Detroit Lions News

Although the Detroit Lions didn't actually hold a practice on Wednesday, tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) was not listed on the first official injury report. As expected, it means that the second-year tight end will suit up for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams as he looks for an encore performance this year following an amazing rookie campaign. The 23-year-old missed most of training camp and the preseason due to a hamstring ailment he suffered on Aug. 5, but he returned to practice over a week ago and won't have any limitations this weekend. LaPorta set a rookie record for TEs with 86 receptions in 17 regular-season games in 2023 while going for 889 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He should once again be heavily targeted by quarterback Jared Goff in Year 2 and is a must-start in fantasy lineups.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) put in a full practice on Wednesday and wasn't included on the team's first official injury report of the 2024 season despite missing most of training camp and all of the preseason with a hamstring injury. Things were already trending this way, but the 22-year-old second-year back will be active in Week 1 on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams, barring a setback with his hamstring later this week at practice. Fantasy managers in redraft formats will want Gibbs locked into their starting lineups this weekend, although it's entirely possible he's eased in by the coaching staff in favor of backfield mate David Montgomery after he missed so much time in training camp. The 12th overall pick in last year's draft scored 11 total touchdowns in 15 regular-season games in his rookie campaign and should be a solid RB1 in Year 2 if he stays healthy.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) said that he's ready to go for Week 1 of the regular season on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Gibbs said he feels around 98-100% healthy after tweaking his hamstring early in training camp while running routes. "I'm good, just had a little tweak," Gibbs said. The second-year RB also said he's "more confident overall" entering Year 2. The 22-year-old returned to practice a week ago, and although he may be listed on the team's first official injury report on Wednesday, fantasy managers that invested in him at the end of the first round or early in the second round of drafts this year should feel confident that he'll be active on Sunday. Gibbs will be a must-start RB1 each week he's active, but he'll carry more bust potential in the season opener if the Lions decide to lean more towards backfield mate David Montgomery to ease Gibbs in.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) should be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 regular season this Sunday night, Sept. 8, versus the Los Angeles Rams. Despite missing most of training camp due to a hamstring injury, LaPorta return to the practice field a week ago and should be ready to roll as a must-start in fantasy lineups this weekend. The 23-year-old second-year tight end was most likely the first TE off the board in your fantasy drafts this fall after setting an NFL record with 86 receptions in 2023. He could be listed on the team's injury report when official practice starts on Wednesday, but fantasy managers shouldn't be worried at all that they won't have him on Sunday night. In addition to his 86 catches in his rookie campaign, LaPorta impressed with 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 17 regular-season games.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) should be good to go for the Week 1 regular-season opener this Sunday, Sept. 8, against the Los Angeles Rams. Gibbs injured his hamstring in early August and missed most of training camp, but the 22-year-old second-year back should be available to play in the season opener this weekend. He was able to get back on the practice field last week. There's a chance Gibbs will be listed on the team's official injury report once they start practicing on Wednesday, but fantasy managers won't need to be worried that he won't suit up against the Rams. However, with all that said, there's a chance the Lions lean a bit more on David Montgomery in their backfield in Week 1, giving Gibbs a bit more bust potential as an RB1 to kick things off in 2024.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele drew praise from head coach Sean Payton when interviewed on Friday. Vele had been one of the standouts of Broncos camp and made the cut this week as Denver whittled down their roster to 53 in preparation for the regular season. When asked about the release of Tim Patrick, Payton remarked on the similarities between him and Vele and how the rookie reminds him of the veteran wideout. "They have like body types. They're big, they have strong hands in traffic," Payton said. "They're smart. They're tough. They catch it well. They block. Devaughn is a guy that I see in a similar way." Given his blocking ability and frame (6-foot-5), the former Utah Ute may see the field in his inaugural season. Additionally, the Broncos have little proven depth behind an aging Courtland Sutton and Josh Reynolds. Vele will compete with second-year wideout Marvin Mims Jr. and fellow rookie Troy Franklin for playing time in Denver's third wide receiver slot but can be safely avoided by fantasy managers for the time being.

