ALLEN PARK — John Morton is in lockstep with his head coach: The Detroit Lions aren’t panicking.

The offensive output in Sunday’s season-opening loss at the Green Bay Packers fell well below expectations. But Morton, in his first year as offensive coordinator, insisted Thursday his unit’s issues are fixable, and he’s assured the overarching problems present at Lambeau Field will be taken care of by the time the Chicago Bears visit Ford Field for Week 2.

“We have great players,” Morton said. “That’s why I’m confident.”

Particularly, the run game must improve. The Lions averaged a measly 2.1 yards per carry against the Packers, their worst since October 2023, when they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game Jahmyr Gibbs missed with a hamstring injury. Gibbs and David Montgomery have never been less productive in a game both participated in than they were against the Packers.

Much of Detroit’s struggles can be connected to miscommunication. On a number of plays, at least one member of the offensive line was not mentally in line with his teammates. Sometimes, it was multiple players at fault. And it wasn’t just a youth issue. Rookie right guard Tate Ratledge and left guard Christian Mahogany, playing in the first and third career games, respectively, had their fair share of concerns. But so did some of the veterans, according to Morton.

Take the near safety at the start of the fourth quarter as an example. Ratledge allowed defensive tackle Colby Wooden to come through unblocked, drawing the ire of those who watched the replay. Left tackle Taylor Decker revealed Wednesday he was also incorrect on that rep, as he ran the same play Ratledge did. Mahogany, center Graham Glasgow and right tackle Penei Sewell were on a different page.

Those are the type of correctable mistakes Morton identified on tape.

“It’s addressed,” Morton said. “It’s going to be fixed.”

Asked why he’s confident in the run game improving, Morton said, “Because we’re doing plays that they’ve done. Now, there’s some young guys, right? We’ve just got to make sure we give them the right looks, all the different type of right looks, and to make sure they know exactly what they’re doing. And that’s what we’ve done.”

Head coach Dan Campbell said Monday there may have been too much put on the players’ plates too early, and dialing things back some against the Bears could be beneficial. It’s about getting back to the fundamentals. The meat and potatoes, if you will.

“We did an extra period in the runs this week, and I think it’s going to help,” Morton said. “I think that’s what you’ve got to do. It’s an easy fix. Again, we’re not in panic mode. But 2.1 (yards per carry), that ain’t gonna cut it. It should never happen.”

Chicago’s defense doesn’t posses the talent of Green Bay’s, especially so if some starters who missed Week 1 (cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, and linebacker T.J. Edwards) aren’t available. Johnson (calf/groin) returned to practice Wednesday. Edwards (hamstring) was limited and Gordon (hamstring) did not practice.

Morton and Campbell are also familiar with the scheme, having worked with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in New Orleans. It’s similar to what the Lions run defensively, with an emphasis on man coverage. That’s different than the Packers, who often play zone and drop seven defenders in coverage.

“Last game, the best thing about that is it’s the first game of the season. Nobody’s in panic mode,” Morton said. “The players have been awesome, great attitudes. We’ve had great preparation, just like we did last week. The bottom line is it’s just about execution and the details of everything. … How do we fix this? We’re in the fix-it business, as coaches. Dan’s been awesome, players have been awesome. We had a good practice yesterday, and we’re moving on to Chicago.”

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard admitted he was “pissed” after his defense gave up 27 points in Sunday’s opener against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

But like a lot of the chatter coming out of the team facility this week, Sheppard emphasized he’s not as discouraged after having some time to digest the performance. According to Sheppard, the metrics out of Sunday’s game were encouraging — even if the Lions‘ offense couldn’t match them, resulting in a 27-13 loss to begin the season.

Sheppard acknowledged some necessary areas of improvement while making the case his defense truly did buckle down in the second half of Sunday’s game.

“Coming off the field, you guys know, ultra-competitive nature of the game. My temperament and things, I was pissed,” Sheppard said. “And I’m ready to scowl at everybody, but then you sit back and look at it and after the second time and after the third time, you go, ‘There’s a lot of good football on this tape.’”

He started with the passing defense, which allowed 188 yards and two touchdowns from Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who went 16-for-22 through the air for a passer rating of 128.6. Love was efficient and hit on big plays when the Lions’ defense presented him with opportunities to do so. Sheppard said he’s more than happy to give up just 188 yards of passing, which tied for 18th among all quarterbacks in Week 1.

Sheppard was upset by the two-play drive that gave Green Bay a 17-3 lead in the second quarter. Cornerback Terrion Arnold was the closest defender on both a 48-yard completion to Romeo Doubs and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Michigan State product Jayden Reed. Outside of that, he was satisfied by the passing defense — but it’s worth noting Green Bay threw the ball just six times in the second half.

“We went into the game saying, ‘You’ve got to make these guys beat us,’ Sheppard said. “You cannot give them things because that’s when they thrive. You have to make them beat us, and we did not do that on back-to-back plays. Inexcusable, and that’s been addressed.”

Asked about the team’s lack of consistent pass rush, Sheppard said the team wasn’t given many opportunities to get home, and also praised its ability to keep Love in the pocket.

It’s the second part that’s worth paying attention to: The Lions seemingly put more effort into containing Love as a rusher than disrupting his flow in the passing game. On second-and-9 in the red zone on the Packers’ opening drive, Aidan Hutchinson got the one-on-one he wanted after Roy Lopez stunted to eat a double team, only for Hutchinson to hover at the line of scrimmage like a point guard defending the perimeter as Love threw an incompletion to Doubs.

“Go back with your stopwatch and turn on the pass plays, they weren’t going to allow it. But more importantly I thought — I want to give credit to our guys of not letting this guy out of the pocket. That’s things that we’ve struggled with in years past,” Sheppard said. “Jordan Love has burned us in years past with his legs. He had one run, I think, for four yards. So, I want to look at the positives in that.

“Yeah, we could’ve done things and things like that, but we had a specific gameplan and for the most part, the guys went out and executed the gameplan.”

Ultimately, Sheppard expects the pass rush to be better this weekend, especially from Hutchinson — but it’s worth noting the Lions’ opponent at quarterback, Caleb Williams, has a similar tendency to escape from the pocket and extend plays with his legs.

“When you’re the elite of the elite, people are going to plan for you and that’s why he’s the caliber player that he is. We will counter that and Hutch will counter that. He’s an ultra-aware player, he knows how to manipulate things and move himself around,” Sheppard said.

“We’re working off a one-game sample size, people.”

And, in fairness, the run defense was excellent — no caveats needed. The Lions gave up 78 yards on 25 carries, an average of 3.1 per carry.

“We should’ve been at 2.2 (per carry),” Sheppard said. “Why do I say that? Because one of those was a 15-yard explosive run that should’ve never happened. That’s been addressed as well.”

