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