The Detroit Lions just dropped their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season, and holy moly, there are some head-scratching choices that are going to get fans talking. While everyone knows these rosters can shift in the next 48 hours, the initial look at what the Lions are doing for Week 1 is wild, especially after the preseason we just watched.
A Risky Bet on the Backfield
Let’s talk running backs, because this is where the biggest shocker hits. A few weeks back, the RB4 battle was supposedly “neck-and-neck” between Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small. But then, Saylors exploded! The dude finished the preseason with more scrimmage yards than any other player in the entire NFL. He was everywhere. Meanwhile, Small couldn’t stay on the field, missing the first preseason game with an injury, getting knocked out of Game 2 with a concussion, and then leaving Game 3 with *another* injury. You’d think the choice was clear, right? Nope. The Lions still gave Small a coveted roster spot. After all that injury trouble and Saylors’ incredible performance, keeping Small is easily the most baffling call on this roster. It’s a massive gamble on a guy who struggled just to see the field.
Where’s the Punt Returner? Serious Questions at Receiver
Then there’s the receiver room. The Lions decided to roll with just four: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSLaa, and Tay Martin. Most folks predicted a fifth was necessary, especially with special teams in mind. Greg Dortch, a trusted veteran who looked absolutely electric as a punt returner all August, got released. This guy also had experience with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing! So, when Dortch was cut, the automatic thought was that Tom Kennedy, who was also in the punt return competition, must have snagged that spot, right? Wrong again! Kennedy got released in the final cuts too. Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp specifically said the punt return job was between Dortch and Kennedy just weeks ago. So, what’s the plan for Week 1? Who on this roster is even going to field punts? Honestly, nobody has the faintest clue who could step up, and that’s a huge question mark hanging over the team.
Meeks Over Conklin: A High-Stakes TE Move
Another head-scratcher came at tight end. Most of us weren’t even questioning Tyler Conklin’s spot. He was frequently repping ahead of Jackson Meeks and looked totally fine as the TE3 behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. With the Lions expected to run a ton of two- and three-tight end formations, having an experienced veteran like Conklin seemed like an absolute no-brainer. Especially after how much they struggled last year when LaPorta and Wright both went down with injuries! Putting Meeks on the roster as TE4 made sense, but trusting him as the primary TE3? That’s a super risky move for a player still learning the nuances of the position. Sure, Meeks earned his spot on special teams, and that’ll be his initial role, but banking on a rookie as your third tight end, especially with last year’s injury woes, feels like a roll of the dice.
So, the Lions are officially set for Week 1, or at least this initial version. These decisions are huge, especially with the season kicking off so soon. It’s going to be wild to see if these gambles pay off, or if these “shocking decisions” come back to bite them when the games actually matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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