In this installment of our Detroit Lions 2025 training camp preview series, we examine the Lions’ linebackers, speculate on current and future roles, and discuss how many players from this group could make the 53-man roster.
Previous training camp previews:
Setting the table
Entering 2024, the Lions finally had players in their correct positional roles, and as a whole, were experienced enough to be a force on defense. Unfortunately, the starting trio of Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, and Derrick Barnes only lasted three games before Barnes landed on injured reserve.
For the first half of the season, the Lions were able to get by with only losing Barnes, but it wasn’t long before injuries began to pile up. Malcolm Rodriguez was injured, and Abraham Beauplan was briefly (two weeks) signed for depth. Jalen Reeves-Maybin landed on injured reserve, and the Lions signed Ezekiel Turner. When Anzalone broke his forearm and landed on IR, the Lions signed David Long. When Rodriguez tore his ACL and landed on IR, Kwon Alexander was signed and was eventually replaced by Anthony Pittman. Reeves-Maybin and Anzalone returned to action, and Long was released near the end of the season. It was a whirlwind final 10 games for the linebacker room, which at one point had four of their top five players on injured reserve.
Entering 2025, the Lions opened the offseason with four of their top five linebackers under contract: Campbell, Anzalone (who is reportedly looking for a new contract), Rodriguez (who is expected to be out until November), and Reeves-Maybin, who was eventually released in a salary cap savings move.
To help stabilize the room, the Lions quickly re-signed Barnes to a three-year contract, then re-signed Turner, Pittman, Trevor Nowaske (ERFA tender), and practice squader DaRon Gilbert (futures) to one-year deals. Additionally, Grant Stuard was given a fully guaranteed one-year contract in free agency and will likely be a Reeves-Maybin replacement. Beauplan was also signed this offseason; however, he was released before OTAs when the Lions signed Zach Cunningham.
Roster construction
Under the Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell regime, the Lions have heavily leaned on their linebacker group to contribute on special teams, which is why they tend to keep a larger number of linebackers than other teams. Six has previously been the magic number when speculating roster decisions, but things could be changing with the introduction of the SAM role.
Let’s take a look at what they’ve done at linebacker in the previous four seasons:
- 2021: Opened the season with five linebackers, using three on defense and two on special teams. Another special teamer was added mid-season, and they ended the year with six.
- 2022: The pattern of starting with five but ending with six was repeated.
- 2023: The Lions started the season with six this time around and finished with six once again.
- 2024: With the expansion of the SAM role, the Lions opened the season with seven linebackers, while also finishing the season with seven.
Understanding the Lions’ LB roles
The Lions’ defensive base is a 4-2-5 scheme, which means four defensive linemen, two off-the-ball linebackers, and five defensive backs. However, they also deploy a 4-3 defensive set that features a hybrid linebacker role that is designed to pressure offenses.
The two base linebackers are called the MIKE (last year’s starter: Jack Campbell) and WILL (Alex Anzalone), and both will typically line up inside the tackle box. The MIKE is on the front side and is used as a hammer against the run. While the WILL lines up on the backside and uses speed/instincts to chase the play.
There is a third, hybrid linebacker role called the SAM (Derrick Barnes), but it does not operate like a traditional SAM in a 4-3 scheme. In Detroit, the SAM is deployed outside the tackle box, typically on the line of scrimmage. SAM responsibilities include rushing the passer, overloading the box in certain running situations, and dropping into coverage.
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The battleground
With Campbell, Anzalone, and Barnes set to return to their starting roles, the Lions are in good shape. But with Rodriguez’s ACL recovery potentially keeping him out until November, the Lions do have some questions surrounding their depth roles.
Who is LB4 with Rodriguez injured?
With Rodriguez likely out for the first half of the season, the Lions’ depth roles are very much up for grabs. What makes Rodriguez unique is his ability to play both WILL (his best spot) and MIKE, a combination only Anzalone and Barnes have previously shown.
If a player is going to claim a legitimate LB4/first off the bench role, they’ll have to show the range and reliability to win the job. If no one steps up, players will likely only be called upon in situational roles that best feature their skill sets.
Who are the Lions candidates?
Let’s look at the candidates to round out the LB depth chart, keeping in mind, at least three will probably make the 53-man roster.
- Grant Stuard, WILL: Heading into his fifth season, Stuard is primarily known for his excellent special teams play, where he was the Colts’ team captain. He caught Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp’s attention last season, and the coach will certainly have a role set aside for him. Stuard didn’t contribute much on defense through his first three seasons in the NFL, but last season he played in 11 games, starting six at WILL. As a seek-and-destroy defender, he’s suited well to defend the run—something that showed up in his 19-tackle debut against the Dolphins—but he’ll need to show he can cover if he wants to win the LB4 job.
- Trevor Nowaske, SAM/MIKE: After losing him to the Cardinals during his rookie season, the Lions wasted no time reacquiring Nowaske once he became available at cutdowns last year. It took a couple of weeks to reacclimate to Detroit, and he played a depth role for another month, but the Lions eventually gave him a shot to start at SAM, and he seized his chance. Nowaske would officially start just two games last season, but he averaged 28 snaps per game for the remainder of the year. Nowaske gives the Lions more depth at SAM (behind Barnes), has the range to play MIKE in a pinch, and is a starter on special teams, making him a valuable player in multiple areas.
- Zach Cunningham, MIKE: A true MIKE linebacker, Cunningham brings a load of experience to the Lions defense, and even led the NFL in tackling (both total: 164, and solo: 106) in 2020. While he’s not the player he was five years ago, Cunningham brings a sense of dependability, similarly to how the Lions leaned on David Long and Kwon Alexander last season.
- Ezekiel Turner, WILL: With the Lions scrambling to add healthy bodies, Turner was the first linebacker the Lions acquired, and he managed to outlast several more experienced players (i.e., Long and Alexander). One of the reasons Turner stuck was his special teams abilities, including filling in at the all-important personal protector (PP) role on special teams when Reeves-Maybin was out of the lineup. With Reeves-Maybin no longer on the roster, the Lions will be looking for another PP this training camp, and while winning that job alone won’t get him on the roster, it would certainly help his case.
- Anthony Pittman, SAM/MIKE: After joining the Commanders during 2024 free agency, Pittman was a mid-season release and jumped at the opportunity to return to Detroit. Pittman played MIKE at Wayne State, but began his career as a JACK linebacker with the previous coaching staff. He stuck around when coach Dan Campbell was hired, and has been a reserve SAM linebacker and starting special teamer—leading Detroit in special teams snaps over multiple seasons.
- DaRon Gilbert, WILL: A UDFA rookie in 2024, Gilbert spent the season on the Lions practice squad learning and gaining weight/strength. Like Turner, Gilbert is a former safety who played his college ball around 214 pounds, but after a year in the NFL, he’s now listed as 231 a more suitable weight for an NFL linebacker. He flew under the radar last training camp, but with a year of learning under his belt, it’ll be interesting to see how far he’s developed.
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