Detroit Lions 2026 Week 2 OTA Recap

The second week of OTAs for the 2026 Detroit Lions has concluded and as the Lions get deeper into the off-season workouts, we start to see some trends emerge along with players that start to separate themselves from the pack early in the process. Let's recap the most important bits of news that came out of the three-day camp from the press events, photos, interviews and boots on the ground from the Lions beat reporters.

Photo - Jeff Nguyen Detroit Lions

Injury Updates

During his Thursday press conference, Dan Campbell offered up some injury news on players and was asked questions about some of the guys coming back from injury

• Rookie 5th round WR Kendrick Law

  • Campbell stated that Law tore his ACL Tuesday on OTA Day 5 and will miss the season. He was expected to at least challenge for the KR/PR position and potentially the 5th/6th WR, but his season is now over and will likely face at least a 10–11-month rehab process, likely making him available for OTA next year and definitely ready for the season.

• S Kerby Joseph

  • Campbell was asked about Joseph Thursday and basically said he "I honestly do not know". Mentioned that Joseph and the Liosn have both done everything they can and been as smart as they can but aren't trying to push it until they absolutely have to. Joseph is still getting treatments on the knee, and the Lions likely won't know until training camp whether he will be ready to go or not. All -in-all, not a great update on Kerby, hence why Izien, Clark and Maddox were all brought in to work with harper and Branch once he is back.

• TE Sam LaPorta and CB Terrion Arnold

  • It was reported that both LaPorta and Arnold participated in the OTA Day 6 walkthrough portion open to the press but left midway through practice when the work transitioned to individual and position drills. They reportedly declined interviews on their way off the field to their planned treatment sessions

• OL Brian Branch, OL Ben Bartch and TE Miles Kitselman

  • It was reported that these were the other players that were not present at practice. Branch had released some rehab videos earlier in the week showing jogging and some progress. Bartch was not seen last week at practice either, and his season ended last year with the 49ers with a foot injury, but it is unknown if his absence is tied to that or something new. Kitselman did practice last week, so missing this practice is due to an unknown injury of reason at this time.

• TE Zach Horton

  • Horton was not at last week's practice open to the media, but he has now returned and didn't appear to have any limitations per reports.

Week 2 OTA Observations form the Lions Media

• General Observations

  • The practice open to the media was only about an hour and there were not any 7-on-7s

  • The practice started with an approximate 30-minute walkthrough and broke into position/individual drills for the second half along with a short special team (kickoff/kick returns).

  • Practice was closed out when Campbell had the team run some situational football doing a walkthrough for the first and second team offense at the end of practice Thursday. They were given the scenario of trailing 28-27 from the opponents 48-yard line with no timeouts and 14 seconds on the clock.

    • 1st Team: Gibbs run for 5 yards to 43 with a quick spike to set up Jake Bates for a 61-yard FG. It had the distance but was missed right.

    • 2nd Team: Teddy Bridgewater had two incompletions (throwaways) and never got into FG range, but Campbell moved the ball up to give Bates another shot form deep and he nailed it right down the middle.

  • Despite what Campbell said about not reading into who is where in the fields, there is a distinct Starter/Reserve setup between the fields per the media in attendance.

  • QB Luke Altmyer arm strength was noticeable on post or out routes after being talked up by Campbell and Petzing earlier in the day from Pride of Detroit

  • Dan Jackson logged an interception per Jeremy Reisman

• Offensive Line -

  • 1st OL: Sewell-Mahogany-Mays-Ratledge-Borom

    • It was noted that Borom would switch to LT and B Miller would jump in at RT with the 1st unit

    • Unlike last week, it was reported that Borom at RT was the most common alignment, last week it was B Miller

    • Of more importance, the fact that Borom is the one swapping between LT/RT and not Miller, who has been exclusively at RT is a good indicator that Borom will be the swing Tackle

  • 2nd OL Reserve Field: Manu-Frazier-McLaughlin-M Miller-Sorsdal

  • 2nd OL for the Situational Drill: Cochran-Niese-McLaughlin-M Miller-B Miller

• WRs

  • Rookie 5th round pick Kendrick Law tore his ACL on Tuesday and will miss the season. The Lions quickly moved to sign a replacement in UDFA WR Kyre Duplessis from Delaware, as they are looking for competition at Gunner, KR and PR to replace the departed Khalif Raymond.

• TE

  • Sam LaPorta was out during the walkthrough portion of practice and was observed moving around well, which is good coming off back surgery.

