The Detroit Lions are finally, actually, suiting up ahead of the 2026 season.
Training camp is here. We'll finally get a glimpse at both their highly-touted draft class, as well as a crop of veterans looking to help get the Lions back to postseason form. There are a lot of camp battles to look forward to this season, which is exactly what you want to see from a team that missed out on the playoffs despite rostering a contender on paper.
Injuries are going to be a big storyline for Detroit in training camp - Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch are notably beginning the year on the PUP list, while the team is also returning a few key members of their defense following injuries that impacted their 2025 season. Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. fall into that pool.
You can use this tracker as a means of keeping up to date on the latest standout performances, quotes, injuries, and updates from the Lions as the team reports to camp today, and as they undergo an acclimation period leading into full practice on August 2.
- Lions training camp snapshot
- Top lessons learned from Lions training camp so far
- Injury updates
- Latest practice updates
- What Dan Campbell is saying
- What Sam LaPorta is saying
- This week's practice schedule
- Updated Lions 90-man roster
Last updated: Wednesday, July 29, 4pm EST
Lions training camp snapshot
• Next open practice: Sunday, August 2
• Open practices remaining: 10
• Next preseason game: Thursday, August 13, 7 p.m. EST (at Cincinnati Bengals)
Top lessons learned from Lions training camp so far
- Takeaway 1: The Lions' safety room might be in better shape than anticipated...or it might not. Unfortunately for fans, there's really no strict timetable for a return for either Joseph or Branch, but it does sound like both are actively participating in training camp in some way or another. Per Detroit Football Network's Justin Rogers, Joseph was moving very well on the sidelines on Day 1 of training camp, working with a trainer and seeming explosive in his drills. As for Branch, per Rogers, he was also working with the DBs.
We wrote a bit on the timeline for both safeties recently, with SideLion Report's Michael Colwander speaking to the typical timeline for a return for an achilles tear.
- Takeaway 2: Jahmyr Gibbs' absence is palpable, but not chaos-inducing. We know that the star running back is holding in while he waits on a contract extension from the Lions, and honestly, it feels like a forgone conclusion that he'll get one sooner rather than later. ESPN's Adam Schefter also recently told Lions reporter Brad Galli that he can see a deal getting done in the next few days.
We wrote about Gibbs' importance to the Lions' 2026 offense meaning he should be getting a pay day.
- Takeaway 3: The Lions' offensive line sounds like it's in great shape to kick off training camp. Christian Mahogany - who was given an active/non-football injury designation prior to the first day of Lions camp - sounds like he'll be ready to go by the end of this week. That's great news since he's competing to win the starting left guard job, again. Otherwise, it's a good group with a mix of veterans and rookies hungry to help the trenches look great for their quarterback and running backs.
We covered Dan Campbell's optimism regarding that group here.
Injury updates
S Kerby Joseph
Joseph, who missed significant time in 2025 with a linger knee injury, was not a participant during the first day of training camp for the Lions. Campbell told reporters that he's probably "2-3 weeks out" from being able to participate fully, but as mentioned above, it sounds like he's got his explosiveness and movement down pact.
S Brian Branch
Campbell told reporters on Wednesday that Branch is still working his way back to on-field practicing, but that he expects the safety to be ready to engage in full practice by the end of September or at least by early October.
That lines up nicely if Branch is listed as PUP ahead of the regular season kicking off, as players have to wait four weeks to be taken off that list. Those four weeks slice through that timetable for a return to practice.
LG Christian Mahogany
Campbell told reporters on Wednesday that Mahogany should be good to go on Friday, and that his injury designation didn't carry any significant time to it.
TE Tyler Conklin
The newly signed tight end is expected to miss at least two weeks of training camp with a calf injury, per Campbell. That's a bit of a blow to the veteran, who is fighting for a roster spot behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright.
LT Giovanni Manu
Manu participated in practice on Wednesday, but somehow landed on the active/NFI list. This could suggest that he suffered an injury prior to attending practice. This leaves the Lions with very limited depth at left tackle, if this is a more serious injury.
Latest practice updates
Practice updates from Wednesday, July 29
- Nick Whiteside stood out as one of the best DBs of the day for the Lions in their first non-padded practice, according to AtoZ Sports' Mike Payton.
- Jameson Williams had a highlight-reel worthy grab in practice from Jared Goff, ahead of a highly-anticipated Year 5 for the receiver, per Rogers of DFN.
- Jahmyr Gibbs' hold-in was a headline grabber, with the running back not participating in practice. He joined Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson in doing so.
What Dan Campbell is saying
"It feels like there’s a little bit of a transition...There's a newness to it, there's a little bit of a youth movement.” -Campbell on new-look Lions following major youth injection in offseason.
What Sam LaPorta is saying
"They've had to tell me to go away from the building to get my breaks, other than that, I've been here. Emotionally, physically, mentally, feels really good to be back." -Sam LaPorta on his return to the field for the first time since a January back surgery, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic.
This week's practice schedule
- Wednesday, July 28: First practice open to media
- Thursday, July 30: Practice #2, open to media
- Friday, July 31: Practice #3, open to media
- Sunday, August 2: Practice #4, open to fans (Back Together Weekend)
Updated Lions 90-man roster
Offense
QB: Jared Goff, Teddy Bridgewater, Luke Altmyer
RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki, Jacob Saylors
WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Greg Dortch, Tom Kennedy, Lucky Jackson, Jameson Williams, Dominic Lovett, Malik Cunningham, Tarik Black, Isaac TeSlaa, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Tay Martin, Lawrence Keys III
TE: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Tyler Conklin, Jackson Meeks
OL: Penei Sewell, Giovanni Manu, Devin Cochran, Christian Mahogany, Juice Scruggs, Miles Frazier, Ben Bartch, Cade Mays, Michael Niese, Seth McLaughlin, Tate Ratledge, Colby Sorsdal, Melvin Priestly, Blake Miller, Larry Borom, Mason Miller
Defense
DL: Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, Mekhi Wingo, Aidan Keanaaina, Levi Onwuzurike, Chris Smith, Skyler Gill-Howard, Myles Adams
EDGE: Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Wonnum, Tyler Lacy, Derrick Moore, Tyre West, Payton Turner, Trevor Nowaske, Ahmed Hassanein
LB: Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Damone Clark, Jimmy Rolder, Joe Bachie, Troy Reeder
CB: D.J. Reed, Keith Abney II, Roger McCreary, Rock Ya-Sin, De'Shawn Rucker, Nick Whiteside, Khalil Dorsey, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Aamaris Brown, Christian Izien
S: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Avonte Maddox, Chuck Clark, Dan Jackson, Thomas Harper
Special teams
PK: Jake Bates
P: Jack Fox
H: Jack Fox
PR: Greg Dortch, Tom Kennedy
KR: Jacob Saylors, Tom Kennedy, Greg Dortch, Sione Vaki
LS: Hogan Hatten
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