Dan Campbell is not naming a starting left guard for Sunday’s opener against the New Orleans Saints, leaving the door open for a rotation between Ben Bartch and Christian Mahogany. The head coach confirmed the pair will split first-team reps through Thursday and Friday, with a decision pending based on final practice performance.
Campbell indicated the split is a direct result of the competition not resolving itself during camp. “Today they’re going to split, I see them splitting on Thursday, I see them splitting on Friday, and then if nothing’s been decided by then, then maybe they both play,” Campbell said regarding the plan for the interior line.
The uncertainty stems from Bartch’s slow recovery from a foot injury that lingered from his time in San Francisco, combined with a brief stint in concussion protocol. While Mahogany dominated most of camp and started at left guard last season, the Lions remain hesitant to lock him in after he ranked as the fifth-worst pass-blocking guard among qualifiers in 2025 according to Pro Football Focus. General Manager Brad Holmes noted that Bartch performed well whenever he was able to practice, earning the team’s consideration for a starting role despite his limited reps.
Safety Return and Defensive Leadership
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions received a significant boost with the return of All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph to the practice field. Joseph, who missed 11 games last season after leading the league in interceptions the year prior, is ramping up his activity but remains on the physically unable to perform list. He will miss the first four games of the season minimum due to a lingering knee injury.
Joseph’s return to practice alongside Brian Branch, who is also battling back from a torn Achilles, signals a potential late-season turnaround for a secondary that has struggled with depth. The team also announced its 2026 captains, with Joseph joining Aidan Hutchinson, Jack Campbell, Alim McNeill, Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jack Fox as leaders for the season.
Hutchinson, serving his third year as captain, addressed the team’s more serious demeanor under Campbell this offseason. The edge rusher praised the intensity of training camp and specifically highlighted the development of rookie right tackle Blake Miller, noting that Miller rarely makes the same mistake twice after facing various looks from the defensive line.
Offensive Line Adjustments and Backfield Roles
The offensive line faces multiple questions beyond the left guard spot, including Penei Sewell’s transition to left tackle and rookie Blake Miller’s debut at right tackle. Campbell acknowledged that while the group is more experienced than last year’s unit, the moving parts require consistency rather than perfection. Miller, a first-round pick from Clemson, is expected to show improvement with every rep despite inevitable growing pains in his NFL debut.
At running back, Jahmyr Gibbs enters his fourth season as the clear bell cow following the trade of David Montgomery. Gibbs, who signed a contract extension through 2030, expects a significant increase in snap usage after playing 67 percent of offensive snaps last season. He is confident in his ability to handle the workload, stating he is ready to either make many people happy or mad with his fantasy output.
The coaching staff also emphasized the importance of role players in binding the roster’s star talent together. Campbell highlighted the contributions of Brock Wright, Hogan Hatten, and Khalil Dorsey as essential glue pieces that allow the team’s premier players to function at a high level. These depth additions are viewed as critical for navigating the long season ahead, particularly given the defensive injuries.
This article was created by aggregating Detroit Lions news using Artificial Intelligence.