  • WR Jackson Meeks was seen with the TE group during individual drills.

• DL

  • No updates on who was opposite Hutchinson at DE

  • McNeil (3-tech) and Tyliek Willians (NT) were the IDL starters

    • Of note was that Mehki Wingo was on the starters field backing up McNeil and Onwuzurike at 3-tech, while Jay Tufele was repping on that field as the backup Nose Tackle.

• LBs

  • 1st Tean - No Reports

  • 2nd Team - No Reports

  • 3rd team - No Reports

• Safety

  • 1st Team - Christian Izien (In for Kerby) and Chuck Clark (In for Brian Branch) continue to get 1st team reps

  • 2nd team - No reports

  • 3rd team - No Reports

• Nickel

  • McCrearey once again was the starter at nickel. No reports on who was the second team or rotating in.

• Outside CBs

  • DJ Reed is moving around like the Reed from camp and early in the season prior to the hamstring injury last year per Tim Twentyman.

  • 1st Team - DJ Reed and Rock Ya-Sin (with Arnold Out) with Khalil Dorsey rotating in

  • 2nd Team - Terrion Arnold (Integrating back into practice) and Ennis Rakestraw outside

  • 3rd Team - No reports

• Kick Returner

  • WR Greg Dortch was noted as one of the primary KRs on Thursday joined by Isiah Pacheco, WR Tom Kennedy, WR Dominic Lovett, WR Jameson Williams, RB Jahmy Gibbs and WR Amon-Ra St Brown

Rookies

• Blake Miller - As noted, spent more time this week's open practice with the reserve unit, still getting 1st team reps, all at RT

• Derrick Moore - No specific reports from practice, but he received unsolicited high praise from DC Kelvin Sheppard in his Fox 2 interview calling him a dog, complete football player and someone that will "put you on your face"

• Jimmy Rolder - Nothing specific noted about Rolder, but photos from OTAs still show him wearing the brace on his right arm.

• Keith Abney II - Again, no specific mention this week (was mentioned getting reps at nickel last week) but he was in the OTA photo drops

• Kendrick Law - Unfortunately the rookie tore his ACL and is done for the season.

• Skyler Gill-Howard and Tyre West - Zero mention of them in any reports and they haven't been featured in any of the OTA phots that I have noticed so far.

• UDFAs - Edge Anthony Lucas received a shout out from Sheppard during his Fox 2 segment talking about who would play opposite Hutch. QB Luke Altmyer received some praise from both Campbell and Petzing after they were asked about in their interview sessions.

Lions Rookies OT Blake Miller, LB Jimmy Rolder and CB Keith Abney II Photo - Jeff Nguyen Detroit Lions

Media Scrums with Players

• Penei Sewell on switching to Left Tackle

  • Sewell was asked about switching to LT and he said it was "just different" due to having to switch stance and learn the playbook form a different perspective. “Every year we talk about it being a different year. This feels a lot different,” he said. “The standard is still the standard. I’ve been the one in the room that’s been here the longest. It’s up to me.”

• Jahmyr Gibbs on his contract, Detroit being home, additional workload and route running

  • Gibbs spoke to the media and was asked about his contract. He stated that he isn't worried about getting an extension before the season, is more worried about the team. Also said doesn't matter whether he or Bijan Robinson go first (they will set the market) and that he doesn't really pay attention to that stuff and is letting his agent and Brad handle it.

  • Was asked about Detroit becoming home and he said "It’s had a huge impact on me since I’ve been here. I love the people here, I love the sports teams here. It’s just been fun overall. I never thought I’d be here, in Detroit, you know growing up, but I really like it."

  • Gibbs response to Dan Campbell saying they were going to put a lot on his plate in the run and pass game: "It’s nothing I’m not used to, growing up I’ve always been the person that’s had the most carries and stuff like that, so I’m not looking at it any different than any other year."

  • Gibbs on his running of routes so far: He said he doesn't remember exactly when the Lions started installing his routes in the offense last year, "but it wasn’t this soon. It wasn’t right when we got back (for spring practices). So, I appreciate that."

• Jameson Williams on areas he focused on improving this offseason

  • Willaims responded that his catching was the main thing. Said he wants to get better at it and it's a mind thing. Stated he didn't do any specific drills but rather used mental exercises to be able to catch the ball better.

Dan Campbell Media Session

Lions head Coach Dan Campbell met with the media on Thursday to cover quite a few topics that have come up since last week. After opening up with the Kendrick Law news and covering what practice would look like yesterday, he took some questions.