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One of the coldest days of January gets even harsher. The Detroit Lions, the NFL’s version of Charlie Brown trying to kick a football, were the NFC’s one seed. The city of Detroit was buoyant with high hopes. Fans had no stress about the game’s outcome. The Divisional Round versus the Washington Commanders would be […]

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ALLEN PARK — Luckily for the Detroit Lions, they haven’t yet begun installing their offensive game plan for third downs, when a pass rusher’s impact is felt most, for Sunday’s season opener at the Green Bay Packers.

Unluckily for the Lions, arguably the NFL’s best pass rusher — and perhaps the league’s best defensive player, period — will be waiting for them at Lambeau Field.

The Packers on Thursday swung a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, landing All-Pro defender Micah Parsons and sending out defensive tackle Kenny Clark, a subtraction that shouldn’t be overlooked, and a couple of first-round draft picks.

Parsons, 26, is a force. He’s collected 52½ sacks and 63 tackles for loss over his first 63 regular-season games, and he’s been a Pro Bowler four years running. Only four players — Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (60), Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt (58.5), Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson (57) and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa (53.5) — have more sacks since 2021.

In two career games against the Lions, Parsons has 12 tackles, 10 pressures and two sacks.

“We know what kind of player he is. He’s a really good player,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday. “But we’ll have a plan.”

Parsons, who was at practice with the Packers on Monday, is dealing with a back sprain. He’s trying to play, according to a report Monday from ESPN, but he may have to take an “epidural injection” prior to the game in order to be available.

What makes Parsons special is his versatility. He can line up anywhere on the defensive line, inside and out, and he’s proven capable as a run and pass defender. Detroit’s offense found solid success against the Packers last season — the Lions scored on nine of their 18 total possessions over two meetings with defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who is entering his second year in Green Bay — but the acquisition of Parsons adds a whole other layer to a defense that finished 2024 ranked sixth in both yards and points surrendered.

“You’ve got … a full season of what they do and what Coach Hafley believes in and the style of play. But there will be wrinkles, too,” Campbell said. “They’re going to want to probably bring some things in that are a little bit fresh and new, on top of what they do. You’ve always got to prepared for those. But we’ve got a pretty good feeling of them, and they’ve got a pretty good feeling of us. … And, certainly, we’re familiar with each other’s personnel. That’s really where it always will begin.”

Facing the Packers will be an early test for Detroit’s new-look offensive line, which maintains Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker at the tackle spots but underwent a shuffling along the interior this offseason, with Graham Glasgow moving to center and Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge slotting in to Glasgow’s left and right, respectively.

The Packers posted the 10th most sacks in the league last season, with 45, and they did it while having a conservative 17.3% blitz rate, which ranked 31st. Hafley was comfortable letting his defensive front win by itself. It often did, with eight players notching three or more sacks.

Now, Parsons, one of the NFL’s best who can be aligned anywhere, is in the fold, and early-season answers regarding the state of the Lions’ offensive line are imminent.

“You’ve got to be prepared,” Campbell said. “They’re going to find plays that they can use him, where he can excel. Like I said, we’ll have a plan.”

The Detroit Lions made two significant draft mistakes back in 2023. For an ascending team, the front office took a chance on two players who were not considered immediate impact players.

In 2022, Detroit nearly missed the playoffs, and entered the 2023 season with a surge of positive momentum.

Not only did Hendon Hooker and Brodric Martin not pan out, the team used draft capital to move to select Martin with pick No. 96 overall.

General manager Brad Holmes gave up a fourth-rounder (No. 122 overall) and two fifth-rounders (No. 139 & No. 168) to get back up into the third round to select the defensive lineman.

Speaking with reporters, Holmes addressed what the team learned from not being successful drafting and developing Hooker and Martin.

“All you can do is put all the work in and feel good when you take the player. Look, I think there’s risk involved with every single pick that you do,” said Holmes. “There was a great definition of risk. Man, I’m drawing a blank on the book. It was one of Morgan Housel’s books. I’m not sure if it was Morgan Housel’s quote, but he said, ‘Risk is what’s left after you think you’ve thought of everything.’ And I think it’s a very clear, vivid illustration of I don’t know how much more preparation that we could have done when we select these players, but it’s just a respect of the unknown.”

Holmes continued, “Unfortunately, they did not meet expectations in the timely manner that we would have liked for them to do, but you’ve just got to just look at it. I’m a big self-assessment individual, after I actually review, look at it, analyze it. I think we’ve already identified some areas already. But yeah, you’ve just got to learn, you’ve just got to grow and get better.”

Assistant general manager Ray Agnew discussed the human element, and also noted that a change of scenery has the potential to benefit players at times.

Martin was signed to the practice squad of the Chiefs, while Hooker landed on the practice squad of the Panthers.

“It’s kind of easy to pick those two players out. You talk about those two players, we did a lot of work on both of those guys. We believed they had the talent to play in this league. The first thing that comes to my mind is the kid, I think about the kid,” Agnew said. “The kid, for the first time in his life he’s being told, ‘You’re not good enough,’ and how’s he doing mentally, how’s he doing.

“Cause every time you get a change of scenery, things could go better for a kid and some kids just need a change of scenery. And maybe that’s what’s going to happen for both of those kids. It’s easy to pick those two kids out, but those two kids are talented kids and we did a lot of work on those kids and wish the best for them first and foremost in their new endeavor.”

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The Detroit Lions on Tuesday revealed their initial 53-man — or, should we say, 50-man — roster.

Here are our biggest takeaways from all of the Lions’ moves on cutdown day:

• The Lions waived rookie defensive end Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement, which was arguably the most shocking news of the day. Hassanein suffered a pectoral injury in the team’s preseason game against the Miami Dolphins and is expected to miss significant time. However, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Hassanein was destined for injured reserve, whether it be before cutdown day (which would end his season) or on cutdown day (which would give him a chance to return later on this year).

It appears the Lions are somewhat scarred by the number of starters who went to injured reserve last season, as they chose not to use one of the eight IR-to-return spots on Hassanein, opting instead for an alternate (and somewhat risky) route that would, under the right circumstances, still allow him to return at some point this season.

The amount of the injury settlement is based on the player’s salary and the expected duration of recovery. Once the settlement is over, he is free to sign with any team. It’s extremely rare for teams to claim an injured player in this situation, which means the big hurdle will be Hassanein choosing to re-sign with the Lions once his settlement is over.

Hassanein, plus his family and former coaches, all believed Detroit was the best destination for him on draft day. Perhaps that strong connection between team and player gave the Lions confidence that there’s less risk than appears on the surface.

• The Lions cut edge rushers Isaac Ukwu, Mitchell Agude and Nate Lynn. I thought Ukwu and Lynn had a chance to make the roster because injuries to Josh Paschal (undisclosed) and Hassanein depleted the team’s depth in the short term. Between Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad, the team now has just three healthy edge defenders.

