Detroit Lions roster cuts: Tracking path to 53 players for 2026

With the NFL preseason officially in the rearview following the Lions' 25-16 victory at the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit has some tough decisions to make on cutdown day.

The Lions need to finalize their initial 53-man roster by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. There's tough decisions to be made at wide receiver, tight end, along the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary.

"It's an exciting time and it's also kind of a somber time because we know that we've got to make the moves tomorrow. And for those guys that have laid it on the line with us. Some of these guys we may have to let go of have been with us for a year and been in our program and given us everything that they had through spring, another training camp.

"Did everything we asked them to do and we may have to say that we're going to have to move on. That's a sick feeling and I hate that for those guys. Like I told them, all I can give them is my respect. So, look, that's hard, but I appreciate them, I appreciate everything they did," Campbell said.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes will put their minds together and finalize Detroit's initial 53-man roster today. As news of cuts breaks, follow along here to stay up to date on how the Lions' 53-man roster is forming:

Players who are cut and who have fewer than four years of NFL experience are subject to waivers. Teams have until 1 p.m. ET Monday to put in claims.

Throughout the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the waiver wire order is based on that year's NFL draft order. Thus, the Lions are 17th in the waiver order.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions roster cuts: Tracking path to 53 players for 2026