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Malik Cunningham Malik Cunningham Staying in Detroit
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 6:23 PM
The Lions signed Cunningham to a reserve/future contract Monday.
Analysis: Cunningham spent the majority of the 2025 campaign on the Lions' practice squad, playing one offensive snap in his only appearance Week 14 against the Cowboys, logging one carry for one yard. The 27-year-old has transitioned into being a wide receiver after entering the NFL as a quarterback in 2023, but he has yet to be given much of an opportunity to prove himself at the new position. |
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Anthony Firkser Anthony Firkser Eight catches in 2025
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 2:55 PM
Firkser caught eight of 10 targets for 53 yards over seven contests during the regular season.
Analysis: Firkser signed with the Lions' practice squad in mid-November and was quickly elevated to the active roster ahead of the team's Week 12 matchup with the Giants due to Sam LaPorta (back) being sidelined. The tight end's role quickly expanded after Brock Wright (neck) went down for the year in Week 13, and Firkser ultimately caught at least one pass in four of the seven games he appeared in with the team. Prior to this season, Firkser hadn't reeled in a pass since the 2022 campaign, and he'll now be a free agent heading into the offseason. |
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Shane Zylstra Shane Zylstra Limited production in 2025
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 2:46 PM
Zylstra caught three of five targets for 20 yards over six games during the regular season.
Analysis: Zylstra opened the season as the Lions' No. 3 option at tight end behind Sam LaPorta (back) and Brock Wright (neck), but due to injuries, he became relevant in the final few weeks. The tight end missed nearly three months of action himself from early September to Dec. 14 due to injury, but even when healthy, he went without a target in five of six games this season. Zylstra will now enter the offseason as a free agent, and he'll likely have a limited market for his talents in 2026. |
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Kalif Raymond Kalif Raymond Most value as special-teams asset
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 2:38 PM
Raymond caught 24 of 30 targets for 289 yards and one touchdown while also adding 19 yards on two carries over 15 contests during the regular season. He also added 161 kickoff-return yards and 241 yards and a score as a punt returner.
Analysis: Raymond finished fifth on the team in receiving yards while his one receiving touchdown ranked fourth at his position behind Amon-Ra St. Brown (11), Jameson Williams (seven) and Isaac TeSlaa (six) this season. The wideout was able to reel in seven more passes than he did during the 2024 campaign, but his 24 catches still represented the second fewest of his five seasons in Detroit. Raymond appears to be most valuable as a special-teams asset, and he'll enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. |
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Isaac TeSlaa Isaac TeSlaa Knack for end zone in rookie year
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 2:29 PM
TeSlaa caught 16 of 27 targets for 239 yards and six touchdowns over 17 contests during the regular season.
Analysis: TeSlaa wasn't used often in his rookie campaign, but when he was, he was finding the end zone at an impressive clip. The wide receiver finished third on the team at his position in receiving touchdowns behind Amon-Ra St. Brown (11) and Jameson Williams (seven), with four of his scores coming in Detroit's final six games of the year. TeSlaa's 6-foot-4 frame and impressive contested-catch ability make him a valuable red-zone asset, and he'll look to carve out an every-down role for himself in his second season with the Lions. |
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Sione Vaki Sione Vaki No offensive role in 2025
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 2:21 PM
Vaki rushed the ball one time for four yards while also adding 39 kickoff-return yards during the regular season.
Analysis: Vaki logged two total offensive snaps during his sophomore campaign with the Lions, operating as a distant depth option behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in the backfield. The running back was an intriguing asset as a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but with both Gibbs and Montgomery under contract for next season, his upside will once again be limited greatly. |
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David Montgomery David Montgomery Totals 55 yards in Week 18 win
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 9:44 PM
Montgomery rushed eight times for 42 yards and caught his only target for 13 yards in Sunday's 19-16 win over the Bears.