Given the injury history of Davenport and the lengths Holmes had to go to acquire Za’Darius Smith in a deadline move last season, I figured there would be more of an attempt to stockpile as much depth at that position as possible.

It seems apparent that cutting those three players — and only keeping 50 on the initial roster — is an indication they’re working on bringing in outside help, which could include Smith. Their current situation allows them to add quickly.

• Cutting quarterback Hendon Hooker and defensive tackle Brodric Martin, two third-round picks from the 2023 draft, represents a new reality for the Lions: Not everybody can be along for the ride. Gone are the days when the Lions can afford to keep someone on the roster throughout their rookie deal with the hopes that they’ll have a massive uptick in performance and make the investment worth it.

Ultimately, neither of these moves is all that surprising. Martin never escaped the bottom of the depth chart throughout this year’s training camp, and Hooker performed poorly when the lights came on in games. Lions coach Dan Campbell telegraphed the possibility of moving on from Hooker for the last week, suggesting he could use a change of scenery.

• Many Lions fans were surprised and/or disappointed to learn that wide receiver Jackson Meeks was waived. Meeks’ 176 receiving yards ranked second among all receivers in the preseason, and if the Lions were going to keep a sixth receiver, many figured it’d be the uber-productive, 6-foot-2, 218-pound guy. Instead, it was Dominic Lovett, a seventh-round pick by Detroit who caught seven passes for just 45 yards over three preseason appearances, who made the cut.

There are at least a few logical reasons why Meeks didn’t. For starters, the Lions are loaded at receiver. All five players at the top of the depth chart could contribute on any team in the league, and at the top end, they have All-Pro and Pro Bowl-caliber players. With the Lions being in win-now mode, the only way Meeks was going to end up on the 53-man roster was if he could prove that he could contribute to winning in the here and now. With less proven experience on special teams, I’d guess that’s an area where Lovett — an excellent gunner in college with potential as a kick returner — gained an edge.

Plus, while Meeks’ numbers are impressive, they are somewhat misleading. More than one-third of his yardage came on a single 68-yard catch in the Atlanta game — which, to be fair, was a really nice catch. Another 47 yards came on the final drive of the game against Miami, when he caught four passes as the checkdown outlet for Hooker against a prevent defense. Those two things accounted for 65.3% of his preseason production; he had just one catch for 5 yards in the Hall of Fame Game and was shut out entirely in the finale against Houston. Meeks did some of the small things right throughout his tenure, but if you’re looking for a reason why the production wasn’t enough, that probably explains it.

• Another move that surprised fans was the decision to release beloved offensive tackle Dan Skipper. With Giovanni Manu still not ready for action, it seems they’re more comfortable with Jamarco Jones filling the backup tackle role in the here and now. I’d expect Skipper, who’s set to turn 31 next month, to be a prime candidate for the practice squad.

• Second-year offensive lineman Kingsley Eguakun has officially won the backup center job. He was the lone interior lineman to make the roster with actual center experience outside of Graham Glasgow, who’s going to be the starter. Many wondered if the Lions would simply rely on rookie Tate Ratledge to be the fill-in if Glasgow ever had to miss time, but it seems they’re more comfortable with having a true center to be the backup. Eguakun beat out Trystan Colon and Michael Niese for the job.

• The Lions will not have a “true” safety backing up Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. The team instead opted to keep six cornerbacks, some of whom possess hybrid abilities. Veterans Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox both played a healthy amount of safety in training camp and preseason, so those are the current stand-ins at that position.

However, I’d expect the Lions to keep a few of their young safeties on the practice squad with the chance to be permanently elevated later on down the line.

The Detroit Lions, in accordance with Tuesday’s deadline, have trimmed their active roster below the maximum of 53 players.

In fact, they went well below that threshold.

The Lions have 50 players on their initial roster, signaling some incoming moves before the season opener at the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 7. The Lions also interestingly waived sixth-round defensive end Ahmed Hassanein with an injury settlement. It doesn’t necessarily indicate Hassanein’s time in Detroit is over — he can re-sign with the team three weeks after the settlement’s expiration — but it’s a risk.

Below is a look at who did and did not make the cut. An asterisk next to a cut player’s name indicates he has less than four accrued seasons, making him subject to waivers. Players cut who do not have an asterisk are free to sign anywhere, including Detroit’s 16-man practice squad, which can officially begin forming Wednesday.

A quick refresher on the various injury lists: Players who begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list or Non-Football Injury (NFI) list don’t currently count against the 53-man roster, but they’re forced to miss the first four games of 2025.

Now, on to the roster.

Quarterback (2)

In: Jared Goff, Kyle Allen

Out: Hendon Hooker*

Running back (4)

In: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Sione Vaki, Craig Reynolds

Out: Jacob Saylors*, Deon Jackson*

Wide receiver (6)

In: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Isaac TeSlaa, Tim Patrick, Dominic Lovett

Out: Malik Taylor, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks*, Ronnie Bell*, Jakobie Keeney-James*

Tight end (3)

In: Sam LaPorta, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra

Out: Zach Horton*, Gunnar Oakes*, Steven Stilianos*

IR: Kenny Yeboah (undisclosed)

Offensive line (9)

In: Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker, Jamarco Jones, Giovanni Manu, Tate Ratledge, Graham Glasgow, Christian Mahogany, Kayode Awosika, Kingsley Eguakun

Out: Dan Skipper, Netane Muti, Trystan Colon, Michael Niese*, Mason Miller*, Zack Johnson*, Gunner Britton*

PUP: Miles Frazier (knee)

IR: Colby Sorsdal (undisclosed), Justin Herron (arm)

Edge (3)

In: Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, Al-Quadin Muhammad

Out: Isaac Ukwu*, Nate Lynn*, Mitchell Agude*

NFI: Josh Paschal (undisclosed)

Waived with injury settlement: Ahmed Hassanein* (pec)

Defensive line (6)

In: DJ Reader, Tyleik Williams, Roy Lopez, Mekhi Wingo, Pat O’Connor, Chris Smith

Out: Myles Adams, Keith Cooper Jr.*, Brodric Martin*

PUP: Alim McNeill (knee)

IR: Levi Onwuzurike (knee)

Linebacker (6)

In: Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Grant Stuard, Trevor Nowaske, Zach Cunningham

Out: Anthony Pittman, DaRon Gilbert*

PUP: Malcolm Rodriguez (knee)

IR: Ezekiel Turner (lower leg)

Defensive back (8)

In: Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Amik Robertson, Khalil Dorsey, Rock Ya-Sin, Avonte Maddox

Out: Loren Strickland*, Nick Whiteside*, Tyson Russell*, Allan George*, D.J. Miller*, Luq Barcoo*, Erick Hallett II*, Ian Kennelly*, Morice Norris*

IR: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (shoulder), Dan Jackson (leg)

Specialists (3)

In: K Jake Bates, P Jack Fox, LS Hogan Hatten

Out: N/A

* — Player has less than four accrued seasons, making him subject to waivers.

