DAILYREPORT

🦁 Top Story

Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill is feeling like himself again now that he's more than a full year removed from an ACL injury suffered late in the 2024 season. The Lions wrapped their first week of OTAs on Friday, signaling the unofficial kickoff to the 2026 campaign. With McNeill returning to form, the defense's front-line health is no longer a concern heading into June's second round of organized team activities.

📰 Headlines

• The Lions have finalized one big-money second contract with a member of their 2023 draft class (linebacker Jack Campbell), and three other notable players from that group are eligible for extensions, including Jahmyr Gibbs. Jack Campbell earned a first-team All-Pro selection in 2025, cementing his status as one of the best linebackers in football.

• Getting news on the statuses of Kerby Joseph, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch will be of high priority this week. Additionally, with no rookie minicamp this year, OTAs will be the first look at Detroit's 2026 NFL Draft class on the field. For those eager to learn how quickly Blake Miller, Derrick Moore and the rest will fit in with other NFL talent, answers should come by the end of the week.

• Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing joins the Lions in 2026 after spending the previous three seasons (2023-25) as the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator. Over the duration of his three seasons leading Arizona's offense, the Cardinals ranked second in the NFL in rushing average (4.92) and were ninth in rushing yards (6,399).

• The Detroit Lions have set an interesting tone this offseason, and that continued on Thursday night with the team's official schedule release video. With a post on Twitter that was captioned "Strictly business," the Lions shared a video that features Dan Campbell sitting at his computer.

• Jared Goff will enter 2026 with his fourth coordinator in six seasons with the Detroit Lions.

🎙️ Podcast & Media Picks

• Pride of Detroit Podcast: OTAs Preview — Jeremy and Erik break down the first week of organized team activities, discussing Jack Campbell's extension, key player rehab updates, and what to expect from the 2026 draft class as they take the field for the first time.

• The Detroit Lions Podcast: Petzing's Offense, From a Voice Who Worked With Him — Deep analysis of new OC Drew Petzing's coaching philosophy, featuring a guest who worked with him in Cleveland, explaining how his scheme should unlock more efficiency from Detroit's skill-position talent.

• Locked On Lions: Playoff Ambitions & Schedule Implications — Matt Dery explores whether 11 wins is achievable given the Lions' early bye week, Week 1 matchup against the Saints, and the implications of Vegas favoring Detroit in 14 of 17 games.

📊 Season Watch — Theme D: Offensive Coordinator Impact

When Dan Campbell made the decision to part ways with former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton, the replacement hire was going to be one of the key additions that would determine if the 2026 season would be successful. In 2025, Detroit was still among the league leaders in total points per game (28.3) but struggled to find an offensive identity outside of home run plays. This was despite having Pro Bowlers Gibbs and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, among other playmakers. The team is hoping to change that under Petzing. The biggest change Lions fans may notice is an increased emphasis on the run game setting up the pass. The Lions were already a strong rushing team with Jahmyr Gibbs, but Petzing's system typically uses multiple run looks, motion, and play-action to create mismatches.

🗓️ Lions History & All-Time Greats — The Last Great Lions Playoff Run

While the Lions are in the hunt for redemption in 2026, it's been a long drought since Detroit's last playoff victory. On January 5, 1992, the Lions defeated the Dallas Cowboys 38–6 in the Divisional Round—a watershed moment in franchise history when Barry Sanders' 1,855 combined rushing/receiving yards and 17 touchdowns during the season aided the Lions to a 12–4 record as they went on to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 38–6 in the divisional playoffs, which still stands as Detroit's only playoff victory since defeating the Cleveland Browns to win the 1957 NFL Championship. That magical 1991 run ended the following week against Washington, but it remains a high-water mark for modern Lions football—a reminder of what's possible when the roster aligns and the stakes are highest. With the 2026 schedule favoring Detroit and 28 games on the Lions' schedule, Detroit is favored 14 times, the pressure is on to finally break a 34-year playoff-win drought.

🔮 What to Watch

• OTAs Week 2 (June 2–4): Watch for any updates on the recovery status of Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Sam LaPorta. These three are essential to the Lions' ceiling in 2026, and their availability will shape both depth-chart discussions and confidence heading into July.

• Mandatory Minicamp (June 16–17): This is where the install of Drew Petzing's offense truly accelerates. Monitor how quickly Blake Miller and the young offensive line gel, and whether Jared Goff looks comfortable in the new scheme's early stages.

• Preseason Opener (Aug. 13 vs. Cincinnati): Dan Campbell has eliminated joint practices and signaled that starters may get more reps in the preseason. The first exhibition game will be a window into how much work Campbell intends to prioritize this summer and which position battles are still unresolved.