The Detroit Lions signed wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones to their practice squad on Thursday after releasing him on Tuesday. In other moves, the team placed defensive lineman John Cominsky (knee) on Injured Reserve and released safety C.J. Moore from the practice squad. Peoples-Jones will remain in the Detroit organization as wideout depth to start the 2024 regular season. He began last year with the Browns before joining the Lions for eight games (one) start, where caught just five passes for 58 yards. The 25-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Browns in 2020 out of Michigan struggled last year after a career year in 2022 in Cleveland in which he had a 61-839-3 line in 17 games (14 starts). DPJ should eventually see time in Detroit again in 2024 if any of the receivers on the 53-man roster go down with an injury, but he's currently off the fantasy radar.

Free agent wide receiver Allen Robinson II is signing with the Detroit Lions, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. Robinson was recently cut by the New York Giants earlier this week. The 31-year-old has struggled over the past few seasons after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2019 and 2020. Since then, the Penn State product has averaged just 343 receiving yards each season, and will now look to join his fourth team in four years. Currently, the Lions have two wide receivers on the injured reserve, Tre'Quan Smith (undisclosed) and Antoine Green (concussion), which could open the door for the veteran to serve in a depth role throughout the season occasionally. For now, fantasy managers should feel comfortable leaving Robinson on their waiver wire.

Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick is expected to sign with the Detroit Lions. Patrick did not make the Broncos' final 53-man roster earlier on Tuesday and appears to have found his new home. Patrick has battled injuries in recent years. He has not played since the 2021 season due to a torn ACL in 2022 and a torn Achilles in 2023. Before his injuries, Patrick was productive when healthy. His signing is slightly worrisome for fantasy managers hoping for more production from Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. However, this could just be a depth move for a Lions team that has several unproven names behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Williams, and Kalif Raymond. Patrick is 30 years old after all and coming off two significant injuries. UPDATE: Patrick is expected to sign with Detroit's practice squad with the idea that he will work his way onto the active roster, according to sources.

The Detroit Lions removed defensive lineman DJ Reader (quadriceps) from the Physically Unable to Perform list on Sunday, the team announced. Reader now has a shot to be ready for the Week 1 regular-season opener against the Los Angeles Rams after initially targeting a Week 2 return. It will all depend on how much he can do in practice the next two weeks. The 30-year-old defensive tackle has been dealing with a quadriceps muscle issue since last December, but he's finally getting over the hump. With only 9.5 sacks in his eight seasons in the NFL with the Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals, Reader isn't exactly on the IDP fantasy radar, but he could provide the Lions with key run-stopping depth in the middle of their offensive line as early as Week 1.

The Detroit Lions released running back Zonovan Knight on Monday. Knight spent his rookie season in 2022 with the Jets and 2023 with the Lions, albeit primarily on injured reserve. During the preseason, Knight had 24 carries for 75 yards and no touchdowns. He ran an inefficient 3.1 yards per carry during the preseason. Knight only carried the ball three times for 13 yards in 2023. He was not projected to see much work in the running game with the Lions in 2024. For now, Knight will have to hope to sign with a practice squad or an active roster in need of a running back.

The Detroit Lions are releasing wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Peoples-Jones was dealt to the Lions at last year's trade deadline from the Browns in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He caught just five passes for 58 yards in eight games for Detroit. Overall, the Michigan product has tallied 122 receptions for 1,895 yards and eight touchdowns in 58 games since entering the NFL as a sixth-round pick in 2020. While his chances of becoming a legitimate starter seem to be dwindling, another organization might sign him after teams cut down to 53 players by Tuesday's 4 p.m. EDT deadline.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that tight end Sam LaPorta (hamstring) returned to training camp practice on Sunday. It marked LaPorta's first practice session with the team since the first week of August after he injured his hamstring. As long as the 23-year-old second-year tight end doesn't suffer a setback with his hammy in upcoming practices, he should be ready to roll for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 8 against the Los Angeles Rams. LaPorta's injury was never really considered all that serious, so his fantasy value as one of the top fantasy TEs hasn't really wavered this summer. The former second-rounder immediately established himself as one of the best pass-catching TEs in the NFL in his first year, catching 86 of his 120 targets for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023. Travis Kelce might be the first TE taken in your fantasy draft, but LaPorta may have even more upside at this point.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that running back Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) returned to training camp practice on Sunday. Gibbs returned to the practice field for the Lions after missing two weeks with a strained hamstring. Now that the 22-year-old is back, he'll have just under two weeks to prepare for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 8 against the Los Angeles Rams. The Lions haven't seemed too worried that Gibbs won't be ready for the season opener, but there's still a chance he'll cede more touches to backfield mate David Montgomery to open the year. Now that Gibbs is back at practice, fantasy managers should feel more comfortable taking him as a midrange RB1 in drafts, either late in the first round or early in the second, especially in point-per-reception formats. Gibbs was the 12th overall pick in 2023 and had 945 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns and added 316 receiving yards and another score in 15 regular-season games in his rookie campaign.