DETROIT ― Following weeks of uncertainty surrounding the future of the Michigan Panthers, including speculation about possible relocation out of the state, the United Football League’s new co-owner said Monday that he’s “trying” to find a solution that could keep the Panthers from moving.

Mike Repole, who joined the ownership group of the UFL at the end of July, posted on X on Monday that the Panthers’ current venue, Ford Field, is the biggest obstacle for the franchise, and said he is monitoring the situation with Detroit City FC’s new stadium as a potential solution down the road.

Detroit City FC is spending $150 million to build a 15,000-seat stadium, which is scheduled to open in southwest Detroit in 2027. The soccer club released renderings and the stadium’s name earlier this month.

“I’m a big fan of Michigan Panthers and the @USFLPanthers,” Repole wrote on X on Monday night, in response to a fan asking about the future of the franchise. “Attendance was up this season but the venue remains the biggest obstacle in the market. Michigan is a passionate football state with a loyal fan base, but the current stadium options create too many challenges.

“That’s why I keep coming back to AlumniFi Field (the new DCFC stadium). I need more info. This is the exact type of venue I have in mind for the future of the (UFL). I’m trying.”

Messages to Detroit City FC officials weren’t immediately returned Monday.

The Panthers have played at Ford Field, also home of the Detroit Lions, for the last three seasons, first as part of the United States Football League, and then as part of the UFL created by the merger of the USFL and XFL. The Panthers survived the merger, which made an eight-team league out of 16 teams from the previous two leagues.

The ownership group of the old USFL liked the prestige of playing at Ford Field; it gave the league some credibility. But the challenges are numerous, including the game-day cost for the league, which is reported to be among the most expensive in the league, if not the most expensive. The optics are another issue. Even though Panthers attendance has been among the best in the league, and has been increasing, that still leaves a lot of empty seats in 65,000-seat Ford Field, which doesn’t look great on television.

The Panthers drew more than 10,000 fans for four of its five home games in 2025, including 16,014 for its last home game, which was Jake Bates bobblehead day. They averaged almost 11,681 fans per home game in 2025, making Michigan the only UFL team to see an increase in attendance last season.

Yet, there have been reports and speculation about the future of the Panthers, whose roots date to the early 1980s and the old UFL. Panthers general manager Steve Kazor and head coach Mike Nolan, among the only remaining employees with the franchise after ticket and marking staff was let go after the season, said they have heard nothing definitive yet about the Panthers’ future. The UFL has declined to make Repole available to The News.

Michigan Panthers fans have started petitions to keep the franchise, and they hope to see the same fate as the Birmingham Stallions, who also were reportedly on the chopping block but have now been confirmed for play in 2025.

The UFL has confirmed at least one new city will be hosting a team in 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. The league website continues to list the eight franchises from 2024, including Michigan.

The Panthers went 6-4 in the regular season in 2025, before losing in the UFL championship game.

Relope, 56, who has a strong background in branding and marketing and also co-founded multiple beverages that sold to Coca-Cola for a combined $10 billion, joined the UFL ownership group that also includes Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Fox, Redbird Capital Partners and Dany Garcia. He’s been tasked to get more fans in the stands and eyes on the broadcasts for a league that’s already bucked the odds in lasting longer than most attempts at launching pro spring football leagues. TV ratings also were down 20% in 2025, from 2024, despite airing on ESPN and Fox platforms.

The product on the field has caught the attention of the NFL, though, with hundreds of UFL players signing some level of contract with NFL teams, 67 this year alone, including Panthers quarterback Bryce Perkins. The MVP in the UFL in 2025, Perkins signed with the Carolina Panthers. Bates is one of the UFL’s best success stories, becoming the Lions’ starting kicker in 2024, after he went viral earlier in the year with his booming kicks for the Panthers at Ford Field.

DETROIT — Another preseason game, another receiving touchdown for Isaac TeSlaa.

The rookie, after scoring in each of the Detroit Lions‘ two previous exhibitions, recorded a 33-yard touchdown in the first quarter of Saturday’s 26-7 loss to the Houston Texans at Ford Field. TeSlaa had one-on-one coverage with cornerback D’Angelo Ross, and quarterback Kyle Allen didn’t hesitate on first down, launching the deep ball down the right sideline.

TeSlaa hauled it in right as he was crossing the goal line.

“It was a very detailed route,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said postgame. “That tells you that he’s taking the coaching, and he’s growing.”

TeSlaa, who moved the chains with a well-executed slant pattern on third down three plays prior to his touchdown, finished the preseason with 10 catches (13 targets) for 146 yards and three touchdowns. He’s shown the ability to do a bit of everything through four exhibitions, routinely showcasing his contested-catch ability and knack for explosive plays on crossing routes.

With every play he makes, he’s gaining the trust of not only the coaching staff, Campbell said, but also his teammates. All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown said earlier this month TeSlaa’s tenacity as a run blocker has led to the former Hillsdale College and Arkansas standout receiving respect from the position’s veterans.

“That’s my ultimate goal,” TeSlaa said Saturday, when asked about earning that belief from his teammates and coaches. “Obviously, as a rookie, (I’m) still trying to find my role on this team. Just to be able to build that trust from the coaching staff and the offense as a whole, the play-callers, and then, ultimately, my teammates, I think is a super big thing for me as a rookie.”

TeSlaa said he’s still refining the “small details” it takes to play receiver on the outside. He spent most of his time in the slot while at Arkansas, but his measurables (6-foot-4, 214 pounds) certainly fit the profile of someone who can win near the boundary.

There’s still growth to be had, Campbell made clear. But considering how rapidly he’s developed since arriving for training camp last month, the coach is hopeful TeSlaa will be ready to help during the regular season, sooner rather than later.

“He’s going to continue to get better and better,” Campbell said of TeSlaa. “I’m very pleased. We’re very pleased with where he’s at after six weeks of camp because that’s really what it’s been. We just finished six weeks, so I’d say, if you took most receivers, he’d be in the upper echelon of those, as far as development. It’s pretty good. It’s not easy to develop as a receiver in this league and be ready to go.

“I think there’s a place for him to help us early in this season.”

