On this installment of our Detroit Lions 2026 coaching camp preview collection, we proceed to discover the defensive aspect of the ball by analyzing the Lions’ linebackers, speculating on present and future roles, and discussing what number of gamers from this group may make the 53-man roster.
Earlier coaching camp previews:
Underneath the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have closely leaned on their linebacker group to contribute on particular groups, which is why they have an inclination to maintain a bigger variety of linebackers than different groups. Six has beforehand been the magic quantity when speculating roster selections.
Let’s check out what they’ve carried out at linebacker within the earlier 5 seasons:
2021: Opened the season with 5 linebackers, utilizing three on protection and two on particular groups. One other particular teamer was added mid-season, and so they ended the yr with six.2022: The sample of beginning with 5 however ending with six was repeated.2023: The Lions began the season with six this time round and completed with six as soon as once more.2024: With the enlargement of the SAM function, the Lions opened and closed the season with seven linebackers, whereas solely preserving six lively on most sport days.2025: The Lions opened with seven linebackers (whereas Trevor Nowaske was injured) however lowered to 6 in Week 3, the place they stayed for the rest of the season.
How a deliberate improve in nickel protection impacts the LB room
Whereas the Lions have insisted that their core defensive rules are usually not altering in 2026, they’ve acknowledged there might be some tweaks, together with using extra nickel units. The Lions used extra base units (three linebackers on the sector) than any group within the NFL in 2025, however a shift in personnel this offseason signifies that the Lions are certainly being truthful in planning on extra subpackage units (two or one linebacker).
Historically, the Lions have saved six linebackers on their roster, deploying three starters and preserving three primarily for particular groups and specialised roles. Consequently, the Lions enter coaching camp with 10-12 linebackers on their 90-man roster and permit them to compete for jobs; this season they’ll enter coaching camp with simply eight.
Along with coming into coaching camp with two-thirds of the linebackers they usually do, there was a big personnel change this offseason as nicely, because the Lions might be adjusting to the lack of starter Alex Anzalone, who departed for the Buccaneers in free company. Anzalone was a captain and key cog within the Lions’ protection for the final 5 seasons, however a contract dispute and a shift to youth on the roster for wage functions resulted in a cut up. Lastly, the Lions elected to not re-sign core particular teamer Grant Stuard, LB7 Zach Cunningham, and apply squader Ezekiel Turner.
To account for the lack of Anzalone and others, the Lions re-signed Malcolm Rodriguez and Trevor Nowaske, signed veterans Damone Clark and Joe Bachie in free company, then drafted Jimmy Rolder within the fourth spherical, and signed rookie UDFA Erick Hunter after the NFL Draft.
How a lot the Lions lean into subpackage vs. base packages will instantly affect how they divvy up roles and which gamers match every new function finest.
How will using extra subpackages affect the starters?
Not solely will a shift to extra subpackage use imply fewer three-linebacker units, however the primary roles of the starters can even alter.
All-Professional Jack Campbell is coming into his third season because the Lions MIKE linebacker, and for probably the most half, his function will solely be tweaked barely. In three linebacker units, he’ll principally arrange instantly in the course of the protection, and can solely shift his spot just a few ft (from over the middle to over the guard) in nickel subpackage appears to be like. After all, with Campbell’s vary he’ll work from all around the discipline, however as a normal rule, he’ll be within the middle of the protection.
Derrick Barnes was the beginning SAM linebacker final season, a job that requested him to line up outdoors the sort out field on most performs, giving him the choice to defend the run, pursue from the bottom, cross rush, or drop into protection. In three linebacker units, Barnes is predicted to stay on this function.
In subpackages, when solely two linebackers are on the sector, Barnes is predicted to shift to a WILL (INSIDE) linebacker function, which may be very completely different than the function Anzalone performed final season. In three-linebacker units, a standard WILL traces up outdoors the sort out field, however in two-linebacker units, the place shifts INSIDE, lining up over the sort out/guard hole, permitting the nickel defender room to function.
Right here’s an instance from Week 18 when Anzalone missed the sport as a consequence of a concussion:
Whereas Barnes is predicted to shift roles relying on base/subpackage units, the Lions will nonetheless want a LB3 to play a standard WILL function after they deploy three linebackers.
Who’s LB3 heading into coaching camp?
Whereas Campbell and Barnes are anticipated to fill the first two linebacker roles, the Lions nonetheless plan on deploying three-linebacker units, and heading into coaching camp, the main candidate for that function is Malcolm Rodriguez.
Rodriguez tore his ACL in 2024, and whereas he was in a position to return to motion late final season, he nonetheless regarded like he was re-acclimating to soccer. That being stated, in Week 18 when Anzalone was unavailable, Rodriguez was elevated to an LB3 function and was on the sector for 75% of defensive snaps.
With an offseason/coaching camp to organize and a possibility to step right into a LB3 function, expectations are excessive that he can rejoin the Lions’ beginning lineup in base packages. Nonetheless, he’ll face competitors…
What ought to Lions count on from rookie Jimmy Rolder?
The developmental upside for Rolder is thrilling, however expectations for his rookie season ought to be tempered. Studying the Lions’ linebacker roles may be extremely difficult for a younger participant—keep in mind, even Campbell didn’t begin as a rookie—and Rolder enters the fray with just one yr of school beginning expertise. Fortuitously, he comes from a system at Michigan that runs a Professional-Fashion defensive scheme (molded after the Ravens), however even then, there’s a big bounce in data and competitors.
Rolder ought to discover the sector instantly on particular groups, may begin the season as excessive as LB4 on the depth chart, and would possibly even push Rodriguez for an LB3 function as he positive aspects expertise, however based mostly on how the Lions usually convey their linebackers alongside, his affect on the defensive aspect of the ball might not come till 2027.
Will the Lions scale back to five LBs, or keep on with 6?
After the highest 4 linebackers, the Lions’ remaining 4 gamers will seemingly be battling it out for one or two remaining spots.
Trevor Nowaske, based mostly on his expertise with the group, will seemingly enter coaching camp as LB4 and no decrease than LB6. His ability set offers the Lions a backup to Barnes on the SAM, in addition to depth at MIKE.Damone Clark may additionally fall into the LB4-6 vary to start out camp, and he ought to be in competitors for WILL snaps and MIKE depth.Joe Bachie has six years of NFL expertise, however he’s primarily been a particular teamer. That being stated, the Lions have saved particular teams-only linebackers prior to now, giving him a shot to stay.Rookie UDFA Erick Hunter rounds out the group, however his protection expertise may give him an opportunity to show heads in coaching camp. It’s additionally value noting that he earned $175,000 in ensures, together with a $25,000 signing bonus, the best quantity the Lions have ever given out to a UDFA.
There’s an argument to be made that with linebacker utilization on protection being lowered, the Lions may, in flip, scale back their must roster six. Nonetheless, with the worth the Lions placed on particular groups and the roles the linebackers play within the third-phase, persevering with to maintain six linebackers on the lively roster additionally makes lots of sense.