Dan Campbell OTA Day 6 Press Conference

• Asked about how much more critical his eye (viewpoint) of the team has been: Campbell stated he doesn't want repeat offenders, that is the big thing. Then what are we trying to get out of it, the processing speed. Can this player learn form that mistake, have they been coached? Are they making that same mistake again? Also, if they figured it out, can they process it faster. That will have bearing on going into training camp and set the chart when they go into pads. Some guys are doing a really good job with that, and some that are not.

• First reaction to the Rams trading for Myles Garrett: Campbell was asked about the Rams getting Myles Garret and his initial reply was with a bit of sarcasm saying "Yeah, I mean, good for them. They've won it now, right?". After joking, he did say that both Verse and Garrett are both "hell of a player", albeit different types of players and said that "...was what (the Rams) felt they needed to do, and good for them, man."

• Asked about what would need to happen for lions to get in high-end trade market (Parsons, Croby, Garrett, etc.: Campbell simply said, I will tell you when that time happens.

• Asked about Ideal workload for Jahmyr Gibbs next season: Campbell said Gibbs will be their bell cow now, he became more of that last year, and we are going to hang our hat on him quite a bit. We are going to do a lot of things that we feel he does well. He also said that he has mentioned before that Gibbs can run everything the Lions have and can run any scheme out there. He is not just an outside runner, not just a space runner, he can create his own space in the middle, some of his biggest runs have been gap scheme right down the pipe where he has had patience and found it and guys blocked it up well. said will ask a lot of Gibbs, St Brown, LaPorta, Willaims Pacheco and Sewell and expect Gibbs to have a big year for the Lions. Said they are going to put a lot on his plate in the run and pass game.

• Asked about his confidence level in getting Kerby Josephy and what he expects to get out of him this season: Campbells answer was "I don't know, Honestly, I really do not know. We have done everything we can do, and he has done everything he can do to this point, and we are trying to be as smart as we can and not push this until we absolutely have to. Once we have done that, then we will know one way or another, and it is not worth it right now, we are slowly building continue to strength in there and he is getting treatment and done some of these different things, at different places, to try to help, so I feel good about that. I feel god that we have done everything we can and so has he, so we wort know, and honestly we probably won't know until we get into the thick of training camp."

• Asked what he likes about Christian Izien and safeties: Campbell said he likes Izzy a lot, played against the Lions, a pretty headsy player. He is violent, see ball hit ball, but hasn't done a ton on the back end with dept. So, working through that but feels like those ar things he can do. But said they won't know until they get into it in real time but knows he has some football player to him. really likes the current safety group that was brought in to compliment Branch and Joseph. Campbell mentioned Clark, Maddox and Izzy by name then added harper, Jackson and Strickland and said it was a pretty competitive group with young players and headsy veteran guys.

• Follow up on Kerby and steps he has taken besides acupuncture: Campbell simply said "I'm not going to get into all of that"

• Asked about getting back to play-action: Said they did try a lot of play action, but they weren't running the ball particularly well late in the year, and if you don't run it well there is only so much te defense will bite. Campbell said to go ask Jeff Campbell about it when they run over and over and the play pass. Said it will always be part of what the Lions do, but everything here starts on the ground on offense and that is where it begins. Will go form that as play action pass will be good for the Liosn because the players are good at it, the QB (Goff) is outstanding at it. Also said that the Lions QB can sit there in the gun to and dish the ball out. He said if you want to dep into the playoff, you better be able to run the frickin ball. So that is where it all begins.

• Asked about the benefit of bringing in Chris Grier and how will he be helpful in ways people won't see: Campbells aid that it would be a better question for Brad probably, but they did discuss it. Campbell said Grier has a lot of experience Director of College scouting under Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells, was GM through a few staffs. Said he has experience and Brad felt good about that.

• What can team do now that will impact team in season despite it being pajama time: This time of year, you can solve issues. Said Lions are doing a much better job of solving issues this this year than they were last year at this time. He like that part of it, even in walk throughs simulating guys needing to react, showing that they know what is going in. said also get some individual work, technique, timing with QB and receivers, do 7-on-7 full speed so DBs are getting good work (CBs, S, Nickels) and backers in coverage, so that is good. Cambell said there are things you can get out of it, and that is what Lions are trying to get out of it right now and improve on.

• Asked about signs he is looking for in DJ Reed to see that he is back where he needs to be: Likes where he is at for Sprint. he is moving well and that is encouraging for what he did. That was not easy for aa CB, coming back from a pretty significant hamstring injury, but likes the way he looks running around right now.