DETROIT — Here’s who we think stood out, either positively or negatively, in the Detroit Lions‘ 26-7 preseason loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Stock up: S Loren Strickland

Three safeties entered Saturday’s game on seemingly similar footings: Strickland, do-it-all man Erick Hallett II and undrafted rookie Ian Kennelly. Strickland impressed most, finishing tied with linebacker Trevor Nowaske with a team-high nine tackles. He had a 4-yard tackle for loss in the third quarter, and he planted tight end Harrison Bryant to get off the field later on that same drive. He also had a shoestring tackle of receiver Cornell Powell, who brought in a quick pass on second-and-short and looked primed to rack up yards after the catch, only to be tripped up by Strickland’s outstretched arms.

Stock down: QB Hendon Hooker

Here we are again. Hooker’s development on the practice field is obvious, but he’s had four chances this preseason to prove those skills translatable. He went 0-for-4, finishing the preseason with a passer rating of 36.2. That doesn’t account for the two fumbles he lost in Atlanta. He completed six passes against the Texans, including three checkdowns and a screen. His worst throw came in the fourth quarter, immediately following cornerback Tyson Russell’s interception of Texans QB Kedon Slovis. Hooker gave the ball right back, sailing a pass intended for receiver Dominic Lovett right into the arms of safety Jalen Mills. The Lions preach patience and, in a vacuum, would presumably love to continue their development of Hooker. His play in the preseason, though, has made it difficult to justify keeping three quarterbacks on a roster aiming to win the Super Bowl.

Stock up: QB Kyle Allen, WR Isaac TeSlaa

We’ve opted to combine Allen and TeSlaa into one section. Both players were consistently impressive throughout the preseason, and there isn’t much to add to the conversation about either. Allen found TeSlaa, who scored against the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 8 and the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 16, for a 33-yard touchdown in the first quarter. TeSlaa finished his first preseason with 10 catches (13 targets) for 146 yards and three touchdowns. Allen, securing his role as the top backup behind starter Jared Goff, wrapped the preseason 35-for-44 (79.5%) for 401 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. That’s good for a passer rating of 123.6.

Stock down: CB Nick Whiteside

Whiteside hit the ground running after being signed as a summer addition, quickly moving up the depth chart and getting some first-team opportunities in practice. His performance against the Dolphins was lackluster, however, and his outing Saturday was his worst of the preseason. He was on the wrong end of multiple chunk plays, including a 24-yard reception by receiver Xavier Hutchinson on a crossing route and a 13-yard gain by rookie Jayden Higgins. Whiteside was also flagged for defensive holding on a third-and-long toward the end of the first half, giving the Texans an automatic first down. His rapid rise still likely justifies a spot on the practice squad. That’s a notable feat, given his late arrival to training camp.

Stock up: RB Craig Reynolds

Reynolds only had five carries for 12 yards, but he picked up a pair of receptions to move the chains in the first quarter, showing off some wiggle to collect 12 yards before he made linebacker E.J. Speed miss in the open field on an 8-yard gain. Second-year back Sione Vaki, dealing with an injury, didn’t play against the Texans. Reynolds, though his position on the roster never truly felt in jeopardy, took advantage of the early reps.

Stock down: Pass rush

The Lions are desperately thin at defensive end, with sixth-round rookie Ahmed Hassanein (pec) down for the foreseeable future and the timing of Josh Paschal’s return from the non-football injury list a bit clouded. There was opportunity to be had for some of Detroit’s depth pass rushers (namely, Nate Lynn and Isaac Ukwu) to prove themselves, and there were few moments in which they took advantage. Slovis and fellow QB Graham Mertz constantly sat comfortably in the pocket, even in obvious passing situations. The Texans faced third-and-7 or longer five times. They converted twice and benefited from Whiteside’s penalty on another. The Lions had no sacks on those plays. Al-Quadin Muhammad did get home on a second down to close the first half, in fairness, and Lynn had a couple pressures that series, including a hit on Mertz.

Stock up: DL Myles Adams, LB Trevor Nowaske

We’ll end with some recognition of a couple of veterans, in Adams and Nowaske. The former, on the heels of a recent shoutout from head coach Dan Campbell, was in on two run stops on Houston’s first drive. Nowaske, meanwhile, was active, often rallying to the ball and showing good pursuit. He teamed up with defensive end Mitchell Agude for a tackle for loss, and he had, alongside Strickland, a tackle of running back British Brooks for no gain midway through the fourth quarter. Nowaske also wore the green dot, relaying play calls to his teammates.=

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions will have a tough decision to make on third-string quarterback Hendon Hooker when compiling their 53-man roster early next week.

Hooker turned in another poor performance while playing the final three quarters of Detroit’s preseason finale, finishing 6-for-11 passing for 70 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in a 26-7 loss to the Houston Texans at Ford Field on Saturday.

Hooker entered the game on the third drive, after backup quarterback Kyle Allen started 5-for-5 for 66 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa.

Hooker completed his first pass — a 14-yard checkdown to running back Jacob Saylors — and didn’t complete another pass until 6:44 remained in the third quarter on another checkdown to Saylors.

Hooker finally got in a minor groove near the end of the game, completing a pair of 18-yard passes to wide receiver Ronnie Bell and running back Deon Jackson. He finished that drive with four completions, the latter two being a screen and a checkdown. He was sacked on fourth down while trying to escape the pocket.

Over four preseason appearances, Hooker went 22-for-40 passing for 187 yards, three interceptions and two fumbles. Not only did he not throw a passing touchdown all preseason, the Lions did not score a touchdown of any kind with him at quarterback over four games.

Hooker’s ineffectiveness in Saturday’s game was to the detriment of a couple receivers who are on the bubble entering cutdown day (Tuesday at 4 p.m.). Neither Jackson Meeks nor Dominic Lovett, both of who are sitting firmly on the fence, ended up with a reception.

Houston took a 3-0 lead with 7:12 left in the first quarter. Lions defensive tackle Myles Adams came up with a critical stop on third-and-1, and Ka’imi Fairbairn put home a 53-yard field goal after the Texans took a false-start penalty before fourth down.

The Lions took their first and only lead of the game on TeSlaa’s third touchdown of the preseason. After TeSlaa moved the chains by crossing up a Texans defensive back on a slant route, he ran a go down the sideline and Allen put it right in the bread basket for a 33-yard connection to put Detroit up, 7-3, with 1:52 left in the first quarter.

The Texans regained the lead on running back Woody Marks’ score with 12:22 left in the second quarter. Lions lineman Keith Cooper Jr. got penetration but couldn’t get hands on the ball carrier, as Marks ran right by Cooper and edge defender Nate Lynn on his way to a 9-yard touchdown.

Ex-Lions receiver Quintez Cephus added to the Texans’ lead. He hauled in a fade route over Lions cornerback D.J. Miller Jr. for a 6-yard touchdown reception. Fairbairn whiffed on the ensuing point-after attempt, resulting in a 16-7 Texans lead with 4:46 remaining in the second quarter. Cephus had four catches for 51 yards.

