Thursday, August 20, 2026

Lions Links for Thursday 8-20-26

Articles:


TWENTYMAN: Training camp Day 16 observations:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-training-camp-day-16-observations-dobbs-meeks-oneill



Detroit Lions share Sam LaPorta injury update:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2026/08/20/detroit-lions-sam-laporta-injury-update/91388633007/


Derrick Moore among Detroit Lions' Wednesday training camp standouts:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2026/08/20/detroit-lions-derrick-moore-training-camp-standout/91383477007/


Detroit Lions Offer Unfortunate Injury Updates on Sam LaPorta, Ben Bartch:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-off-unfortunate-injury-updates-sam-laporta-ben-bartch

Former NFL GM: Dan Campbell Has 'Balls Bigger' Than His Brains:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/former-nfl-gm-dan-campbell-has-balls-bigger-than-his-brains

Detroit Lions DT Alim McNeill Lands On Most 'Overpaid' List:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/detroit-lions-alim-mcneill-lands-most-overpaid-list

One Lions Concern That Hasn't Been Solved Yet (And How They Can Fix It):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/one-lions-concern-not-solved-yet-how-they-can-fix-it






Detroit Lions CB Ennis Rakestraw leaves practice with lower leg injury, and his path to the 53-man roster just got even harder:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/detroit-lions-cb-ennis-rakestraw-leaves-practice-with-lower-leg-injury-and-his-path-to-the-53-man-roster-just-got-even-harder/

Dan Campbell may have hinted at a Lions veteran winning a roster spot in press conference:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/dan-campbell-may-have-hinted-at-a-lions-veteran-winning-a-roster-spot-in-press-conference/

Eric O’Neill has a shot at making the Lions’ 53-man roster, but does he find himself in the same problem that James Houston was in?:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/eric-oneill-has-a-shot-at-making-the-lions-53-man-roster-but-does-he-find-himself-in-the-same-problem-that-james-houston-was-in/

One Lions undrafted rookie has caught everyone’s attention, but there’s still one thing standing in his way:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/one-lions-undrafted-rookie-has-caught-everyones-attention-but-theres-still-one-thing-standing-in-his-way/


'Get to the ball:' Derrick Moore's big day a preview of how Lions will use him:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/derrick-moore-lions

Detroit Lions 2027 Mock Draft Should be a Wake-Up Call for Alim McNeill:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-2027-mock-draft-should-be-a-wake-up-call-for-alim-mcneill

Ennis Rakestraw Jr’s Latest Injury Comes at the Worst Time Amid Uncertain Lions Future:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/ennis-rakestraw-jrs-latest-injury-comes-at-the-worst-time-amid-uncertain-lions-future

Detroit Lions Rookie ‘Disruptive’ at Latest Training Camp Practice:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-rookie-disruptive-at-latest-training-camp-practice

'Our window is not closed': Why Dan Campbell, other NFL coaches believe Lions will be back in 2026:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49651690/detroit-lions-super-bowl-window-opportunity-2026

QB uncertainty for half the NFL next offseason? 16 situations to watch and possible outcomes (Detroit Lions - Current starter: Jared Goff.  Signed through: 2028.  Goff has been everything the Lions hoped and more since they acquired him as part of the Matthew Stafford trade following the 2020 season. He missed three games in his first season in Detroit but has started every game since -- and the Lions are 48-33-1 when Goff starts. They've had a winning record in each of the past four seasons, and they won the NFC North in 2023 (12-5) and 2024 (15-2). But they dropped to 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs.  Goff is making $55 million this season. He's scheduled to earn $40 million in 2027, of which $18 million is already guaranteed. None of his $47 million compensation for 2028 is guaranteed. And Detroit's backups at the moment are veteran Joshua Dobbs and undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer.  Most likely outcome: The Lions, with a stacked roster and a soft-looking schedule, bounce back to the top of the division and make a playoff run behind Goff and their elite offense. Next offseason, they elect to keep Goff on his current contract and push off a possible extension to the 2028 offseason. Maybe they look to the draft for a developmental prospect, but at age 32 and still playing well, Goff remains their best and preferred option.  Long-shot outcome: The defensive injuries are too much to overcome, and Goff and the offense hit a snag. The Lions fail to take advantage of that soft schedule and miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. Frustrated by their inability to cash in on what seemed like a Super Bowl window, the Lions decide to break things up. They move on from Goff and bring in a veteran whose situation elsewhere fell apart, such as Baker Mayfield or Jalen Hurts.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49659412/2027-nfl-quarterback-predictions-16-teams-starter-questions-free-agency-trades-draft

2026 NFL secondary rankings: Patriots lead the way with a star-studded group (21. Detroit Lions: This secondary plays fast and physically. One such drawback is that Detroit led the NFL with 34 penalties committed in the 2025 regular season. There’s no denying the Lions’ willingness to get their hands dirty, though — Detroit missed the fewest tackles of any secondary last year. Otherwise, this unit is a bit of a mess with injured starting safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph both far from any return to action. In their stead, it’ll be free-agent signings Chuck Clark and Christian Izien, who combined for fewer than 600 snaps last season.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-secondary-rankings-2026

2026 NFL running back unit rankings: Falcons top the list (2: Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most electrifying players with the football in his hands. He has posted three consecutive seasons with over 5.0 yards per carry to start his career. Isiah Pacheco had a rough final season as a receiver in Kansas City, but his power running isn't up for debate. His 9.3% stuff rate was the lowest of any running back with 100 carries last year, a testament to how Pacheco simply gobbles up early yardage. He's a fitting replacement for David Montgomery and should help rekindle the “Sonic and Knuckles” pairing in Detroit.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-running-back-unit-rankings-falcons-top-the-list