Detroit Lions running back Jake Funk led the backfield with 10 carries for 40 yards in the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. The 26-year-old also caught one of his four targets for a two-yard touchdown. Considering Funk only has four carries in his professional career and had an underwhelming first two preseason games, this big showing could help determine his future on this Lions team. Funk is not currently listed on the Lions depth chart and may not make the 53-man roster, but it could be a wildcard and a player to keep on your watchlist.

Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (leg) is expected to be available for the regular season opener, according to head coach Dan Campbell. Reynolds suffered a leg injury during Thursday's practice. It's not believed to be serious, but Reynolds was held out of the preseason finale for precautionary reasons. He's currently competing with Sione Vaki for the No. 3 role in Detroit. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are the two primary options in this backfield. It's unlikely that Reynolds or Vaki have a significant role in the backfield while Gibbs and Montgomery are healthy. Whether he's healthy or not, Reynolds can probably be avoided in most fantasy formats.

Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (leg), who left the team's final day of training camp early Wednesday, appears to have avoided a serious injury. The exact nature of the ailment sustained by Reynolds is unclear, though two defenders apparently sandwiched him on a run in the red zone at about the mid-point of practice. It appears he'll be OK and looks to return to the field quickly. Reynolds is currently entrenched in a battle with rookie Sione Vaki for Detroit's RB3 role, and any time away from the field is less time fending off the rookie from supplanting him. Whichever back wins the positional battle would not hold standalone fantasy value, but rather be a potential handcuff option in deep leagues and best-ball formats. This version of the Lions' offense has shown us a propensity to value the use of a dual-RB system, and Jahmyr Gibbs (hamstring) is improving but not fully healthy with the season just two weeks away. Reynolds is Yahoo's RB100 off the boards in drafts currently.

Detroit Lions All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell (ankle), who left training camp practice early on Wednesday with a foot injury, is believed to have just suffered a minor ankle injury and should be good, according to sources. It's great news for the Lions' offense and their offensive line. With two weeks to go until the start of the 2024 regular-season opener, the expectation is that the 23-year-old offensive tackle will be ready to go on Sept. 8 for a showdown against the Los Angeles Rams. Sewell was a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career in 2023 and has been named to Pro Bowls in two of his first three years in the league. He was the seventh overall pick by the Lions in 2021 out of Oregon, and Detroit's offense has been on the rise ever since.

Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell (foot) left practice with a potential foot injury. Sewell was hurt on the third play after the Lions returned from a simulated halftime. He briefly sat on the ground following a block on a Jared Goff incompletion and was attended to by trainers before limping to the sideline, where they examined his left foot after he removed his shoe and sock. A few plays later, Sewell hobbled to the locker room with the help of a trainer. Sewell, who has started 50 of 51 games over the past three seasons at both tackle positions, has played every offensive snap in the last two years, made two consecutive Pro Bowls, and signed a four-year, $112 million extension this offseason, making him the highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL. If Sewell is sidelined for an extended period, it would significantly impact Detroit's offense, especially their strong running game with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, as Sewell is one of the league's top run-blockers.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones was dealt to the organization from the Cleveland Browns for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft last October. While he played in eight games for the Lions, he only caught five passes for 58 yards. He could be a more significant factor in the offense with a full training camp in Detroit, though he's currently behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Kalif Raymond on the depth chart. Still, the explosive wideout, who has averaged 15.5 yards per reception in his career, could have value as a late-round pick in best ball formats. If one of the starting wideouts goes down, Peoples-Jones will play significant snaps in one of the league's best offenses, and his one-play-touchdown upside could enable him to enter best ball lineups on occasion. Lions senior writer Tim Twentyman suggests Peoples-Jones is in the lead for the WR4 role, so he's at least worth monitoring early in the 2024 campaign. For now, he can be left undrafted in traditional fantasy football leagues.