Lions cornerback Tyson Russell came up with the team’s first pass defense of the day with 14:53 left in the fourth quarter. As Cephus struggled to haul in a throw with his helmet, Russell was in the right place at the right time to steal the ball off the bobble.

But Hooker gave it right back on the next play from scrimmage, overshooting Lovett on a ball that landed right in the hands of Texans defensive back Jalen Mills.

The Texans took a commanding 23-7 lead with 12:58 to go. After Cooper and Anthony Pittman teamed up for a 2-yard loss near the goal line, Texans receiver Daniel Jackson got lost in a sea of bodies and ended up wide open for a 3-yard touchdown reception.

Houston added a 48-yard field goal to make it 26-7 with 6:35 left in the game.

Starting lineup

• Offensive starters: QB Kyle Allen, RB Craig Reynolds, WRs Isaac TeSlaa and Tom Kennedy, TE Zach Horton, LT Giovanni Manu, LG Netane Muti, C Kingsley Eguakun, RG Kayode Awosika, RT Dan Skipper

• Defensive starters: DL Pat O’Connor, Chris Smith, Myles Adams, Al-Quadin Muhammad; LBs Trevor Nowaske, Zach Cunningham and Grant Stuard; CBs Nick Whiteside and Allan George; S Rock Ya-Sin and Erick Hallett II

Key takeaways from Detroit Lions’ loss against Texans

More observations

• At least three reserve players who would otherwise be expected to play were absent from the contest: Running back Sione Vaki, cornerback Luq Barcoo and offensive tackle Jamarco Jones. Vaki and Jones both suffered undisclosed injuries during Detroit’s joint practice against the Texans on Thursday.

• Eguakun, a bubble player who’s fighting for the reserve center job, started the game. He was knocked back on third down during Detroit’s opening possession, leading to a sack of Allen, but was relatively solid the rest of the way on first watch.

• Hooker’s biggest gain of the preseason, a 30-yard completion to receiver Bell in the third quarter, was called back for a holding penalty on offensive guard Zack Johnson. With Hooker turning in another poor performance over three full quarters, the wide receiver production struggled, too.

• Still, the Lions made a significant improvement in their discipline. Detroit was called for just five accepted penalties (47 yards) after being called for 13 penalties the week prior.

• Stuard reprised his role as the team’s kick returner to start the game and returned the opening kickoff 44 yards to Detroit’s 45-yard line. He was replaced by Lovett after the opening kick.

• The final impression from cornerback Nick Whiteside, one of the darlings of training camp, was underwhelming. He was the nearest defender on at least four big chunk plays and was later flagged for defensive holding on third-and-11 on the Texans’ final drive of the second quarter.

Photo gallery from the Lions’ 26-7 loss to Texans in preseason finale

• With plenty of jobs available on the defensive line, the Lions’ pass rush was relatively nonexistent outside of a two-play sequence near the end of the first half. Lynn registered a quarterback hit on a play that was ultimately called back for offensive pass interference. On the very next play, Muhammad sacked Texans quarterback Graham Mertz to end the half.

• Lions safety Loren Strickland, who made the team as an undrafted rookie last season, was all over the place in the second half. He finished with a team-high nine tackles, including one for loss. Nowaske also had nine tackles.

• With Vaki out of the lineup, none of the Lions’ running backs ran the ball particularly well. Reynolds had five rushes for 12 yards, Saylors had nine for 32 yards, and Jackson had two for 3 yards.

• In addition to his tackle-for-loss near the goal line, Pittman came up with another tackle-for-loss in the fourth quarter, stopping Texans running back British Brooks for a loss of 3 yards.

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions will add another name to the Pride of the Lions during the 2025 season, announcing Saturday that former defensive end Robert Porcher will join the team’s ring of honor.

Porcher, a three-time Pro Bowler who played 12 seasons in Detroit (1992-2003), is still the team’s all-time leader in single-season (15) and career sacks (95.5).

The team plans to do Porcher’s Pride of the Lions ceremony at halftime of the Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears.

“We are thrilled to cement Robert Porcher’s legacy as one of the all-time Lions greats,” Lions president & CEO Rod Wood said in a statement. “As someone who spent his entire 13-year career in Detroit and holds our franchise record for career sacks, he is incredibly deserving of this honor. He was a model of stability and tenacity as a player and will always be someone our fans and even current players can look up to.

“We look forward to welcoming Robert back to Ford Field for what will be an extra special celebration when we take on the Chicago Bears for our home opener.”

Porcher, 56, was a first-round pick (26th overall) out of South Carolina State by the Lions in the 1992 NFL Draft. He made the Pro Bowl in 1997, 1999 (when he had a franchise-record 15 sacks) and 2001. He played 14 or more games in every season and played all 16 games in eight of his 12 NFL seasons.

Porcher started 158 games, the second-most by a defensive player in Lions history and the third-most of any player in franchise history. Porcher also holds the record for the most double-digit sack seasons (five) in Lions history. He played in 12 seasons but is officially recognized as having played 13; in 2004, he retired midseason after not appearing in the team’s first seven games.

Recent Pride of the Lions inductees include wide receiver Calvin Johnson (2024), offensive tackle Lomas Brown (2023) and linebacker Chris Spielman (2021).

The Detroit Lions have drastically improved their roster since head coach Dan Campbell took over back in 2021.

With the floor raised, several members of the training camp roster have made it quite difficult for the coaching staff to decide their upcoming future.

Detroit’s battle at wide receiver and along the defensive line was quite competitive all throughout training camp.

Campbell expressed prior to the preseason finale against the Texans that the joint practice aided the team in learning and processing new information from a team that had a much different defensive philosophy.

“It was work that we were looking forward to. That’s a good opponent over there, they’ve got a really talented, young roster,” Campbell said during his pregame interview with Lions flagship radio. “Their scheme is a little different than ours, particularly defensively. It’s a little more penetrating up the field, and if you haven’t seen that in a while, that’s difficult. It’s great for us to get that, Green Bay is a little more like that. It was a really good test for us. I feel like we got better and learned a few things that we didn’t know before.”

Here are several takeaways from the Lions’ preseason finale against the Texans. Detroit ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, losing 26-7.

Kyle Allen gets start

It was pretty safe to assume that barring a drastic setback on Saturday, the veteran signal-caller had won the starting backup quarterback job.

His poise in the pocket and his play during the team’s four preseason games made it an easy decision for the coaching staff.

After the Texans took a 3-0 lead, Allen smoothly led the offense on a 10-play, 85-yard touchdown drive. Allen hit Isaac TeSlaa on his final pass of the game, as he exited after two drives. He finished 5-for-5 for 66 yards and a touchdown, with a 158.3 passer rating.

Hendon Hooker sputters again as Lions drop preseason finale to Texans

Isaac TeSlaa records touchdown in third-straight preseason game

One of the biggest stories that emerged from Detroit’s 2025 training camp was the strong play of its third-round draft pick.

