Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Lions Links for Wednesday 9-9-26

Articles:

Lions vs. Saints practice report: Sept. 9:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-vs-saints-practice-report-sept-9-rolder-rakestraw-moore

Hutchinson poised to take his game to another level:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/hutchinson-poised-to-take-his-game-to-another-level





Despite Major Risks, Dan Campbell Explains Why Lions Have 'Live' Periods:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/despite-major-risks-dan-campbell-explains-why-lions-have-live-periods

Projecting When Each Lions Rookie Could Crack Starting Lineup:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/projecting-each-lions-2026-rookie-could-crack-starting-lineup



Everything Jared Goff Said Before Lions Week 1 Contest Against Saints:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi/everything-jared-goff-said-before-lions-week-one-game-saints-2026





Detroit Lions mailbag: Cade Mays’ return, Kelvin Sheppard’s seat hot? QB2, Kerby Joseph, and why Detroit isn’t making a huge trade:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/detroit-lions-mailbag-cade-mays-return-kelvin-sheppards-seat-hot-qb2-kerby-joseph-and-why-detroit-isnt-making-a-huge-trade/

The first thing to know about the Lions’ opponent: Don’t be fooled by the Saints’ 6-11 record:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/the-first-thing-to-know-about-the-lions-opponent-dont-be-fooled-by-the-saints-6-11-record/

Dan Campbell just crushed your dreams if you’re hoping the Lions were going to make a huge trade soon:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/dan-campbell-just-crushed-your-dreams-if-youre-hoping-the-lions-were-going-to-make-a-huge-trade-soon/

Dan Campbell just answered who the Lions’ return man is going to be after cutting Greg Dortch:  https://atozsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions-news/dan-campbell-just-answered-who-the-lions-return-man-is-going-to-be-after-cutting-greg-dortch/

A Bold Ranking Worries the Lions Have No Real Plan Behind an Aging Jared Goff:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/a-bold-ranking-worries-the-lions-have-no-real-plan-behind-an-aging-jared-goff

Penei Sewell takes tips from Joe Thomas as he switches to LT:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/penei-sewell-joe-thomas


Why Jared Goff and the Lions are powered by championship drive, not last year’s pain:  https://www.cleveland.com/bengals/2026/09/why-jared-goff-and-the-lions-are-powered-by-championship-drive-not-last-years-pain.html

Barnwell predicts the NFL playoff field: 14 teams that will make the postseason, plus a Super Bowl pick (Detroit Lions - My pick for 2026: In the playoffs (NFC North champions).  My final playoff spot came down to a battle between the Lions and Vikings in the NFC North. There are reasons to be optimistic about both teams, of course. Detroit was within one half of making the Super Bowl in 2023 and was the top seed in the conference in 2024 before some bad luck cost it a playoff spot in 2025. And as Kevin O'Connell has pointed out, the Vikings have put together 13- and 14-win seasons over the past five years when they've been able to piece together even competent quarterback play from the likes of Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold -- a level Kyler Murray should hopefully be able to match in 2026.  I wouldn't be surprised if both teams made it to the postseason in 2026, but under the constraints of this system, I can pick only one. I leaned toward the Lions for a few reasons. One is schedule. Detroit projects to play the league's second-easiest slate of opponents in 2026, per the FPI. The Vikings, surprisingly, come up with the league's 17th-easiest schedule, even though they share many similar opponents. Both teams will face the AFC East and NFC South this year, but the Lions get the Cardinals, Giants and Titans as additionals, whereas the Vikings have the 49ers, Commanders and Colts. The FPI also sees the Lions as a more difficult opponent for the Vikings than vice versa.  The Lions should, at least in theory, be healthier on defense than they were in 2024 and 2025, when they ranked last in adjusted games lost in back-to-back campaigns. Admittedly, that starts with Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph opening the year on the physically unable to perform list, so things aren't off to a great start, but the rest of the defense is healthier than it was a year ago. The Vikings, meanwhile, should be more banged-up by the end of 2026 after ranking fifth and fourth in AGL over the prior two seasons, respectively, even if they're healthier than the Lions to open the season.  And of course, while the Vikings should have an advantage in terms of defensive performance, the Lions do project to be much better on the other side of the ball, where they have best-offense-in-football upside. While acknowledging that they've cycled through quarterbacks, the Vikings are yet to even land in the top 10 in a single season for offensive EPA per play under O'Connell, ranking 12th, 15th, 15th again and 28th over the past four seasons. We just don't know if Murray will be a good fit for O'Connell's offense or if the Vikings can keep him healthy for the entire season, something the new starter has managed only once in the past five years.  The Vikings also relied heavily on veterans last season, fielding the league's third-oldest team, including its second-oldest defense. Minnesota will be younger along the interior of the line this year, but it is still relying on several veterans in key spots, including newly re-signed safety Harrison Smith, who will be 37 this season. If those guys stay healthy and play well, all is good. If not, well, the Vikings don't possess a very deep roster. That might represent the difference as both these teams get through a 17-game season.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49865081/2026-nfl-season-14-playoff-teams-field-super-bowl-pick-barnwell


