Overview
- The Lions announced on Tuesday, Sept. 1 that veteran running back Isiah Pacheco was placed on Reserve/Injured with a back issue and will miss at least the first four regular-season games.
- Pacheco’s IR placement removes the planned veteran backup to Jahmyr Gibbs and pushes Gibbs to shoulder a heavier early-season workload.
- Detroit promoted internal options and adjusted the roster by activating tight end Tyler Conklin and adding guard Elijah Klein and receiver Dominic Lovett to the practice squad.
- Jacob Saylors, Sione Vaki and Jabari Small are now the primary in-house backups, with Saylors boosted by a strong preseason showing but lacking Pacheco’s veteran resume.
- General manager Brad Holmes said Pacheco is 'steadily feeling better' and that a season return is 'the hope,' but the team gave no firm timetable beyond the earliest Week 5 eligibility under NFL IR rules.