Detroit’s front office and general manager Brad Holmes have credited the tall, sure-handed wideout with displaying his toughness, as well as his play-making abilities, all throughout the preseason.

Against the Texans, TeSlaa recorded a 33-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter. It was his third-straight preseason game with a touchdown reception. It gave Detroit a 7-3 lead heading into the second quarter.

Afterwards, the talented wideout broke out “the worm,” which represented his most expressive celebration after scoring.

Defense gashed in first half

Texans QB Graham Mertz was efficient, firing multiple strikes to Cornell Powell, as well as Xavier Hutchinson and Jayden Higgins. He would connect with former Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus for a touchdown in the second quarter.

Running back Woody Marks also found the end zone, as he scored from nine yards out. Houston had 14 first downs in the first half compared to Detroit’s six, and outgained the Lions, 212 to 110.

Hendon Hooker does not spark offense in any meaningful way

Unfortunately, it appears the former third-round pick’s fate has been sealed in Motown.

All throughout the preseason, Hooker was unable to lead many meaningful drives. When he did make a play, it was often followed by a penalty or error that ended up negating a positive gain.

After the Lions recorded an interception, Hooker immediately turned the football over, tossing an interception to Texans cornerback Jalen Mills.

Photo gallery from the Lions’ 26-7 loss to Texans in preseason finale

Notes

1. Linebacker Grant Stuard started the game with a 44-yard return for the Lions.

2. Detroit’s starting defense included ends Al-Quadin Muhammad and Pat O’Connor, tackles Chris Smith and Myles Adams, linebackers Trevor Nowaske, Zach Cunningham and Stuard, cornerbacks Nick Whiteside and Allan George and safeties Rock Ya-Sin and Erick Hallett.

3. Detroit’s starting offensive line included Giovanni Manu at left tackle, Netane Muti at left guard, Kingsley Eguakun at center, Kayode Awosika at right guard and Dan Skipper at right tackle.

4. The Lions donned a uniform that featured all-white pants and a blue top. It had mixed reviews online, with some supporters hoping they do not ever again see that particular jersey combination.

5. The reported attendance at Ford Field was 49,017 on Saturday afternoon.

This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions

The Detroit Lions wrapped up their preseason slate on Saturday with a 26-7 loss to the Houston Texans, as the positional battles went down to the wire.

Here are the highlights of Saturday’s loss, in photos:

Hendon Hooker sputters again as Lions drop preseason finale to Texans

Key takeaways from Detroit Lions’ loss against Texans

ALLEN PARK — Detroit Lions center Graham Glasgow left Thursday’s practice in Allen Park to be evaluated for a lower leg injury, according to an announcement from the team.

Glasgow, who answered a major question mark by winning the starting center job after Frank Ragnow’s retirement, was injured during the final period of the day. It was unclear how, exactly, he suffered the injury, but he was slow to get up after a completion to wide receiver Kalif Raymond and was later helped off the field by a pair of trainers.

Should Glasgow have to miss extended time, it would be a major blow to the rhythm Detroit’s offense has established throughout camp. No other projected starter has any sort of meaningful center experience, which means the team would likely have to turn to a reserve — Kingsley Eguakun filled in after Glasgow was hurt — in the here and now, or throw rookie Tate Ratledge into the fire. Ratledge spent the first three days of camp at center but has not repped there since.

More injury updates

• S Kerby Joseph: Joseph returned to practice after missing the last three sessions with a minor knee injury that also caused him to miss time earlier in camp. He was spotted wearing a left leg sleeve on Thursday and was a full participant.

• RB Sione Vaki: Vaki, who has missed time over two separate stints in camp, also left practice with what was presumed to be an injury, but the team did not provide an update. It’s unclear why he left practice.

• DE Josh Paschal: Lions coach Dan Campbell said the return of Paschal (undisclosed) will be later than originally thought after he said earlier in camp that he expected Paschal to start practicing in early September.

Paschal began training camp on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list and will not count against the roster limit if he remains on NFI through cutdown day.

“I think Paschal could be a little later than we had hoped,” Campbell said Thursday. “That could sting a little bit. It also cleans (the roster construction) up, too. At least you’re not hoping and waiting and whatever else.”

• DE Ahmed Hassanein: The Lions already are set to be without rookie defensive end Ahmed Hassanein, who suffered a pectoral injury that will require significant time missed. Hassanein posted on his Instagram that he didn’t need surgery, but Campbell was hesitant to update his long-term outlook.

“I’ve got nothing else on him, to be honest with you,” Campbell said.

• C Trystan Colon: Colon, who suffered an elbow injury in a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, was spotted running on the side with a large elbow brace on his arm.

• S Morice Norris: Norris, who suffered a severe concussion in the preseason game at Atlanta, was also doing some light work on the side in a practice jersey. Campbell said earlier this week that his timetable is to be determined.

Injury designations

• Injured reserve (season-ending): CB Dicaprio Bootle (lower leg), OL Keaton Sutherland (knee), S Dan Jackson (leg), CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (shoulder), TE Kenny Yeboah (knee), OL Colby Sorsdal (lower body), Justin Herron (arm)

• Non-Football Injury (NFI): DE Josh Paschal

• Active/PUP: LB Malcolm Rodriguez (knee), DL Alim McNeill (knee), OL Miles Frazier (knee)

• Reserve/PUP: DL Levi Onwuzurike (knee)

ALLEN PARK — Roy Lopez still remembers the sequence.

It was third-and-12, and the Arizona Cardinals, down by seven points with 2:20 remaining, were one defensive play away from getting the Detroit Lions off the field, and giving their offense a chance to tie or win the game. The Lions, as they so often did in 2024, found a way, with quarterback Jared Goff hitting receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown over the middle for 18 yards. Another first down two snaps later slammed the door on the Cardinals, whose comeback bid in Week 3 last September fell short, 20-13.

Now, nearly half a year after signing with the Lions and one month into his first training camp with the team, Lopez understands how Detroit was able to get the job done in Arizona.

“The game was a little closer in my eyes than what they thought, to be honest,” Lopez said Monday. “We always joke around with it. … Going through these dog days — I’ve expressed that to this team, as well — you understand why they had a little bit more in the tank than us. St. Brown, the guy is staying after practice every day, catching the ball. You can count on him late in the game. I think that’s the biggest thing, is seeing it firsthand.”

Lopez signed with the Lions in March because he saw a group of kindred spirits, a collection of players and coaches who’ve built a team matching his style of play. The run-stuffing defensive tackle comes from a family of football coaches, and the opportunity to play for headman Dan Campbell, a former player turned coach, was too good to pass up.

