Joe Bachie’s self-awareness makes him one of the best stories at Lions training camp
Joe Bachie keeps making plays at Detroit Lions training camp, but his mindset off the field might be the biggest reason he’s earning attention.
Joe Bachie has been one of the best stories at Detroit Lions training camp so far. The veteran linebacker, a journeyman who has bounced around the league, knows exactly who he is and what he brings to the table. That kind of self-awareness is rare, and it’s making him hard to ignore as Detroit sorts through its linebacker room heading into the 2026 season.
So often you hear players come in talking about aspirations to be big-time starters, All-Pros, and Pro Bowlers. There’s room for that. Belief in yourself is powerful. But Bachie has taken a different approach. He realizes where he’s at in his career, and he’s embracing it.
I talked to him after Monday’s practice, and he laid it out plainly.
“I mean, at this point in my career, I’ve been a journeyman. I’ve had a lot of different roles. I’ve started, I’ve been a special teamer. I’ve been on practice squad. I’ve kind of done it all. Obviously, I want to make the 53 and then just do whatever is asked of me. Be the best backup in the world to Jack Campbell, whatever it may be. Be a great special teamer, be a great— whatever it may be. Just help prepare. Just be a true pro,” Bachie said.
I thought that was a refreshing way of looking at it. Bachie knows who he is and he knows where the best way he can contribute at this point in his career, and that’s exactly where he wants to do it. It’s not that he doesn’t believe he can do more; it’s that he knows how he can best serve the team and that’s what his goal is.
Bachie keeps showing up at Lions training camp
Bachie is not going to pass Jack Campbell. He’s not going to pass Derrick Barnes, Devin White, or Jimmy Rolder if Rolder were healthy. At this point, you’re looking at Bachie as maybe the fifth or sixth linebacker on the team if Detroit carries that many. But it’s hard to ignore him because he just keeps showing up.
On Monday, he had a nice pass breakup on a Luke Altmyer throw. It was a botched play to begin with. Michael Niese had a bad snap, Altmyer fumbled it, picked it back up, and tried to throw it. It was just a heads-up play from Bachie to get in there and bat it away. Even if the catch had been made, it probably would have been a 2-yard gain. But the awareness stood out.
Then he beat his man off the edge and batted down a pass. He’s gotten sacks here and there, had other pass breakups, made some good tackles. He’s just been there, making a difference. Even if it’s in a small way, it’s big enough to make you notice. And he can be good help on special teams.
Where does Bachie fit in the Lions’ linebacker room?
When I’m making my 53-man roster predictions, I have a hard time keeping Bachie off the team. Look at the linebacker room. Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, Malcolm Rodriguez, Devin White. Rolder might start the season on PUP, which would open up a spot. I like Damone Clark. Erick Hunter has shown some stuff, but he feels more like a practice squad guy. Trevor Nowaske is interesting, but is he more of a Sam linebacker? Troy Reeder is fine. I haven’t seen enough of Amen Ogbonbemiga yet to make a call.
But Bachie just keeps showing up. I think he might have a shot. We’ll see what happens.
A Spartan checking in on Michigan State
I also asked Bachie about Michigan State, where he played his college ball. He told me his brother-in-law, Max Bullard, is back over there, and he’s been down with his wife and son. He met Coach Fitzgerald at an alumni golf outing a couple of weeks back and thinks things are going in the right direction for the Spartans. He believes they just need time and that the coaching staff is the right group to get things back to where they need to be.
As a Spartans fan myself, I told him I’ve had high hopes for years, and things didn’t work out. He said you just have to give these guys time. As a former Spartan, it sounds like Bachie wants them to get there too but understands that things take time. We’ll see where that goes.
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