RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesDetroit Lions tackle Blake Miller (76) practices during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Detroit Lions opened their 2026 training camp with a 90-minute practice that included varying participation levels from 86 players on their 90-man roster. Overall, things went as expected; however, there were a few players expanding into new roles, some positive and negative injury news, and a handful of very notable plays.
Participation report
There were six players on the Lions’ roster not participating at practice as camp opened: the five players on injury lists and superstar running back Jahmyr Gibbs. While it’s not certain, it appears a possibility that Gibbs missed practice due to the desire to get a contract extension . Coach Dan Campbell didn’t address the situation in his morning press conference, but he did tell ESPN after practice that they plan to “take things as they come.”
Of the five players on injury lists, we did see some level of work with the training staff from three of them. Kerby Joseph and Christian Izien spent the early portions of practice working on their conditioning on the training hill, then joined Brian Branch with the defensive backs group. Christian Mahogany also got in some work on the hill in uniform, and looked like he could indeed join the team in a few days, as Campbell suggested in his morning presser.
Stepping up on offense
At running back, with Gibbs not at practice, the Lions initially turned to Isiah Pacheco for starting duties in walkthrough and during 7-on-7s, but when the team shifted to 11-on-11s, Sione Vaki was the first running back on the field, with Pacheco spelling him later in the drill.
Vaki’s pass blocking and ability to pick up the blitz stood out and surely played a part in his ability to get reps with the first team. There were no pads on, so it’s difficult to judge too much, but it is an interesting wrinkle to see the Lions not solely hand the keys to Pacheco in Gibbs’ absence.
At tight end, with Tyler Conklin not practicing, it was UDFA rookie Miles Kitselman and converted tight end Jackson Meeks in a TE3 role. They were still clearly behind starter Sam LaPorta and TE2 Brock Wright, but continued to rep ahead of depth players like Zach Horton and Thomas Gordon.
Jackson Meeks’ transition to tight end is official. After joining the team last year as a UDFA WR-X, Meeks slowly began to transition to tight end halfway through the season as a Move-TE/Big Slot.
“I feel like Coach Dan (Campbell) is trying to give me the best opportunity to compete and make (the roster),” Meeks told Pride of Detroit after practice. “What I’m just trying to show in camp is that I am supposed to be out there in this role.”
Meeks went on to talk about how playing with the extra weight was familiar, and he comes from a family of defensive linemen (his uncle is former Lion Za’Darius Smith), so he’s comfortable in the trenches. He went into more detail on how his blocking assignments have changed, mainly his footwork, but that the majority of what makes him a successful blocker is his approach to the assignment.
“Blocking is 90% mindset and 10% technique. And honestly, if I can go in (the trenches) and fight my butt off for three seconds, that’s all I need with Jahmyr Gibbs back there.”
With Mahogany unable to assume his starting left guard role, veteran Ben Bartch took first-team reps during walkthroughs, but he is also coming off an injury, and when the team went to team drills, it was Juice Scruggs and Miles Frazier getting their opportunity to start.
RT battle
First-round pick Blake Miller opened the day as the team’s starting right tackle, and he took every rep here with the first team. His competition for the role, Larry Borom, spent time repping at right and left tackle with the second team, while also contributing as a sixth offensive lineman with the first team.
While it’s certainly too early to declare Miller the starter—and Borom could open up Thursday’s practice with the first team—it’s worth taking note that they’ve done a lot of work with Borom in different roles, while only playing Miller at right tackle.
New and unexpected roles on defense
At safety, with Joseph, Branch, and Izien unavailable, we got a bit of clarity on the depth chart. The Lions started veterans Avonte Maddox and Chuck Clark. Thomas Harper was the next man off the bench, followed by Loren Strickland and Dan Jackson.
At corner, D.J. Reed had a strong day and enters camp with better-than-expected speed and change-of-direction skills. Reed talked with Pride of Detroit after practice and said he spent a significant portion of the offseason rehabilitating his hamstring, building up his resistance, and entering camp at his peak.
“I did some speed tests back home, and I’m faster, stronger, and have less body fat than I had last year, Reed said. ”I feel explosive, and as we start opening up our practices, you’ll see.”
Opposite Reed, we saw Ennis Rakestraw and Rock Ya-Sin in a legitimate battle for CB2 duties. Rakestraw started during 7-on-7s and rotated with Ya-Sin, then in 11-on-11s, they flipped roles. This looks like it’s going to be a strong battle all camp.
At linebacker, the starters were as expected, with Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes being the top two options and Malcolm Rodriguez taking the field in three linebacker sets. Amongst the reserves, there were some surprises, as rookie Jimmy Rolder took second-team reps at the MIKE, while Damone Clark took the field at WILL, and Trevor Nowaske lined up in his usual SAM role. Lining up at the MIKE is a big vote of confidence for Rolder and should help him get acclimated to the scheme quicker.
With the Lions running a lot of base formations (three linebacker sets), we saw a lot of big end usage on Wednesday, and that meant more of Tyler Lacy and Ahmed Hassanein than we might see on other days at camp. Lacy continues to start in ...
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