Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Lions Links for Tuesday 7-14-26

Articles:


Detroit Lions UDFA EDGE Is Player To Watch at 2026 Training Camp:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-udfa-edge-player-to-watch-2026-training-camp

David Blough: Dan Campbell is Heartbeat of Detroit Lions:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/david-blough-dan-campbell-is-detroit-lions-heartbeat

Jack Campbell Ranked Top-5 Linebacker By Execs, Coaches:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/jack-campbell-ranked-top-five-linebacker-2026


Pros and Cons of Detroit Lions Signing Former Steelers Tight End:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/pros-cons-detroit-lions-signing-former-steelers-tight-end-2026




Detroit Lions Year 2 Trust Index: What Dan Campbell’s second-year decisions reveal about the 2025 rookie class:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/detroit-lions-year-2-trust-index-what-dan-campbells-second-year-decisions-reveal-about-the-2025-rookie-class/

Detroit Lions may have quietly created the offensive chess piece nobody saw coming:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/detroit-lions-may-have-quietly-created-the-offensive-chess-piece-nobody-saw-coming/

Detroit Lions star Jack Campbell got robbed in ESPN’s latest NFL rankings:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/detroit-lions-star-jack-campbell-got-robbed-in-espns-latest-nfl-rankings/

Penei Sewell still not a 99 in Madden makes no sense after 3 straight All-Pro seasons:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/penei-sewell-still-not-a-99-in-madden-makes-no-sense-after-3-straight-all-pro-seasons/

Ranking all eight NFL divisions entering 2026 season (1. NFC NORTH:  At this time last season, the biggest question mark in this division resided in Chicago, home to a Bears team that flirted with contention in 2024 before completely falling apart. The story is no longer the same. Chicago returns as the reigning division champion with enough optimism to build a skyscraper taller than the Willis Tower. Ben Johnson is coming off a fantastic debut season as head coach. Quarterback Caleb Williams is on the cover of Madden NFL 27. Super Bowl LX champion Coby Bryant hopped on the bandwagon via a three-year, $40 million free-agent deal. Even if the Bears know the heart-stopping style with which they won a significant portion of their 2025 games is unsustainable, everything is looking up in the Windy City.  That said, Bears optimists might be overlooking their division counterparts. Detroit is coming off a disappointing 9-8 finish that tied for last(!) in the NFC North last season. Gone is offensive coordinator John Morton, whose play-calling decisions frustrated fans and eventually led to Dan Campbell taking the reins. In steps new OC Drew Petzing with one main goal on his agenda: Restore the Lions' offense to a balanced, fearsome attack. Detroit won't be caught by surprise in the trenches this season, not after adding center Cade Mays to solve the issues in the interior, then signing Larry Borom and Ben Bartch as depth additions and acquiring Juice Scruggs in a deal that sent David Montgomery to Houston. Yes, this is now Jahmyr Gibbs' backfield, and hopefully, the offseason efforts are enough to get the ground game back on track. Three new defensive backs -- Roger McCreary, Chuck Clark and Christian Izien -- should bring the same needed depth to that side of the ball.  These efforts indicate where Detroit's standard now resides: in the postseason. After watching their former OC lead the Bears from the cellar to the throne, Campbell's Lions will be out for vengeance in 2026.  That leads us to the remaining two squads -- the Packers and Vikings -- who enter 2026 with defined spring and summer objectives. After succumbing to their own shortcomings in 2025, Packers coach Matt LaFleur willingly reset the offense, trimming the receiving corps down to players who understand and embrace their roles while using offseason activities to completely reinstall his scheme as if it was Year 1. It's a necessary refresh for a team that admittedly felt stale in 2025 and repeatedly failed to deliver in the biggest late-season moments (at Denver, plus two losses in Chicago). The talent remains -- although Josh Jacobs' May arrest has created an uncertain outlook for the backfield -- but the trust isn't quite there for the Packers as of now. That can change quickly.  Minnesota, meanwhile, has spent the entire offseason playing the What If game. The Vikings won nine games despite having zero reliability at quarterback, a fact that they've ridden toward greater expectations in 2026. Kyler Murray's arrival suggests Minnesota could find that elusive stability under center, and if that's fixed, these Vikings should be primed for a legit playoff run. They'll have to fight through the rest of this pack, though. At the outset of last season, three of the four member clubs were seen as legitimate threats to win the NFC North and embark on Super Bowl pursuits. The one team most didn't take seriously ended up winning the division. A battle royale awaits in the North.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/ranking-all-eight-nfl-divisions-entering-2026-season

