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Shane Zylstra Shane Zylstra Will not return Sunday
Sun, Sep 14, 2025, 1:16 PM
Zylstra (ankle) is out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Bears.
Analysis: The tight end did not record a stat before exiting earlier in the first half. Detroit still has two tight ends, Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, ahead of Zylstra on the depth chart. |
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Shane Zylstra Shane Zylstra Questionable to return Sunday
Sun, Sep 14, 2025, 12:36 PM
Zylstra (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Bears.
Analysis: The tight end did not record a stat before exiting. Zylstra played on 10 special-teams snaps and six offensive snaps in Week 1. He is listed as Detroit's third tight end behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. |
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Sione Vaki Sione Vaki Inactive for Week 2
Sun, Sep 14, 2025, 11:07 AM
Vaki (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Analysis: The running back was listed as doubtful for the matchup after missing Week 1 with the same injury. Vaki played mostly as a special teamer in 2024, as Detroit's crowded backfield of Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds made it hard to get offensive snaps. The second-year pro is in line for a similar role once he returns. |
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Sione Vaki Sione Vaki Doubtful for Week 2
Fri, Sep 12, 2025, 3:00 PM
Vaki (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Bears.
Analysis: Vaki missed Week 1 with the injury. The Lions' RB4, Vaki doesn't have much of a game-day role behind Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds in Detroit. |
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Sione Vaki Sione Vaki Returns to practice Wednesday
Wed, Sep 10, 2025, 6:30 PM
Vaki (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: Vaki wasn't able to practice all of last week due to a lingering hamstring injury, which prevented him from playing in the Lions' Week 1 loss to the Packers. His ability to return to practice -- albeit in a limited capacity -- is a sign that the 2024 fourth-rounder is recovering from his injury, and he has a chance at making his 2025 regular-season debut against the Bears on Sunday. |
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Isaac TeSlaa Isaac TeSlaa Role will increase
Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 1:24 PM
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday that the team plans for TeSlaa, who played just three offensive snaps during Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers, to get more opportunities going forward, Tim Twentyman of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: TeSlaa flashed in his limited opportunities Week 1, scoring a highlight reel 13-yard touchdown on his lone target with 55 seconds left in the loss. Campbell indicated that part of the reason for TeSlaa's low snap count can be attributed to the illness that limited his practice activity heading into the matchup against Green Bay. The rookie third-rounder figures to see increased playing time immediately in Week 2 against the Vikings on Monday Night Football, though it could take time before he's given a true opportunity to surpass Kalif Raymond as the No. 3 receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. |
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Craig Reynolds Craig Reynolds Limited to special teams
Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 12:43 PM
Reynolds didn't record a touch in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers.
Analysis: The 29-year-old from Kutztown was limited to special-teams work in the Lions' regular-season opener, logging 11 snaps in that phase and none on offense. He appears firmly behind both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit's backfield, so he likely won't see much, if any, meaningful offensive work barring an injury. Reynolds is projected to play a similar role in the Lions' Week 2 contest against the Bears. |
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Brock Wright Brock Wright Blanks in Week 1
Mon, Sep 8, 2025, 12:37 PM
Wright wasn't targeted during the Lions' 27-13 loss to the Packers on Sunday.
Analysis: Despite playing 24 offensive snaps during Sunday's loss, Wright went without a target. The 26-year-old ranked second on Detroit in snaps from tight ends, behind only Sam LaPorta (61), suggesting that he's still the team's top backup option. Wright is primarily utilized as a blocker rather than a receiving threat, and he's expected to play behind LaPorta again in a Week 2 matchup with the Bears. |
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Sam LaPorta Sam LaPorta Leads Detroit pass catchers
Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 11:17 PM
LaPorta recorded six receptions on nine targets for 79 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers.
Analysis: LaPorta was the bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming offensive performance from Detroit, as he led the team in yards and finished second in targets. He also accounted for the team's longest play from scrimmage on a 32-yard catch and run to begin the second half. LaPorta isn't likely to consistently see nine targets as he shares looks with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, but he will be a key part of Detroit's offense -- particularly in the red zone. |
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Jared Goff Jared Goff Salvages day in garbage time
Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 10:48 PM
Goff completed 31 of 39 passes for 225 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers.
Analysis: Goff's final line was hardly efficient, as he averaged only 5.8 yards per attempt for the day. However, things were even more bleak for much of the game, as he accounted for 65 yards and his lone touchdown of the day on the Lions' final offensive possession that began with the team down by three scores late in the fourth quarter. Goff still managed some long completions to his top skill-position players, including 32 and 19-yard connections with Sam LaPorta and Amon-Ra St. Brown, respectively, but Goff will be looking for a bounceback performance in Week 2 against the Bears. |
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Jameson Williams Jameson Williams Underwhelms in Week 1
Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 10:00 PM
Williams recorded four receptions on five targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers.
