Detroit Lions 2026 Training Camp Position Battle to Watch

NFL teams have wrapped up their respective organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamps, and after a near month-long break, they'll pick things back up near the end of July for training camp.

The first preseason game takes place on Thursday, Aug. 6 on NBC when the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals face off in the Hall of Fame Game. The rest of the preseason's first week will take place from Aug. 13-15, followed by Week 2 on Aug. 20-23, and Week 3 on Aug. 27-29.

But before the preseason gets underway, teams must first report to training camp. The Detroit Lions haven't announced the exact day they report to camp, but below is their biggest position battle to watch this summer.

Position Battle: Edge-rusher | D.J. Wonnum vs. Derrick Moore vs. Payton Turner

Al-Quadin Muhammad is now in Tampa Bay, and Detroit needs someone to make up for his lost production (53 pressures, 32 hurries, 11 sacks, nine QB Hits, nine tackles for loss) and give Aidan Hutchinson some help along the defensive line.

Most expect this competition to come down to Wonnum and Moore.

The 28-year-old Wonnum is the frontrunner, and for good reason. He has six years of NHL experience, he twice had eight sacks in a season with the Minnesota Vikings, and he's hit 30 or more pressures in four of the last five seasons.

But Moore shouldn't be counted out. After all, there's a reason the Lions made him the 44th overall pick in the 2026 draft.

The 6-foot-3, 260-pound rookie was a pass-rushing force for Michigan last season, logging 41 pressures, 21 hurries, 10.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, nine QB hits, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, per Pro Football Focus.

He may not win the starting job from Day 1, but Moore is too talented of an edge-rusher to not start taking more and more snaps as the season wears on.

Turner is the least likely of the trio to win the job, but he could still be an effective part of Detroit's pass-rush rotation. In three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, the 27-year-old Turner totaled 39 pressures, 28 hurries, six QB hits, five sacks, 50 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, per PFF.

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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 5:46 PM.