Analysis: After totaling 1,116 yards and 12 touchdowns on 221 touches across 14 regular-season games (all starts) last season, Montgomery took more of a back seat to Jahmyr Gibbs in 2025. Montgomery didn't start any of the first 16 contests this season and handled five fewer touches per game, finishing with 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 158 carries to go along with a 24-192-0 receiving line on 29 targets. Montgomery will turn 29 years old in June and has two years remaining on his contract. His roster spot is likely safe for 2026, but the 9-8 Lions will be coming off a disappointing season and are likely to shake up the roster. It's clear Montgomery is little more than a touchdown-reliant fantasy proposition at this stage of his career. |
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Jameson Williams Jameson Williams Six catches to close out season
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 9:24 PM
Williams secured six of eight targets for 74 yards in the Lions' 19-16 win over the Bears on Sunday.
Analysis: Williams played second fiddle to Amon-Ra St. Brown -- who finished with an 11-139-0 line on 15 targets -- but the former managed to close out a career-best season with another solid performance. Williams finally evolved into a well-rounded No. 2 receiver during the second half of the campaign, allowing him to finish with new career highs in receptions (65) and receiving yards (1,117) while also tying a career-best figure n receiving touchdowns (seven) across 17 games. Williams should reprise his role in 2026 alongside St. Brown following a second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign. |
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Jared Goff Jared Goff Carves up Bears in finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 7:35 PM
Goff completed 27 of 42 passes for 331 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Lions' 19-16 win over the Bears on Sunday.
Analysis: Goff effectively led a relatively pass-heavy attack throughout the afternoon, focusing the majority of his attention -- with great efficacy -- on Amon-Ra St. Brown, who ended up on the receiving end of 11 of his completions for 139 yards. Goff also hit Jahmyr Gibbs for his one touchdown pass from 15 yards out with under five minutes remaining in the first half, and he managed to lead the Lions to a winning record in an otherwise disappointing, non-playoff season. Goff put together another highly fantasy-friendly regular season, completing 68.0 percent of his passes for 4,564 yards and a 34:8 TD:INT while adding 19 rush attempts for 45 yards and playing all 17 games for the fourth consecutive campaign. |
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Amon-Ra St. Brown Amon-Ra St. Brown Closes season with flourish
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 7:14 PM
St. Brown secured 11 of 15 targets for 139 yards in the Lions' 19-16 win over the Bears on Sunday.
Analysis: St. Brown shook off a questionable designation due to a knee injury and put together one of his best performances of the season, as he was targeted early and often by Jared Goff. The star receiver comfortably paced the Lions in receptions, receiving yards and targets, recording his second-highest tallies of the season in the first and third categories in the process. St. Brown is essentially blameless in Detroit's surprising failure to reach the postseason, as the 2021 fourth-round pick recorded 117 receptions for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns and added three carries for nine yards across 17 games. St. Brown will naturally serve as a centerpiece of the Lions' air attack again in 2026. |
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Jahmyr Gibbs Jahmyr Gibbs Over 100 scrimmage yards in finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 7:10 PM
Gibbs rushed 19 times for 80 yards and brought in three of five targets for 33 yards and a touchdown in the Lions' 19-16 win over the Bears on Sunday.
Analysis: Gibbs led the Lions in rushing yards while also providing his fifth touchdown catch of the season on a 15-yard grab with under five minutes remaining in the first half. The third-year pro bounced back nicely on the ground after several weeks of subpar production, recording his highest rushing yardage tally since his memorable 219-yard effort against the Giants in Week 12. Gibbs put together another stellar campaign in a non-playoff season for Detroit, rushing for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns at 5.1 yards per carry while adding a career-best 77-616-5 receiving line across 17 games. |
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Tom Kennedy Tom Kennedy Nursing rib injury
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 5:50 PM
Kennedy (ribs) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against Chicago.
Analysis: Kennedy suffered an injury to his ribs in the fourth quarter, and his status for the remainder of the contest is now up in the air. In his absence, Kalif Raymond and Jacob Saylors are top candidates to see added work at kick returner for Detroit. |
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Amon-Ra St. Brown Amon-Ra St. Brown Active in Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 2:01 PM
St. Brown (knee) is active for Sunday's Week 18 matchup against the Bears.
