Training camp is still about three weeks away for the Detroit Lions, and there's a ton of anticipation for what's shaping up to be multiple key positional battles.
Cornerback, safety, left guard, and the edge spot opposite Aidan Hutchinson highlight the battles set to be underway, but it feels like outside of the Lions' stars with very firm standing in their starting roles, no one is safe on this depth chart.
This presents an opportunity for four specific Lions set to try and squeeze into the conversation to start this season.
4 Lions players who could turn camp pressure into opportunity
Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Rakestraw is suddenly one of the remaining chances the Lions have to prove that their 2024 draft class wasn't a complete bust. Sure, they still roster Giovanni Manu and Sione Vaki, and they're getting an opportunity to avoid the cut candidate list. But, Rakestraw feels like he's in the best position between the three of these key 2024 draftees to actually impact this year's roster.
He could step in as a key backup - or starter! - following the release of Terrion Arnold, and his potential could finally get tapped after only playing eight games through three seasons in the NFL. If he can actually rid himself of the injury bug this training camp, he stands a chance to make the roster as the starter next to DJ Reed, or at the very least, as the second-stringer behind Rock Ya-Sin.
That's a big step up from being a total mystery of a prospect.
Christian Izien
Izien is a veteran safety who was brought on as a reliable stop-gap solution while the Lions await a healthy Kerby Joseph and/or Brian Branch. In three seasons, Izien has 165 total tackles along with three forced fumbles, three interceptions, five passes defended, and 7.5 stuffs.
As of now, it looks like he's slated to start for Detroit to begin the year, and that's thanks to a strong showing at OTAs and minicamp from him and Chuck Clark. There's a ton of pressure on him and Clark to be something that they're not at this juncture of their careers, and that's full-time starters on a contending team. But, Izien ideally can turn that pressure into a gem of a camp.
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Payton Turner
Former Lion Grant Stuard recently spoke to reporters about Turner ahead of Lions training camp that he could see the defensive end posting a "10 plus" sack season.
Former college teammates, it's obvious that Stuard is just being a supportive former teammate. But, Turner does have some legitimate hype headed into camp, with head coach Dan Campbell singing his praises regarding his offseason work.
"I know this, there’s been nothing that (Turner's) done that has been a disappointment to us through all of spring since we started this, the offseason program. The meetings have been good. The field work has been good. He’s moving around well. His care factor is up there, seems like he is a pretty smart guy, so you know we’re intrigued. That’s also why we brought him in, you know, we liked him when he was coming out as a pup a long time ago, so we’ll see. We'll see."
Turner is currently 4th on the Lions' depth chart - behind Hutchinson (of course), Tyler Lacy, and rookie Tyre West. Turner could likely surge past those two to land right behind Hutchinson in the depth chart with an even better training camp.
Tyler Conklin
Conklin could be a fringe cut candidate for the Lions, with tight end looking like a firmer room than most. Sam LaPorta is the obvious TE1 for Detroit, and Brock Wright has familiarity with their system having started for much of the season in 2025 in place of LaPorta. Conklin is a new face, and he has more of an uphill battle to gain solid footing on this depth chart.
Still, his last year with the Los Angeles Chargers was probably the worst of his career so far. It's hard to imagine he has a rougher go than that. And, new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing loves utilizing his tight ends, and reliable pass catchers, specifically. Wright wasn't an amazing receiving option for Detroit, but Conklin has proven to be that in the past.
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