Previewing The New York Jets’ Opposition: Detroit Lions

The New York Jets and Detroit Lions are both 1-1 heading into Sunday’s matchup, but both are in search of a bounceback game after the Jets lost in overtime and the Lions gave up 41 points in last Thursday night’s loss to the Bills.

Let’s break down the Lions’ roster going position by position:

Quarterbacks

Jared Goff has had three seasons in a row with over 4,500 passing yards and he’s off to a good statistical start so far in 2026. He leads the league with six touchdown passes and doesn’t have an interception. He has been sacked five times and fumbled three times, though.

Goff has also been durable. This will be his 72nd consecutive start, dating all the way back to the end of the 2021 season.

The Lions moved fast to address their backup situation when Teddy Bridgewater retired in the offseason. His replacement, Josh Dobbs, is an extremely smart quarterback who has started 15 NFL games.

Offensive Line

The Lions had a trio of starting offensive linemen who were limited in practice this week: Left guard Christian Mahogany, right guard Tate Ratledge and right tackle Blake Miller. However, all three returned to practice on Friday and are expected to start.

Mahogany’s return is just in time because Ben Bartch, who started the first two games in his place, is out of this weekend’s game due to injury. He had been struggling in pass protection, so this should be an upgrade, although Mahogany gave up a team-high six sacks in 2025.

The first round rookie Miller will make his return after Larry Borom filled in for him last week. He gave up two sacks and had three penalties, so this again looks like it will be an upgrade.

Left tackle Penei Sewell is their best lineman, having been to the past four pro bowls. He gave up just two sacks last year.

The other starter is Juice Scruggs who is the center, although Cade Mays would probably be starting if he wasn’t on injured reserve. He lines up alongside Ratledge, who led the team in offensive penalties last year.

The other backup is guard Miles Frazier, who was a fifth round pick last year. They will also need to elevate another one with Bartch ruled out.

Running Backs

The two-headed monster is no more, as David Montgomery is now in Houston, but this has freed up Jahmyr Gibbs to try and establish himself as the league’s best running back. He’s off to a decent start with 299 yards from scrimmage in the first two games.

With new addition Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve, the number two is the converted safety Sione Vaki, although he has only 10 carries in three seasons.

Jacob Saylors is the number three, but mostly on the team for his special teams abilities.

Pass catchers

Pro bowler Amon-Ra St. Brown is off to an excellent start this year. He leads the NFL with 19 catches and four touchdown receptions.

He’s by no means the Lions’ only weapon, though, as Jameson Williams is also coming off back-to-back thousand-yard seasons.

Then you have tight end Sam LaPorta, who had 17 touchdowns in his first two seasons before missing eight games last year.

Detroit’s other starting receiver, Isaac TeSlaa, only caught 16 passes last year but six of them were touchdowns and he’s established himself as a big play threat and capable of highlight reel grabs.

Tay Martin and Tom Kennedy are also both on the team at wide receiver but neither has played an offensive snap so far this season.

Depth at tight end comes from ex-Jet Tyler Conklin, Jackson Meeks and Brock Wright. Wright, who also plays fullback, caught a crucial touchdown pass when the 2022 Jets blew a late lead to the Lions in the last meeting between these teams.

Defensive Line

Former number two overall pick Aidan Hutchinson is the star of the Lions defensive line. He had 14.5 sacks last year and already has three in the first two games of this season.

DJ Wonnum is the other starting edge with second round pick Derrick Moore on the bench along with another rookie, the undrafted Eric O’Neill. Ahmed Hassanein was inactive last Thursday.

Tyler Lacy is also listed as an edge but he’s 300 pounds and also plays inside. In addition, the Lions also have former first round pick Payton Turner, but he’s on injured reserve.

The starters on the interior are Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams. McNeill’s importance is evident by the fact that he’s easily Detroit’s highest paid defensive player.

Sixth round rookie Skyler Gill-Howard provides depth off the bench along with Levi Onwuzurike. Mekhi Wingo is also on the roster but was inactive against the Bills.

Linebackers

The linebacker unit is anchored by all-pro Jack Campbell, who had 176 tackles last season. Derrick Barnes is the other starter and he’s had an effective start to the season with 13 tackles, two pass breakups, two sacks and an interception in the first two games.

Depth comes from Trevor Nowaske, Malcolm Rodriguez and the experienced Devin White. Fourth round pick Jimmy Rolder has been inactive so far, though.

Defensive Backs

The Lions have serious issues in their secondary, which is the main reason they have given up the second highest yardage total and points total in the first two games.

Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, each of whom were pro bowlers in 2024, began the year on the PUP list, so the Jets have known for some time Detroit would be undermanned in the secondary for this game.

However, Avonte Maddox, who was filling in, suffered a season-ending foot injury in the Bills game and, as if that wasn’t bad enough, his replacement Thomas Harper is also out of Sunday’s game due to an ankle issue.

Options that remain include ex-Jets Chuck Clark and Jalen Mills. Clark started the first two games but Mills was only just added to the practice squad a few days ago. Offseason addition Christian Izien may need to step up, while undrafted rookie Bishop Fitzgerald is also an option.

The Lions are theoretically at full strength in terms of the cornerback position but their starting trio – DJ Reed, Rock Ya-Sin and slot corner Roger McCreary all lack size which could be an issue against some of the multiple tight end looks the Jets run.

Fifth round rookie Keith Abney II, Khalil Dorsey and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. provide depth at corner.

Special Teams

Kicker Jake Bates has made all 10 of his kicks so far this season, but he missed nine in 2025. He has a big leg but was just 4-for-9 from beyond 50 last season.

Punter Jack Fox, a pro bowler in 2020 and 2024, is off to a solid start after his numbers dropped off a bit in 2025.

Longtime return specialist (and former Jet) Kalif Raymond is now with the Bears, so the Lions have Kennedy and Saylors returning kicks. Kennedy has handled punts so far, with the kickoff duties shared. Nobody has broken a long one yet this year.

Martin and Dorsey are the team’s primary punt gunners and Martin leads the team with four special teams tackles so far this season. Nowaske, Vaki and Saylors were productive in kick coverage last year.