Analysis: St. Brown carried a questionable tag into Sunday due to a knee injury that led to him logging just a pair of limited practices during Week 18 prep. However, head coach Dan Campbell said Friday his star wideout was trending in the right direction for active status, and St. Brown's availability for the regular-season finale is now confirmed. St. Brown has already exceeded the 100-catch threshold for the fourth straight season, but he has a chance to set a new career high in touchdown receptions with a pair of scoring grabs against his division rival Sunday. |
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Amon-Ra St. Brown Amon-Ra St. Brown Listed as questionable
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 2:56 PM
St. Brown (knee/ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Analysis: St. Brown took a hard hit near the end of last week's loss to Minnesota, but it sounds like that's unrelated to a knee injury that's been bothering him for at least the past few games. He was a limited practice participant Thursday and Friday, with Lions coach Dan Campbell telling reporters Friday afternoon that St. Brown was "trending the right way" to play. The Lions and Bears are scheduled for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday. |
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Amon-Ra St. Brown Amon-Ra St. Brown Trending in right direction
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 11:42 AM
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday that St. Brown (knee/ankle) is "trending the right way" to play Sunday at Chicago, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: On the other hand, Campbell said star right tackle Penei Sewell (ankle) isn't likely to play in the season finale. St. Brown returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant, giving him a chance to play in all 17 of Detroit's regular-season games for the third time in his five-year career. |
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Amon-Ra St. Brown Amon-Ra St. Brown Logs limited practice Thursday
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 3:46 PM
St. Brown (knee/ankle) was limited at Thursday's practice.
Analysis: St. Brown sat out Wednesday's practice due to knee and ankle injuries, the former of which has been described by coach Dan Campbell as "irritation." In the Lions' Week 17 loss at Minnesota, St. Brown handled his typical 83 percent snap share en route to eight catches (on 13 targets) for 68 yards. Friday's injury report will unveil whether or not he enters the weekend with a designation for Sunday's game in Chicago. |
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Amon-Ra St. Brown Amon-Ra St. Brown Doesn't practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 1:26 PM
St. Brown (knee/ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: St. Brown played through what coach Dan Campbell called "irritation" in his knee during last Thursday's loss at Minnesota, logging a typical 83 percent of snaps en route to eight catches (on 13 targets) for 68 yards. St. Brown has put together a third consecutive 100-catch, 1,200-yard and double-digit TD campaign, which has cemented him as one of the top fantasy wide receivers as of his fifth pro season. His status will continue to be monitored as the Lions prepare for Sunday's visit to the Bears. |
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Sam LaPorta Sam LaPorta Still recovering from back surgery
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 12:25 PM
Coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that LaPorta is "improving," but "he's not completely healed" from the back injury that forced him to injured reserve Nov. 15, Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: In the wake of LaPorta undergoing back surgery in mid-November, Campbell described the tight end's chances to return this season as "very, very slim," per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As of this week with the Lions out of playoff contention, though, Campbell relayed that the team is hopeful LaPorta will be back by training camp in the summer, indicating his health concern was more serious than Detroit initially indicated. LaPorta, a 2023 second-round pick, will be entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract in 2026. |
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Amon-Ra St. Brown Amon-Ra St. Brown Considered day-to-day
Mon, Dec 29, 2025, 1:10 PM
St. Brown (knee) is considered day-to-day ahead of Sunday's regular-season finale on the road at Chicago, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: St. Brown dealt with irritation in his knee leading up to last Thursday's 23-10 loss to the Vikings in which he secured eight of 13 targets for 68 yards, so he may simply be dealing with the same issue leading into Week 18. It's worth noting, though, that St. Brown was forced to walk off the field under this own power late in the fourth quarter versus Minnesota after taking an awkward hit. With Detroit having been eliminated from playoff contention due to the team's Week 17 loss, there won't be much incentive for St. Brown to push through the injury if there are any chances he could aggravate or compound his knee issue. |
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Anthony Firkser Anthony Firkser Blanked in Week 17
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 5:26 PM
Firkser failed to reel in his only target in Thursday's 23-10 loss to the Vikings.
Analysis: Firkser was unable to secure a pass for the second time in three weeks and the third time over six contests since making his season debut Nov. 23. The tight end once again split time with Shane Zylstra in Week 17, and Firkser did garner a target while Zylstra did not. Firkser will have one more chance to reach the end zone for the first time since 2021 when the Lions travel to face the Bears on Jan. 4. |
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