Five NFL teams that could race to strong starts in 2026 season (Detroit Lions:  Last season's crash landing to the bottom of the NFC North standings was a particularly painful outcome for a franchise that had already begun to question how long its competitive window would remain ajar. It did, however, confer one major benefit: a schedule that some might view as the league's softest setup. If Detroit can emerge unblemished after its Week 2 prime-time showdown with the Bills, there's a solid chance for the organization to secure just its second 5-0 start in the Super Bowl era. Prior to the Week 6 bye, that contest in Buffalo will be the lone one against a team that had a winning record last season.  With a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing and a reshuffled offensive line counting on several young starters to step up in short order, the Lions might seem like an odd candidate to find their footing right away. But last year's offense, which finished fourth in scoring, proved that it still has plenty of firepower even when it lacks the consistency Petzing was hired to weave into the attack. The more troublesome vulnerability might be in a secondary that figures to be without safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph for a while, but few teams on the early schedule beyond the Bills look capable of exploiting that weakness.Detroit Lions
Last season's crash landing to the bottom of the NFC North standings was a particularly painful outcome for a franchise that had already begun to question how long its competitive window would remain ajar. It did, however, confer one major benefit: a schedule that some might view as the league's softest setup.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/09/08/nfl-teams-strong-starts-2026-season/91653608007/

Lions Star Jahmyr Gibbs: 'For Sure' Take Me With No. 1 Pick In Fantasy Football:  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/lions-jahmyr-gibbs-fantasy-football-draft

Which Teams Need To Win The Super Bowl? Defining Success For All 32 Teams In 2026 (Make It To The Playoffs, At Least - Detroit Lions - 2025 record: 9-8.  Projected win total: 10.5.  Somebody in the NFC North is going to disappoint and miss the playoffs, and everyone expects the Lions to get back to their dominant level of making the NFC title game in 2023 and going 15-2 in 2024. That means staying healthy on defense and having new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing improve on a unit that still ranked fourth in scoring in a down year last year. Does Penei Sewell take well at left tackle and does rookie Blake Miller handle himself at right tackle?   This could easily be a team winning a playoff game or two, but in a tough division, we'll start any measure of success with just getting back into the postseason.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/which-teams-need-win-super-bowl-defining-success-all-32-teams-2026

The Top 20 Non-QB Offensive Skill Players Entering The 2026 NFL Season (4. Jahmyr Gibbs RB, Lions:  Gibbs is the prototype of the modern superstar running back — an elite rusher who can also produce as a borderline WR2 in the pass game. With David Montgomery traded to Houston and Detroit’s limited options in the backfield, Gibbs is poised to be a true bell cow in the Lions’ offense for the first time.  7. Amon-Ra St. Brown WR, Lions:  One of the most versatile and consistently dominant wide receivers in the league, St. Brown has registered at least 1,100 receiving yards in four straight seasons. The former fourth-round pick has garnered All-Pro honors three years in a row.):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/top-20-non-qb-offensive-skill-players-2026-nfl-season

Ranking All 16 NFL Week 1 Games From Worst to Best (9. Saints at Lions:  Despite going just 6–11 in 2025, the Saints are one of the more intriguing teams in the league this year thanks to the play they got from quarterback Tyler Shough last season. The rookie second-round pick completed 67.6% of his passes for 10 touchdowns and six interceptions while posting a passer rating of 91.3. New Orleans heads to Detroit in Week 1 to play the Lions—who are coming off a disappointing last-place finish in the NFC North.):  https://www.si.com/nfl/ranking-all-16-nfl-week-1-games-worst-to-best-2026

NFL All-Rookie Team 2026: Fernando Mendoza, David Bailey Among Top Projected Performers (RT: Blake Miller, Detroit Lions - With the departure of Taylor Decker this offseason, the Detroit Lions moved Penei Sewell over to left tackle to fill the void. Naturally, their starting right tackle spot became available, and they’re hoping that Blake Miller can fit the kneecap-biting culture the Lions have established.  Miller spent four seasons at Clemson, dominating the ACC throughout his time with the Tigers. He lands his strikes with accurate placement and timing, and he blocks with a nasty demeanor that drives defenders off the ball. He has the tools to be a long-term, solid starter.): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-all-rookie-team-2026/

