NFC North
Detroit Lions
AI Summary
The Lions enter 2026 looking to bounce back after a 9-8 finish last season that dropped them to last place in the NFC North on a tiebreaker despite a 7-4 start. Detroit shook up its offensive staff, promoting Drew Petzing to offensive coordinator after moving on from John Morton, while Kelvin Sheppard returns to run a defense anchored by 2025 All-Pro Aidan Hutchinson, who looks fully recovered from his 2024 broken leg after a 14.5-sack season. Star RB Jahmyr Gibbs ended a training-camp hold-in by signing a three-year, $67.5 million extension, making him the NFL's highest-paid running back by average annual value. ESPN's Football Power Index ranks Detroit 8th overall and favors the Lions to win a wide-open NFC North, though camp has been marred by injuries to both starting safeties.
Researched by Team Research Desk · last updated August 20, 2026
Real Efficiency KPIs
Offensive EPA/play
+0.082
#7 of 32
Defensive EPA/play allowed
-0.010
#14 of 32
2025 regular season, 1051 offensive / 1040 defensive plays. Source: nflverse play-by-play (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season. This is a prior-season baseline — this team's 2026 numbers will replace it once real Week 1 plays exist.
Key Players (2025 production)
Leading Passer
Jared Goff · QB
393/578, 34 TD, 8 INT
+106.5 passing EPA
Leading Rusher
Jahmyr Gibbs · RB
243 car, 1223 yds, 13 TD
-2.7 rushing EPA
Leading Receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown · WR
117/172, 1401 yds, 31% target share
+55.6 receiving EPA
Leading Pass Rusher
Aidan Hutchinson · DE
14.5 sacks, 35 QB hits
Leading Tackler
Jack Campbell · LB
87 solo, 87 assist
Leading Interceptor
Kerby Joseph · SAF
3 INT
Source: nflverse player stats (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season; team attribution updated for documented 2026 offseason trades. Prior-season baseline, not 2026 in-season stats.
Key Storylines
- New OC Drew Petzing takes over Detroit's offense after the team moved on from John Morton this offseason
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs ended his camp hold-in by signing a 3-year, $67.5M extension, becoming the NFL's highest-paid RB by AAV
- Starting safeties Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) both opened training camp on the PUP list
- Aidan Hutchinson enters 2026 healthy and confident after a 14.5-sack, All-Pro season following his 2024 broken-leg injury
- Detroit finished last in the NFC North in 2025 despite a 9-8 record, but enters 2026 as ESPN FPI's division favorite with a projected top-10 roster
Injury Report
Kerby Joseph · S
PUP
Opened training camp on the PUP list with a knee injury that limited him to six games in 2025.
Brian Branch · S
PUP
Recovering from a season-ending Achilles tear suffered in Week 14 of 2025; no setbacks reported, could return late in camp or early September.
Tyler Conklin · TE
PUP
Opened camp on the PUP list with a calf injury.
Cade Mays · C
Out
Fractured his wrist during camp practice and is expected to miss significant time.
Anthony Firkser · TE
Out (season-ending)
Suffered a broken fibula in camp; Lions re-signed Zach Horton to help fill the depth void.
Jimmy Rolder · LB
Out
Rookie linebacker suffered a hamstring injury in camp after an impressive spring.