As the Detroit Lions open training camp in Allen Park on Wednesday, the team faces high stakes following a disappointing 2025 season. Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have retooled the roster, leaving key position battles and defensive shifts to watch.
The Detroit Lions officially return to the field on Wednesday morning for their first practice of the 2026 season in Allen Park. Following a disappointing 2025 campaign, head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes opted for a meat-and-potatoes offseason focused heavily on depth and roster competition as the team works to return to form.
Training Camp Changes and Dan Campbell’s Competitive Mandate
Campbell has introduced notable adjustments as camp gets underway. For the first time since 2021, the Lions will not hold joint practices. Furthermore, Campbell signaled that he may play starters in the preseason.
Campbell aims to foster the most competitive camp of his tenure. We’re going to push it. We’re going to push, that’s what we do, but we’ll do it smart,
Campbell said, according to reporting from The Athletic. We have got to get these guys ready for a season. … I’m going to do what I think is best to prepare these guys for 17 weeks, but also understand that we have got to be smart about it and we can’t break them in training camp.
The Cornerback Battle to Replace Terrion Arnold
The vacant No. 2 cornerback position stands out as one of the most critical starting jobs up for grabs. The departure of Terrion Arnold reshuffled the depth chart leaving open questions at outside cornerback alongside D.J.
Rock Ya-Sin enters camp as the early favorite for the job, but former second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is firmly in the mix. Rakestraw has played only 46 defensive snaps across his first two seasons due to injuries, missing all of 2025 with a shoulder issue. Meanwhile, Roger McCreary is projected to handle slot cornerback duties, though defensive pass game coordinator Deshea Townsend indicated McCreary could also see time outside.
Offensive Line Competitions and Drew Petzing’s New Scheme
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing takes over the unit after John Morton’s tenure ended. Petzing spent the last three seasons overseeing an average Arizona Cardinals offense, but Campbell expressed confidence in his teaching ability and creative run-game concepts despite initial external skepticism.
Up front, the offensive line underwent significant structural shifts. Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow departed following Frank Ragnow’s retirement, Penei Sewell shifted to the left side, and Cade Mays arrived at center. At left guard, incumbent Christian Mahogany starts camp on the active non-football injury list after starting 11 games in 2025 when he allowed four sacks and 16 quarterback hurries. Mahogany faces competition from Ben Bartch, Juice Scruggs, and Miles Frazier once fully healthy.
When asked about the left guard battle in the spring, Campbell kept his cards close to his vest: We’re going to let this thing go and see what happens,
Campbell said.
Defensive Overhaul Under Kelvin Sheppard
Second-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard faces a rebuilding job following the departures of veterans Alex Anzalone, DJ Reader, and Amik Robertson.
Along the defensive front, the team moved away from traditional run-stoppers like Reader and Roy Lopez, leaning toward a more athletic, pass rush-oriented philosophy that challenges the traditional mantra to stop the run, earn the right to pass rush.
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