The Detroit Lions have their 53-man roster nearly set, and now the focus shifts to building a practice squad that can develop young players and provide depth throughout the 2026 season. With cuts looming on Sunday and Monday, Detroit’s practice squad will feature a mix of undrafted rookies, developmental prospects, and veteran depth pieces the team values.

Let’s jump right into it.

QB Luke Altmyer

This one requires some explanation. Altmyer appeared on the 53-man roster projection, too, and that might seem contradictory. The suspicion is that the Lions will look for another quarterback on the waiver wire or through free agency once cuts happen Sunday or Monday. Once Detroit finds someone the coaching staff trusts a little more, Altmyer slides to the practice squad.

Some fans might worry about Altmyer getting claimed, but it just doesn’t work that way with undrafted rookies. Undrafted quarterbacks very rarely get claimed on the waiver wire. It barely ever happens. More often than not, they return to the team they just spent the entire summer with because that’s where they have the best shot. Altmyer should come right back.

LB Erick Hunter

Hunter is a player the Lions clearly like, but he’s not ready yet. He’s more of a 2027 type of prospect. Maybe he gets elevated for a special teams role at some point, but this season is about time on task, more reps, and more practice.

Edge Eric O’Neill

He falls into the same category. The Lions see the end goal with him, what he can do and what he can be. But they’re not ready for him to jump in right now. Like Altmyer and Hunter, there’s no real concern about O’Neill getting claimed. Undrafted rookies just don’t get poached off the waiver wire with any regularity. All three will be available to come back, and all three should want to because Detroit offers the best chance to grow.

RB Trayveon Williams

Williams earned his spot with a strong preseason game Saturday, and the Lions probably want to see what else they can get out of him. He’s a veteran presence, almost like having Craig Reynolds on the practice squad again. He’s never going to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, but he’ll be able to help if needed.

WR Lucky Jackson

Jackson is someone Lions coach Dan Campbell has talked about frequently, but Tay Martin edges him out for the final receiver spot on the 53. The Lions still want Jackson around to develop as a receiver and, more importantly, on special teams.

WR Tom Kennedy

Kennedy makes the practice squad because the Lions are legally required to have Kennedy on their roster at all times. That’s a joke, but it kind of feels true. Kennedy could maybe take a shot at real playing time elsewhere, perhaps in New York to replace Calvin Austin. But at 30 years old with roots planted in Detroit, it makes more sense to stick around, get the practice squad elevations he knows are coming, and go from there.

DT Chris Smith

Smith is the defensive version of Tom Kennedy, which would make Kennedy the offensive version of Smith. The Lions love them some Chris Smith but never play him. He made the 53-man roster out of camp last year in what felt like a roster game, holding a spot for a week with the idea of rotating that 53rd spot to elevate different guys. They never really followed through on it, but the Lions clearly value Smith enough to keep him close.

S Dan Jackson

The seventh-round pick from last year’s draft, is just buried on this roster. Behind Chuck Clark, Avonte Maddox, Thomas Harper, Kerby Joseph, and Brian Branch, there’s nowhere for him to go. Honestly, Jackson might have a better shot if he played somewhere else. The Lions will want him back on the practice squad, but if Jackson wants to explore opportunities where he has a better chance to play, you can understand why.

C Seth Mclaughlin

Center Seth McLaughlin had a great week working with the ones, but it’s clear at this point that the Lions see Drew Scruggs as their starting center while Cade Mays is out. When Mays comes back, Scruggs is the guy over McLaughlin every day because Scruggs can play multiple positions. The Lions still want to see where they can grow with McLaughlin, and staying in Detroit is his best move.

WR Dominic Lovett

The big thing with Lovett that holds him back is consistency. More time on task could help with that because the more you work at something, the better you get at it. That’s why being on the practice squad is the best spot for him right now. Maybe he could be first in line for elevations as well and have a chance at making the 53-man roster later in the season. 

DT Mehki Wingo

I just couldn’t part with Wingo, but I also couldn’t find a spot for him on the 53-man roster. Holding onto Wingo here gives him a shot much like Lovett. He can find some elevations here and there, and maybe he has a shot to make the 53 later. 

LB Joe Bachie

I went back and forth with Bachie on the 53 and then off the 53. It’s been very hard with him. Ultimately, if both Bria Branch and Kerby Joseph don’t get put on PUP, which is what I’m predicting will happen, Bachie fits here. If they do, I have him on the 53. This was the hardest cut I had to make.

Four free agents

Like you see every summer, some of the guys who are going to make this practice squad aren’t even here yet. The Lions are going to have their eyes out for who’s getting cut elsewhere, and maybe it’s a guy they liked pre-draft either this year or a couple of years ago, and they want to kick some tires. Maybe it’s a veteran player whose tires they want to kick. We’ve seen them do that with guys like Allen Robinson and Jamal Adams in recent years.