Analysis: Williams' primary appeal as a fantasy contributor is his ability to hit for explosive plays, but the Packers held him under wraps in Week 1. His longest reception went for just 11 yards, and he was held to his lowest yardage total in a regular-season game since Week 7 of the 2024 campaign. The entire Lions' offense was ineffective, so it's not time to panic on Williams heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Bears. |
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David Montgomery David Montgomery Held to 43 total yards
Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 9:43 PM
Montgomery rushed the ball 11 times for 25 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers. He added four receptions on four targets for 18 yards.
Analysis: The Lions' offense struggled to get on track, which led to underwhelming performances for nearly all of their skill-position players. Montgomery wasn't an exception, but he did manage 15 touches, nearly evenly matching Jahmyr Gibbs' 19. A more typical game script may change how the backs are deployed, but Montgomery still appears to have a significant role in Detroit's backfield heading into a Week 2 matchup against the Bears. |
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Amon-Ra St. Brown Amon-Ra St. Brown Quiet start to 2025
Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 7:06 PM
St. Brown recorded four catches on six targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers.
Analysis: The Lions' offense struggled to get going for most of the game, with both St. Brown and Jameson Williams putting up muted stats as a result. St. Brown managed only one catch that went for more than nine yards, though he still finished second on the team in receiving yards. Detroit will return home for a Week 2 matchup against the Bears, and the offense should be in line for better results. |
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Jahmyr Gibbs Jahmyr Gibbs Makes 10 catches
Sun, Sep 7, 2025, 6:46 PM
Gibbs rushed the ball nine times for 19 yards in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Packers. He added 10 receptions (on 10 targets) for 31 yards.
Analysis: There was plenty of offseason speculation that Gibbs would take over the backfield from David Montgomery, though Montgomery had 11 carries to Gibbs' nine. Gibbs still managed to salvage his day with a team-leading 10 catches, but he also found running room hard to come by in that context. Week 1 was a disastrous game for the Detroit offense overall, so a Week 2 matchup with the Bears should allow Gibbs to bounce back while also potentially clarifying his role in a more typical game script. |
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Jameson Williams Jameson Williams Nabs three-year extension
Sat, Sep 6, 2025, 10:37 PM
Williams and the Lions agreed Saturday on a three-year, $83 million contract extension with $67 million guaranteed, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
Analysis: Williams broke out with a career-best campaign in 2024, recording 58 catches for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing 11 times for 61 yards and another touchdown over 15 regular-season contests. Detroit picked up the Alabama product's fifth-year option in late April, and the sides have now agreed upon a deal that will keep Williams with the team for at least three more campaigns. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jared Goff are signed through 2028, so the trio is slated to work together for the foreseeable future. |
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Sione Vaki Sione Vaki Ruled out for Week 1
Fri, Sep 5, 2025, 3:11 PM
Vaki (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers.
Analysis: Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds will handle backfield duties for the Lions against Green Bay. Vaki touched the ball just nine times last regular season. |
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Isaac TeSlaa Isaac TeSlaa Gets green light for Week 1
Fri, Sep 5, 2025, 2:52 PM
TeSlaa (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Green Bay.
Analysis: He returned to full practice participation Friday after being listed as limited the previous two days. The rookie third-round pick scored three touchdowns during the preseason, and he should have a role in the Lions' Week 1 offense after they traded Tim Patrick to Jacksonville last week -- a move seemingly linked to TeSlaa's accelerated development. In any case, Kalif Raymond is the remaining competition for whatever WR snaps don't go to standouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. |
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Isaac TeSlaa Isaac TeSlaa Limited in Thursday's session
Thu, Sep 4, 2025, 3:07 PM
TeSlaa (illness) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: After the Lions gauged him as a limited participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report, TeSlaa returned to the field Thursday, though it didn't translate to an upgrade in terms of how the team listed the extent of his activity. In any case, the rookie wideout is expected to be ready to make his NFL debut Sunday in Green Bay, though he'll probably need to upgrade to full participation in Friday's practice to avoid carrying a designation into the weekend. |
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Sione Vaki Sione Vaki Another DNP on Thursday
Thu, Sep 4, 2025, 12:03 PM
Vaki (hamstring) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network reports.
Analysis: Vaki failed to practice for a second straight day. He'll likely need to practice in some capacity Friday to have a chance to suit up for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Packers. Even if Vaki recovers, his usage is expected to be limited primarily to special teams. |
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Sione Vaki Sione Vaki Still dealing with hamstring injury
Wed, Sep 3, 2025, 6:57 PM
Vaki (hamstring) was listed as an non-participant on the Lions' estimated injury report Wednesday.
Analysis: Vaki was limited to just one preseason game due to a hamstring injury which has lingered into the regular season. The 2024 fourth-rounder will have to return to practice Thursday and Friday in at least a limited capacity to have a chance at playing in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Packers. Vaki is expected to mostly serve on special teams this season while serving in a backfield depth role behind Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds. |
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