The New York Jets and Detroit Lions are both 1-1 heading into Sunday’s matchup, but both are looking for a bounceback game after the Jets lost in overtime and the Lions gave up 41 points in Thursday night’s loss to the Bills.
Let’s break down the Lions roster by position:
Jared Goff has had three straight seasons with more than 4,500 passing yards and he’s off to a good statistical start now in 2026. He leads the league with six touchdown passes and no interceptions. He has been sacked five times and fumbled three times.
Goff has also been durable. It will be his 72nd consecutive start, dating back to the end of the 2021 season.
The Lions moved quickly to address their backup situation when Teddy Bridgewater retired in the offseason. His replacement, Josh Dobbs, was a brilliant quarterback who started 15 NFL games.
The Lions had a trio of starting offensive linemen limited in practice this week: Left guard Christian Mahogany, right guard Tate Ratledge and right tackle Blake Miller. However, all three returned to training on Friday and are expected to start.
Mahogany’s return is timely as Ben Bartch, who started the first two games in his place, is out this weekend with an injury. He struggled in pass protection, so that should be an upgrade, although Mahogany gave up a team-high six sacks in 2025.
First round rookie Miller will return after Larry Borom filled in for him last week. He gave up two sacks and had three penalties, so this again looks like an upgrade.
Left tackle Penei Sewell is their best lineman, having been to the previous four pro bowls. He only gave up two sacks last year.
The other starter is Juice Scruggs at center, though Cade Mays will likely start if he’s not on injured reserve. He lines up next to Ratledge, who led the team in offensive penalties last year.
Another backup is guard Miles Frazier, who was a fifth round pick last year. They will also have to pick up another one where Bartch was eliminated.
The two-headed monster is gone, as David Montgomery is now in Houston, but it frees up Jahmyr Gibbs to try to establish himself as the league’s best running back. He’s off to a decent start with 299 yards from scrimmage in the first two games.
With new addition Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve, the number two is converted safety Sione Vaki, although he has only 10 carries in three seasons.
Jacob Saylors is the number three, but mostly on the team for his special team abilities.
Pro bowler Amon-Ra St. is off to a great start this year. Brown. He led the NFL with 19 catches and four touchdown receptions.
He’s not the Lions’ only weapon, however, as Jameson Williams is also coming off back-to-back thousand-yard seasons.
Then you have tight end Sam LaPorta, who had 17 touchdowns in his first two seasons before missing eight games last year.
Detroit’s other starting receiver, Isaac TeSlaa, only caught 16 passes last year but six of those were touchdowns and he’s established himself as a big play threat and capable of highlight reel grabs.
Tay Martin and Tom Kennedy are also both on the team at wide receiver but still haven’t had an offensive snap so far this season.
Depth at tight end comes from ex-Jet Tyler Conklin, Jackson Meeks and Brock Wright. Wright, who also plays fullback, caught a key touchdown pass as the 2022 Jets blew a late lead on the Lions in the last meeting between these teams.
Former number two overall pick Aidan Hutchinson is the star of the Lions’ defensive line. He had 14.5 sacks last year and has three in the first two games of this season.
DJ Wonnum is the other starting edge with second round pick Derrick Moore on the bench along with another rookie, the undrafted Eric O’Neill. Ahmed Hassanein was inactive on Thursday.
Tyler Lacy is also listed as an edge but he is 300 pounds and also plays inside. In addition, the Lions also have former first round pick Payton Turner, but he is on injured reserve.
The starters on the interior are Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams. McNeill’s importance can be seen in the fact that he is easily Detroit’s highest paid defensive player.
Sixth-round rookie Skyler Gill-Howard provides depth off the bench along with Levi Onwuzurike. Mekhi Wingo is also on the roster but was inactive against the Bills.
The linebacker unit is anchored by all-pro Jack Campbell, who had 176 tackles last season. Derrick Barnes is the other starter and has had an effective start to the season with 13 tackles, two pass breakups, two sacks and an interception in the first two games.
Depth comes from Trevor Nowaske, Malcolm Rodriguez and the experienced Devin White. Fourth round pick Jimmy Rolder is inactive right now, though.
The Lions have serious issues with their secondary, which is the main reason they have given up the second highest total yardage and total points in the first two games.
Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, who are each pro bowlers in 2024, began the year on the PUP list, so the Jets knew long ago that Detroit would be undermanned in the secondary for this game.
However, Avonte Maddox, who was filling in, suffered a season-ending foot injury in the Bills game and, as if that wasn’t bad enough, his replacement Thomas Harper was also out of Sunday’s game with an ankle issue.
Options remaining include ex-Jets Chuck Clark and Jalen Mills. Clark started the first two games but Mills was just added to the practice squad a few days ago. Offseason addition Christian Izien may need to step up, while undrafted rookie Bishop Fitzgerald is also an option.
The Lions are theoretically at full strength in terms of the cornerback position but their starting trio – DJ Reed, Rock Ya-Sin and slot corner Roger McCreary all lack size which could be an issue against some of the Jets’ many tight looks.
Fifth round rookie Keith Abney II, Khalil Dorsey and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. gives depth to the corner.
Kicker Jake Bates has made all 10 of his kicks so far this season, but he hasn’t gone past nine in 2025. He has a big foot but was just 4-for-9 from over 50 last season.
Punter Jack Fox, a pro bowler in 2020 and 2024, is off to a solid start after his numbers dipped a bit in 2025.
Longtime return specialist (and former Jet) Kalif Raymond is now with the Bears, so the Lions have Kennedy and Saylors kick returners. Kennedy has handled punts so far, with kickoff duties shared. No one has broken a long one yet this year.
Martin and Dorsey are the team’s primary punt gunners and Martin leads the team with four special team tackles so far this season. Nowaske, Vaki and Saylors were productive in kick coverage last year.