NFC North training camp 2026 preview: Top storylines for Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings (Lions - Three key storylines - 1) Offensive line overhaul.  The Lions' offensive line collapsed last season, swiftly going from asset to liability. Detroit attacked the unit, flipping Penei Sewell to left tackle, drafting Blake Miller to man the right edge, signing center Cade Mays and adding veteran depth at each spot. How the line shakes out will be the main storyline to track during camp. Is Sewell's transition going smoothly? Is Miller a plug-and-play rookie or does he need time to adjust? The key will be young guards Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge, who struggled with consistency in 2025. Will the duo improve, or could they get pushed out of the starting lineup? If the Lions don't get better blocking in 2026, the explosive potential will be squandered.  2) This is Gibbs' backfield.  Sonic is now the featured character in Detroit. The offseason trade of David Montgomery calcified the reality that Jahmyr Gibbs' bell-cow era is full-go. Gibbs began to take over the majority of the backfield touches last season, and his reps should continue to grow. The Lions likely won't want the dual-threat back to creep to the 300-carry threshold, but barring injury, he'll blast past his career-high of 250 totes. Gibbs should also see his role in the passing game continue to rise after posting a career-best 77 catches for 616 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. Gibbs' combination of shiftiness, speed and ability to make hay between and outside the tackles makes him a dynamic threat. The Lions want to ensure that threat stays on the field as much as possible. He profiles for a Christian McCaffrey-type workload and should be in the Offensive Player of the Year discussion by the end of the season. With the expected rise in reps, Gibbs' extension is also one we've been waiting to see this offseason. The Lions have gotten in front of extensions in recent years, so everyone expects a top-of-the-RB-market contract for Gibbs to come barreling down the pike.  3) Can Detroit return to health?  Detroit has significant injuries to track at the onset of camp. Tight end Sam LaPorta is the name to watch on offense, but the defense has greater concerns. Brian Branch suffered a late-season Achilles tear, and while the Lions haven't put a hard timeline on the safety's recovery, it will be a surprise if he's good to go to open the season. The bigger question is whether, given the type of injury he sustained, Branch will be his normal buzzing self at all this season. Then there is Kerby Joseph, whose knee injury limited him to just six games last season. The Lions have given few tangible updates on the safety's status while taking a wait-and-see approach. Without certainty from either starter, the Lions' secondary sits in a precarious spot. Couple that with the release of CB Terrion Arnold, and Detroit could be relying once again on filler and journeymen in the defensive backfield.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfc-north-training-camp-2026-preview-bears-lions-packers-vikings

Lions WR Isaac TeSlaa enters Year 2 with more athleticism, strength: 'It's not even close':  https://www.nfl.com/news/lions-wr-isaac-teslaa-enters-year-2-with-more-athleticism-strength-it-s-not-even-close

NFL teams ranked by 'Triplets' from worst to first (3. Detroit Lions (Avg: 4.2, High: 2, Low: 7).   QB: Jared Goff, RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown.  It's been a remarkable rise for the Lions, who started from damn near the bottom and are now here, ranked inside the top three. Goff is an incredibly consistent quarterback who has improved in areas where he was once deficient. Gibbs is arguably the most explosive player in the NFL regardless of position. And St. Brown is, like Goff, a model of consistency who is always in the right place at the right time and seems to rack up catches with relative ease.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-offensive-triplets-rankings-2026-season/

Ranking the 10 Best NFL Offensive Linemen for 2026: Two Broncos Make the List (2. Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions:  Penei Sewell is the best offensive tackle in the league. | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
Sewell has only played five seasons in the NFL, but he’s been an elite offensive lineman since his rookie year in 2021. The former Oregon Duck has made four consecutive Pro Bowls and has been an All-Pro first team selectee at right tackle in each of the past three seasons. In 2025, Sewell was graded as the No. 1 tackle in the NFL by PFF. He’s one of the best run blockers in the business while also providing elite pass protection for Jared Goff.  Sewell is consistent in the trenches and is rarely beaten on the offensive line. He surrendered two sacks and six pressures across 998 snaps last season, and he was only flagged for two penalties in the entirety of the ’25 campaign. – K.R.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/ranking-ten-best-offensive-linemen-broncos


Re-Ranking Every 2026 NFL Draft Class From Best to Worst Before Training Camp Starts (11. Detroit Lions:  Offensive tackle Blake Miller was the most straightforward evaluation in this draft after he made 54 career starts at Clemson. The Detroit Lions then doubled down on Michigan defenders with defensive end Derrick Moore and linebacker Jimmy Rolder. Fifth-round cornerback Keith Abney II could eventually start at nickel.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/draft/onsi/news/re-ranking-every-2026-nfl-draft-class-from-best-to-worst-before-training-camp-starts

Detroit Lions’ All-Pro Ranked As 4th Best Player on PFN’s Top 100 After Team’s Disastrous Season:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/detroit-lions-all-pro-ranked-4th-best-player-nfl-top-100-2026/
Posted by LionsFan at 7:58 PM

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