To help out your game viewing experience, here are a few keys to keep in mind when exploring this depth chart:<\/p>\n
Players\u2019 numbers are listed (in parentheses)Projected starters are boldedAn asterisk* identifies rookiesInjuries are noted after a player\u2019s name\/numberBe cautious of two players wearing the same number, including No. 2, 11, 12, 17, 42, and 43<\/p>\n
Lions depth chart: Preseason Game 2 vs. Commanders<\/p>\n
Jared Goff (16) \u2014 Will not play, per coach Dan CampbellJosh Dobbs (6)Luke Altmyer* (2)<\/p>\n
While Altmyer has been getting the majority of QB2 reps in training camp, coach Dan Campbell said on Thursday that Dobbs will get the start\u2014though the two will play \u201cequal amounts\u201d throughout the game<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jahmyr Gibbs (0)Isiah Pacheco (10) \u2014 MCL strainSione Vaki (33) \u2014 recent injury: eyeJacob Saylors (25) \u2014 recent injury: ankleJabari Small (26) \u2014 recent injury: kneeRaheem Blackshear (42)Trayveon Williams (47)<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear whether Gibbs will play in this game, but his primary backup, Pachecho, almost certainly won\u2019t play due to an MCL strain. While the next three backs on the depth chart have dealt with recent injuries, all have been practicing lately and will likely be available. The only exception could be Saylors, who is only a few days removed from his ankle injury. Saylors would benefit from playing in this game, as he looks to hold onto the RB4 role with the competition is nipping at his heels.<\/p>\n Amon-Ra St. Brown (14)Jameson Williams (1) \u2014 recent injury: shoulderIsaac TeSlaa (18)Greg Dortch (8)Tay Martin (17)Dominic Lovett (19)Tom Kennedy (85)Cedrick Wilson (86) \u2014 recent injury: hipMalik Cunningham (15)Lucky Jackson (11)Tarik Black (12)Kendrick Law* (88) \u2014 Injured reserve<\/p>\n The Lions\u2019 first four receivers are set, but WR5\/6 is wide open. Amongst the contenders, Martin and Kennedy stepped in with the starters for the few days Williams was out with a shoulder injury, while Lovett has consistently worked with the second team, and Wilson (who is also just back from a recent injury) has been praised by coaches for his versatility and reliability.<\/p>\n Sam LaPorta (87) \u2014 hipBrock Wright (89)Tyler Conklin (83)Jackson Meeks (13)Thomas Gordon (82)Zach Horton (43)<\/p>\n There has been some debate over whether the Lions would roster four tight ends this season, and while there isn\u2019t much clarity on that at this time, the recent injury to LaPorta<\/a> could open the door to that possibility. Meeks looks like the current leader for the Lions TE4 role, but he\u2019ll need to stay sharp, especially under the lights.<\/p>\n Projected starters for this game<\/p>\n LT Penei Sewell (58) or Swing OT Larry Borom (79)LG Christian Mahogany (73)C Juice Scruggs (70) \u2014 recent injury: soft-tissueRG Tate Ratledge (69)RT Blake Miller* (76)<\/p>\n If Sewell doesn\u2019t play in this game, look for OT3\/swing tackle Borom to start at left tackle, and the fallout on the second team to be Miles Frazier at left tackle and Colby Sorsdal at right tackle.<\/p>\n LT\/RT\/G Miles Frazier (71)LG Melvin Priestly* (74)C Seth McLaughlinRG Mason Miller (63)RT Colby Sorsdal (75)C\/G Michael Niese (62)<\/p>\n Unlikely to play due to injury<\/p>\n C Cade Mays (64) \u2014 wristG Ben Bartch (78) \u2014 concussionOT Devin Cochran (77) \u2014 undisclosedOT Giovanni Manu (59) \u2014 Non-football injury (NFI)<\/p>\n Outside of the starters and Borom, only Frazier seems like a lock for the roster, leaving one or two spots remaining. McLaughlin seems in line for one of those reserve roles (and maybe a starting job), but the OL9\/10 roles are up for debate.<\/p>\n Interior defensive line (9)<\/p>\n 3T Alim McNeill (54)DT Tyleik Williams (91)3T\/5T Levi Onwuzurike (95)DT Chris Smith (90)3T Skyler Gill-Howard* (50)DT Ben Stille (72)3T Mekhi Wingo (94) \u2014 concussionDT Myles Adams (96) \u2014 undisclosed3T Tyre West* (52)<\/p>\n Beyond the starters, the Lions entered camp with a lot of questions about their depth, but things have settled as of late. Onwuzurike started camp on a pre-planned ramp-up period, but it looks like he is settling in as a top reserve, while Smith has consistently been the backup nose tackle. Rookie Gill-Howard and Stille have taken advantage of injuries to rise up the depth chart, while rookie West has flashed but still needs to show more consistency.<\/p>\n EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (97)EDGE DJ Wonnum (98)Big End Tyler Lacy (93)EDGE Derrick Moore* (9) \u2014 recent injury: groinBig End Ahmed Hassanein (99)Rush End Anthony Lucas* (61)Rush End Eric O\u2019Neill* (66)Rush End Payton Turner (92) \u2014 back<\/p>\n Depending on the Lions\u2019 defensive package, either Wonnum or Lacy will likely start opposite Hutchinson. Moore and Hassanein have firmly established themselves as the primary backup for each role, but is there room for a sixth edge rusher on the roster? Lucas and O\u2019Neill have both flashed in camp, and they\u2019ll be doing their best in this game to make coaches consider expanding the group.<\/p>\n MIKE Jack Campbell (46)SAM Derrick Barnes (55)WILL Devin White (45)WILL Malcolm Rodriguez (44) \u2014 recent injury: ankleMIKE Jimmy Rolder* (41) \u2014 hamstringSAM Trevor Nowaske (53)WILL Damone Clark (11) \u2014 undisclosedMIKE Joe Bachie (35)WILL Erick Hunter (48)MIKE Troy Reeder (51)WILL Amen Ogbongbeniga (57)<\/p>\n White and Rodriguez are still battling for the starting WILL role, and each could start in different situations, while the battle amongst the reserves is deeper than expected. Nowaske looks safe, but whether Rolder starts the season on injured reserve could impact how many linebackers they keep, opening up a strong battle. Clark is now missing his second game due to injury and could be in danger of missing out on the competition, as Bachie, Hunter, Reeder, and Ogbongeniga have been balling out on special teams<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-08-21-at-9.00.40-PM.png\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ahead of every Detroit Lions game in 2026, we will provide readers with an updated depth chart of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":822200,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[71534,2131,39966,349,99],"class_list":["post-822199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-detroit-lions-depth-chart","tag-detroit-lions-analysis","tag-detroit-lions-preseason","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=822199"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/822199\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/822200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=822199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=822199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=822199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}