Biggest concern for every NFL team entering the 2026 season (Detroit Lions: The offensive line - The Lions finished the 2025 season with PFF’s 12th-ranked offensive line, but there are question marks or inexperience at every position entering 2026. Sewell is coming off a career-best 95.1 PFF grade, though his elite production has historically been driven more by his run blocking than his pass protection. While he has never earned a PFF pass-blocking grade below 69.4 and is coming off a career high in that facet as well, his transition to left tackle will be worth monitoring.  Mays projects as a solid option at center but has played more than 500 snaps just once in his career. At left guard, Christian Mahogany earned a 40.7 PFF pass-blocking grade last season. Tate Ratledge impressed as a rookie, posting a 70.3 PFF grade at right guard, but he will line up next to rookie Blake Miller in 2026 after spending last season alongside Sewell.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2026-biggest-team-concerns

Ranking every international game on the 2026 NFL schedule (2. Detroit Lions vs. New England Patriots - Munich, Germany | Nov. 15.  The other matchup featuring two teams inside the top ten in preseason Super Bowl odds lacks the divisional stakes of the Melbourne opener, but it occurs much closer to the business end of the season.  It also showcases two of the NFL’s most efficient passing attacks. The Patriots and Lions ranked first and fifth, respectively, in passing yards per attempt last season, and this is a game where both offenses can easily trade scores into the 30s.  Both franchises have enormous fanbases in Central Europe — the Patriots due to their success during the boom of football in Europe, while Amon-Ra St. Brown’s German lineage has attracted swathes of supporters new to the sport.):  https://www.pff.com/news/ranking-every-international-game-on-the-2026-nfl-schedule

2026 NFL receiving corps rankings: The Lions lead the way (1. Detroit Lions - The only offense in the league to boast both a wide receiver and a running back with PFF receiving grades above 90.0 last season, this unit is rightfully awarded the top spot. Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the most well-rounded receivers in football, while Jameson Williams brings both downfield and cross-field elements few players can match. Jahmyr Gibbs has a case for being the most dangerous receiving back in the league. Don’t forget about Sam LaPorta either, who has hauled in a staggering 72% of his career contested targets; nobody else near his level of contested volume comes close to this success rate. The Lions are also expecting big things from second-year player Isaac TeSlaa, who caught six touchdowns as a rookie and didn’t drop a pass, albeit in limited play time.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-receiving-corps-rankings-the-lions-lead-the-way

(Detroit Lions Coach Dan Campbell - Favorite Drill: Catch-And-Run … With A Twist. Drill It Down: Two receivers run their routes together, and when one catches the pass, the other is in charge of serving as a blocker downfield.  The Story Behind The Drill: Campbell might have one of the highest-scoring and flashiest offenses in the league, but he’s still that same guy who said in his 2021 introductory press conference that he expected his players to "bite a kneecap off" their opponents.  This drill demonstrates that attitude — because Campbell doesn’t want the drill to simply be about who makes a play for the ball. It’s just as much about who makes a play without the ball. Big passing plays often come when a receiver serves as a willing blocker. This is a test of toughness and grit — in hopes of generating explosive plays.  "It’s basically our catch-and-run, but it’s catch, knife, and both receivers … are running around the bag," Campbell said. "One of them is going to get the ball, and then one of them has to immediately turn into a blocker for that runner."  He added: "I love that drill. Because you come out, you don’t know who’s getting [the ball], right … and the minute that one [receiver] catches it, man, [the other has] to turn and burn and make the block. And then [the ball carrier has to] make the adjustment off of the blocker, so it all happens fast. It kind of initiates the run after catch, the block after catch." — Henry McKenna):  https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-preview-tennessee-volunteers


NFL preview: 32 training camp battles that could decide the 2026 season (Detroit Lions: Center. Cade Mays' preseason injury throws a line that's been hammered by attrition the past two seasons into deeper disarray. The candidates to replace him aren't ideal. Juice Scruggs failed to live up to his second round billing for a needy Texans team. Michael Niese and Seth McLaughlin have 37 offensive NFL snaps between them.  Second-year guard Tate Ratledge has been taking snaps there in the preseason and could be an option should things go entirely pear-shaped, likely elevating Ben Bartch to a starting role. It's a mess at the moment, but the Lions have figured out their line issues in the past under Dan Campbell.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/08/20/nfl-preview-32-training-camp-battles-2026-season/91359904007/


ESPN Analyst Floats ‘Long-Shot Outcome’ of Lions Replacing Jared Goff With Super Bowl MVP:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/analyst-lions-replacing-jared-goff-jalen-hurts/

Video:



Preseason week 1 - a lot to clean up!:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/fmc-0h106rvavxs5dray

The Sports Office | Lions preseason game 2 preview - Who will play?:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/fmc-7ydu55unm8ipnzwr


Rapoport tells McAfee about the 'renewed focus' he has noticed with the Lions:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/49673062

Lions' friendly schedule puts Detroit in prime position:  https://sports.yahoo.com/video/lions-friendly-schedule-puts-detroit-211846739.html

Why all the talk of a Lions 'bounce back' is exaggerated:  https://sports.yahoo.com/video/why-talk-lions-bounce-back-210552425.html


Posted by LionsFan at 6:45 PM

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