Petzing takes over — secondary looms as Detroit’s biggest question

Detroit opens the season trying to pair a refreshed offense with a deeper front seven. The secondary is the main unresolved issue in the team’s own division preview.

In this brief: 3 sections 1 min read

- • Petzing is the new offensive play caller.
- • Tate Ratledge enters Year 2 after a strong camp.
- • Detroit is counting on a younger line to regain top-unit form.
- • The defensive backfield remains the clearest concern.
- • Detroit wants its deeper front seven to help the coverage unit.
- • Better injury luck would materially change the defense’s ceiling.
- • The Lions finished 9-8 and last in the NFC North in 2025.
- • Chicago enters 2026 as the defending division champion.
- • Green Bay opens with Micah Parsons on PUP and Josh Jacobs unavailable.

Read full analysis on detroitlions.com