• Asked what is biggest improvement Petzing has brought to offense: Campbell said everything is tie together, and there is one voice and it spreads form there. Said Lions have an outstanding staff and across the board are really good. Having that one voice, clear communication and this is the way we want it to look in the run game, pass game and protections. Has done a good job of getting everyone on the same page form the get go.

• Asked if the Dl was built this offseason to tip scales more toward pass rush than run stop: Campbell said they certainly wanted to see if they could add a little bit of juice out there on the perimeter but also in the middle. That requires, if adding guys whose strength is in the pass rush, they also have to be able to hold up in the run game or they can't get into the game. Your niche has to be your niche, but the other stuff you have to show that you can hold your own at least. You don't have to be dominate, but thing they will have to work through once they get into camp.

• Asked about Luke Altmyer: Campbell said he doesn't lack confidence, that's for sure. Saif what we thought he would be at this point has held true, meaning able to retain the information so far, gets better every day, has a lot on his plate, but knows what the calls are, knows where guys are supposed to be, shifts, morions and that is good for a young guy that is really good. Campbell said we will see when it really gets going.

Drew Petzing Media Session

Lions' Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing met with the media Thursday for the first time since the scouting combine and provided some insight on what his offense might look like. Below are some of the key takeaways from his media session.

• On OTAs and his Offense: Seems like Petzing is on the same page as Dan Campbell about OTAs being glorified "pajama parties" due to no contact or pads, but it is still a critical time to absorb changes and make adjustments. Petzing indicated that the offense will be a blend of things he likes and is bringing over form Arizona along with stuff that the Detroit has been doing well for the last several years. He said there will be tweaks and some changes, but they have done a great job of handling it.

• On assessing his new weaponry: Last time Petzing met with the media, he stated he was assessing the team's skill players and looking to understand what it was they did best form their tape. Now that he has had them on the field and in the classroom, he stated it was fun getting to know their strengths and figuring out how to place them in the offense. He expects to create mismatches he can exploit, which is something Petzing had been known for at his previous stops.

• Working with Jared Goff and other Vets: Petzing said that he has been collaborating with Goff in installation since Day 1. Communication has been happening all the time, whether by text, FaceTime, or in the meeting rooms. he mentioned Gibbs, St Brown, Sewll and Williams that he has leaned on for feedback and to be an extension of the OC in their respective rooms.

• On his WR Room: Petzing had high praise for the WRs, including St Brown, Williams and TeSlaa. Said it was a really strong unit with different skillsets that complement each other. Petzing also praised their competition level and how they bring it to everything they do.

• Sewell moving to LT: Petzing said that it looks like it has been a seamless transition from Sewell moving to LT (echoing his boss form last week). Stated that Sewell looks like the best tackle in football and doesn't matter what side he is playing on.

• On QB Luke Altmyer: Earlier in the day (see above) Dan Campbell said that UDFA Luke Altmyer "didn't lack confidence" and Drew Petzing, when talking about Altmyer and the offense had this to say. “I think the emphasis is very similar to what we just talked about with the O-line. How quickly can you pick it up? You’ve got to call the plays, you’ve got to get in and out of the huddle, you’ve got the quarterback position, you’re responsible for the 10 other guys. Are they doing what they’re supposed to be doing, or when they’re not, can you correct it before it matters? I think that’s a big part of the process of playing quarterback and something that (Lions QB) Jared (Goff), obviously who’s been in the league for such a long time, does at such a high level that you almost start to take it for granted and some of the young guys got to get there, and to watch him do that, I think it’s great for Luke. I think he’s really embraced that and I think that’s been kind of the fun thing to get to work with him. You are building it from the ground up. He doesn’t have that foundation right now, and so we’re trying to set that foundation. I think he’s embracing that challenge.”
  

Kelvin Shepperd interview on Fox 2's Sports Office Show

Lions Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard went on The Office Show with Dan Miller and Jennifer Hammond on Tuesday evening and dropped a significant amount of info on where he believes the Lions Defense is at, some breakout candidates and how he intends to improve over last year. You can read our full recap at the link below or watch the interview in its entirety.

• The Grey Manes recap of Kelvin Sheppard on Fox 2 The Sports Office

The Lions second round of OTAs run this upcoming week form June 2nd-4th, third round is June 9th-11th and off-season workouts wrap with a mandatory minicamp from June 16-17th.