remember a time where Harbaugh wasn’t a Raven. This one is hard to say, but give me the Lions due to home field advantage.

Week Seventeen - Chicago Bears - Away

The Bears are a good team. Ben Johnson has built something good in Chicago. What I thought at first was Ben just trying to mimic Dan has turned into something that the league respects. Ben Johnson is not mimicking, I think his players would have sniffed that out by now. Caleb Wiliams also has a ton of tools. While the Lions have had the Bears number as I stated above, I’m giving this one once again to home field advantage. Give me the Bears.

Week Eighteen - Green Bay Packers - Away

The bitter cold of Lambeau is upon us once again in week eighteen. However, coming off a stinging loss against the Bears, the Lions are motivated to end the season on a positive note and roar into the playoffs. The Lions win in convincing fashion, and bring their record to twelve and five. I believe this will not only be good enough to make the playoffs, but to clinch the NFC North. Raise the banner high my friends. I predict the Lions are NFC North champions, and are hot heading into the post season.

The more I think about it, the more I think this schedule is deceivingly dangerous. Do I think this could be the reality of what happens? Absolutely. However the amount of “coin flips” I saw makes this easy to tilt either way. I have confidence in the changes the Lions have made though, and I stand by my prediction that they will be NFC North champions.

Our next UDFA to dig in on is an edge player that comes with an interesting set of skills.

All kidding aside, while the Lions now have their top three edge rushers established (Hutch, Moore, Wonnum), I think they certainly could use some competition for that fourth edge spot. Don’t get me wrong, I really hope Hassanein works out, but let’s dig in on a player who comes in at a position of need and see what he can bring to the Lions.

Anthony Lucas, EDGE, USC

Anthony Lucas comes off on tape to me as a quality, yet middling player. He certainly can set the edge, he can get some pressure, he can stop the run, but he’s not doing anything at an excellent level. But per his stats below I think we see that he was used primarily in a rotational role with a little more use in his senior season. The fact that he wasn’t utilized more makes me wonder why he didn’t go the route of a fifth year senior in order to improve his draft stock and mature his skillset a bit more.

His athletic profile (on paper) doesn’t shine much more light on what he can bring. However, back to the tape, he does show some athleticism. I wouldn’t call him explosive though I wouldn’t call him slow. His length is good, but he seems to me to lack the agility to move up and down the line as much as I have seen in other players. He does seem to be strong enough to fit the bill.

His size, weight in particular, makes me think he would be asked to slide inside and could also be asked to play on the edge. Kind of like a John Cominsky or Josh Paschal role. However, I do wonder if standing a 6’ 5” will allow him to be rocked off his center of gravity. To be clear, I don’t have any data to suggest this, just a concern when I look at his skillset and try to place him on the Lions’ roster.

I came into this expecting to find more than I did. I honestly don’t see the value beyond camp. Perhaps with his length and strength he can land on the practice squad to develop his skills. Honestly though, There’s already so many good and raw developmental players on this team I don’t see that happening either. I think it is likely the Lions brought him in to get a closer look, and nothing more.

Silver & Blues chance of making the Lions final roster: 0/10

Silver & Blues chance of making the Lions practice squad: 3/10

Today we dig into an undrafted free agent that is a most curious case. Why is it such a curious case you ask? Because he was signed to a three year deal as an undrafted free agent. For the length of my fandom, I do not recall an undrafted free-agent ever being signed to a three year contract, let alone one with one hundred and seventy five thousand dollars guaranteed. Let’s dig in and see if we can figure out what the Lions see in him, and why they seem to think he is worthy of sticking around for the future.

Erick Hunter, LB, Morgan State

Ok, so the first thing that flies off the page is the accolades that Hunter racked up. I understand he may be going against a lower level of competition, but it’s pretty impressive:

In ONLY his red-shirt senior year (2025) he was:

2025 All-MEAC First Team

Boxtorow HBCU All-American Team

FCS Football Central All-American Third Team

Selected to play in The American Bowl

Selected to play in the HBCU Legacy Bowl

2025 HBCU Player of the year finalist

2025 Doris Robinson Scholar-Athelete Finalist

Buck Buchanan Award Finalist

MEAC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct 6)

Completed his last year at Morgan State 2nd all time in tackles

I could keep the accolades coming if we dug further into his years at Morgan State. It is very apparent that at his level of competition, he was dominant. Watching tape of him playing was almost addicting. He plays hard on every play that I saw, there was no quit in him. He tackles at the point of attack, and is not often made to lay himself out to tackle. He has decent coverage instincts from what I saw (a little lacking in tape on that one). Watching him rush the passer was a lot of fun, he was very fast and instinctive.

Looking at his stats further tells the story. He had a whopping ten and a half sacks, three interceptions, twelve passes deflected, and one hundred eighty three solo tackles. This young man is hungry and plays hard no matter what you do with him.

Furthermore looking into his athletic profile, he overall is an elite athlete. His speed and explosion are readily apparent when you watch him play and it is reflected in his ras. I was a bit surprised to see his three cone drill show up as low as it does, and I would argue he’s a little more than good in the agility space, but perhaps I am splitting hairs here.

Talking to MCBC, Silver & Blues contributor, he suggested something interesting in stating that he thought they may play Hunter as a Safety/Linebacker hybrid. I certainly can see why. His twelve passes deflected and three interceptions show he at least has something in his toolbelt when it comes to coverage. I am going to take it further and say they might use him as a jack of all trades on defense. The type of player that they can throw in at safety now and then, play behind the line at linebacker, or line him out wide to get at the passer and cause disruption. What he lacks in strength he can make up for with pure disruption with the explosion/speed combination.

It is always hard to evaluate prospects at lower levels of competition. However, I can certainly see what the Lions fell in love with. Add in the three year contract, and I think they see enough in this prospect that he will make the practice squad hands down (thats three for three during my exploration thus far). However, I also think he has a real shot at making the fifty three man roster.

Silver & Blues chance of making the Lions final roster: 6/10

Silver & Blues chance of making the Lions practice squad: 10/10