A two-time state champion with a record of 113-3 at Mesquite High School in Arizona, Lopez credits his time as a wrestler for forging the mentality with which he plays football. Lopez, a sixth-round draft pick by the Houston Texans in 2021, has totaled 70 defensive stops (a tackle that constitutes a “failure” for the offense, per Pro Football Focus) in his career.

“Lining up across from somebody, I know you didn’t work as hard as I did,” Lopez said. “I know you didn’t put in seven days a week for the past 10 years. I just know you didn’t. You weren’t traveling at 7 years old, spitting in a water bottle with the heater on in the car and the sweatsuit on and dad (is) yelling at you. You didn’t do it like I did. That’s just something that was instilled in me at a young age. Now, it’s the fourth quarter or whatever it is — tough days in camp, dog days — I know I’ve got a little bit more in me.”

The Lions have been everything Lopez expected, and “maybe a little more.” He’s happy be on this side of it, and he hopes to now contribute to the culture that lured him to Detroit.

“I came into an organization, came into a room that loves ball, that understands everything about it,” Lopez said. “To be in a room that shares the same mental, shares the same love for getting better, for the game of football as a whole, it’s a blessing, man. To be able to see guys like (Aidan Hutchinson), guys like (DJ) Reader, (Marcus) Davenport, (Alex) Anzalone, Jack (Campbell), all these guys flying around every day, there’s no shortcuts, man.

“It’s an old saying, right? An old cliché saying: There’s no shortcuts. But here, it’s a true definition.”

DETROIT — After poring over the 70 snaps he played last season, defensive end Isaac Ukwu made up his mind: He needed to get stronger.

Ukwu, an undrafted free agent in 2024 out of Ole Miss, spent most of his rookie campaign on the Detroit Lions‘ practice squad. He was elevated for two contests, one against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6 and the other at the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7. As expected, neither performance was marred by mistakes or loaded with wins. As head coach Dan Campbell put it after Detroit’s throttling of the Cowboys, “I thought as the game went on, he got better, and it looked like it was his first NFL game. That’s just the truth.”

Looking back, Ukwu was disappointed with how he defended the run, particularly versus the Vikings. That led him to put on weight this offseason, so that he could set a firmer edge. He’s up to 270 pounds now, about 8-10 pounds heavier than he was as a rookie.

The bulked-up frame also has opened the door for Ukwu to be used in varying ways, including lined up on the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle across from him, more of an interior position than his usual role off the edge. That was his alignment on a fourth down late in the first half of Saturday’s preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins, when he brought down quarterback Zach Wilson for the first sack of the preseason.

“I kind of went outside because (the offensive tackle’s) momentum was going in,” recalled Ukwu, who had an earlier third-down sack taken away due to a teammate’s penalty. “And I was able to bend the edge.”

Ukwu spent his offseason in Detroit, spending time with strength and conditioning coach Josh Schuler and working with the team’s dietitians. Not much changed about his diet, in terms of foods added or removed, but he simply ate more, and matched the added intake with proper workouts.

The change is tangible, Ukwu says. He’s been stouter on the edge, and he feels his power rushes have looked better in Year 2. He seems more capable of deploying a long arm move, which, as the name implies, features a defender getting an arm into an offensive lineman’s chest and driving him back into the quarterback.

His one pressure against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Hall of Fame Game was courtesy of this move.

Ukwu’s showing against the Dolphins was his most impressive of the preseason so far. His overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus (83.3) was second on the Lions, behind defensive back Erick Hallett II (91.1), who had three pass breakups. Ukwu’s pass-rush mark (79.2) is his best in any NFL game he’s appeared in, including last year’s preseason, where he posted three sacks over three games.

He has work to do if he’s going to push for a roster spot, but Ukwu, who’s had an up-and-down training camp, is trending positively. He has three more practices, including a joint practice with the Houston Texans, and a preseason finale at Ford Field on Aug. 23 before the Lions trim their active roster down to 53 players (cutdown day is Aug. 26) and fill out their 16-man practice squad in the days following.

“My mindset is to never get too high, never get too low. That’s what coach always preaches,” Ukwu said. “Just continue to steadily grow, and I think just being intentional with every rep. That’s one big thing — especially being on a team with (Aidan Hutchinson) and watching him every rep in practice and in all things, it’s like he’s very intentional with what he does. I feel like that shows with how he good he plays on the field. That’s something I feel like I really need to do, be intentional.”

The Detroit Lions on Thursday put cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Rakestraw, a second-round pick in 2024, posted an Instagram story on Thursday morning that showed him either pre- or post-surgery with the caption, “Road to Be back starts soon.” The injury occurred on the first drill of Sunday’s training-camp practice in Allen Park. He went down on the very first rep of a one-on-one tackling drill and did not return.

Rakestraw wrote a message on his TikTok account on Thursday afternoon.

“I’ll be back soon. Been a rough 2 years (b)ut I’ll never question (G)od. Just want to play the game I love dearly. And show my people who I am and the kids who grew up like me it’s possible,” Rakestraw wrote. “So I’ll win in the end(,) just been a blurry road I’ve been on(,) just have to keep pushing.”

Lions coach Dan Campbell delivered a message of support when asked about the young cornerback on Monday.

“You hate it for the kid,” he said. “You hate it. It’s not his fault, just one of those tough deals. All you can do is try to get it better and rehab and come back stronger and move on. That’s all you can do.”

It’s yet another devastating blow to Rakestraw’s development and fortune since he entered the league.

Last season, Rakestraw appeared in just eight games and spent time on injured reserve with a hamstring issue. Cornerbacks Terrion Arnold, who should be returning from a hamstring injury soon, and Khalil Dorsey, who’s still rehabbing from a broken leg suffered at the end of last season, are also not currently practicing.

While Rakestraw’s indefinite absence is a blow to the team’s depth, it has gotten strong performances from veteran additions like Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox; the latter has played more safety this camp but carries ample experience as a nickel cornerback.

As of now, the Lions are still in good shape with their cornerback room.

Lions add tight end

In a corresponding move, the Lions added some competition to the tight end room, agreeing to terms with free-agent tight end Steven Stilianos, his management team announced Thursday.

Stilianos, 25, most recently appeared with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL. He caught 15 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown in nine games. He finished his college career with two seasons at Iowa, where he crossed over with Lions tight end Sam LaPorta during the 2022 season, after transferring from Lafayette (FCS).

In his final season with the Hawkeyes (2023), Stilianos caught eight passes for 96 yards. He was not drafted but briefly spent time with the Tennessee Titans, for whom he made three preseason appearances in 2024.

Ultimately, he has a steep hill to climb if he’s going to contribute for the Lions’ tight end room. LaPorta and Brock Wright are firmly entrenched as the top two choices. Shane Zylstra, who’s been with the team for multiple years, has impressed with his given opportunities thus far.