NFL All-Breakout Team 2026: Tyler Shough, Luther Burden III, Dallas Turner Among Biggest Rising Stars (RG: Tate Ratledge, Detroit Lions - Wilson and Tate Ratledge were two sides of the same coin last year. While Wilson struggled out of the gate, making the jump to the NFL level, Ratledge stepped in as the Detroit Lions’ starting right guard last year and thrived right out of the gate. The No. 57 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Ratledge broke onto the scene with an 85.2 PFN OL Impact Score that ranked ninth among all NFL guards. He placed in the top ten with both his pass-blocking and run-blocking scores, making him one of five guards in the entire league to do so.  Based on that information, one could argue that Ratledge has already broken out. However, he doesn’t seem to be getting the national recognition he arguably deserves already. Expect that to change as he heads into his second year in the NFL.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-all-breakout-team-2026-rising-stars/

NFL All-Overpaid Team 2026: Deshaun Watson, Calvin Ridley Among the Worst Contracts in Football (DT: Alim McNeill, Detroit Lions - Midway through the 2024-25 NFL season, the Detroit Lions signed Alim McNeill to a four-year, $97 million contract extension. A few weeks later, he tore his ACL, ending his season prematurely. This injury ate into his 2025-26 campaign, as he spent the Lions’ first six games of the year on the PUP list.  Before his extension, though, McNeill had ranked no higher than No. 30 in the NFL among defensive tackles in PFN DT Impact Scoring in a single season. His return from injury wasn’t as impactful as Detroit had likely hoped, as he ranked just No. 85 at his position with a 70.2 score last season.  In particular, McNeill’s run-defense score of 67.0 ranked just No. 98 among 107 qualified defensive tackles. He heads into 2026 with the 12th-highest yearly salary at his position, and he has a lot of improvement to do if he wants to live up to that price tag.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-overpaid-team-2026-worst-contracts/

Ranking All 32 NFL Head Coaches: Which NFC West Coach Takes the No. 1 Spot? (11. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions:  No matter what your thoughts are on Dan Campbell, you can’t deny the cultural impact he’s had on the Detroit Lions. What was once a perennial laughing stock in the NFC is now consistently mentioned as one of the best teams in the conference. They missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record in 2025, but before that, Campbell led them to consecutive divisional crowns, which the Lions hadn’t done since the 1950s.  With the Lions coming off a down year, the question naturally arises: How much heavy lifting did top assistants like Ben Johnson and Glenn do in Detroit? Though he’s not elite from a play-calling perspective, Campbell is one of the best leaders in the NFL today, and he deserves all the credit in the world for that.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-head-coach-rankings-2026/

QB Rankings:

Week 1 NFL QB Power Rankings: Usual suspects atop season-opening list in a slightly different order (10. Jared Goff Detroit Lions QB:  No one has thrown for more yards (18,206) or more passing touchdowns (130) across the last four seasons than Jared Goff. His lack of mobility when attempting to evade top-flight pass rushers is known, but he's still one of the league's most highly productive passers year after year.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/week-1-nfl-qb-power-rankings/

NFL QB power rankings heading into Week 1 (10. Jared Goff: By the end of this season he could pass Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana on the all-time passing yards list. That sounds impressive, but he will also probably pass Derek Carr so I’m not sure what that means beyond the fact that Goff just gets buckets.):  https://www.thebiglead.com/nfl-qb-power-rankings-heading-into-week-1/

NFL QB rankings, Week 1: Ranking all 32 starters entering 2026 season (11. Jared Goff DET Year 11:  Jared Goff and the Lions have plenty to prove after missing the playoffs last season, although their offensive line concerns me and could be an issue if it doesn't collectively elevate its play in 2026.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-qb-rankings-week-1-ranking-all-32-starters-entering-2026-season

Saints Media:


Saints Week 1 Scouting Report: Inside Detroit’s High-Powered Offense & What to Expect from the Lions Sunday:  https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/onsi/saints-week-1-scouting-report-inside-detroit-s-high-powered-offense-what-to-expect-from-the-lions-sunday-01m234xkqhn0

Podcast:

Dan Campbell’s 2026 message to Detroit Lions fans: ‘We will be ready’:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detroit-lions-news/172154/dan-campbells-2026-message-detroit-lions-fans-st-brown-podcast

Video:

NFL opening week is here! What do we expect from the Lions?:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/fmc-p9lx3i0ujkg4js5n

Amon-Ra St. Brown on entering Year 6 in the NFL | 'GMFB':  https://www.nfl.com/videos/amon-ra-st-brown-on-entering-year-6-in-the-nfl-gmfb

Detroit News - Lions-Saints preview: Is offensive-guard drama brewing?:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBL1m_QIAug
Posted by LionsFan at 8:19 PM

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