One of the Lions’ biggest roster battles in training camp is expected to be among the linebacker position. Jack Campbell, one of the NFL’s premier linebackers, will be joined by returning Detroit veterans Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez. However, the Lions’ roster battle for the remaining linebacker spots could prove intriguing with three veterans and two rookies battling it out.
2026 Detroit Lions Roster Battle: Previewing the Linebacker Position
After losing Alex Anzalone in free agency, the fourth and fifth linebacker positions are up for grabs, and the battle among the remaining five rostered players, Trevor Nowaske, Damone Clark, Joe Bachie, Jimmy Rolder, and Erich Hunter, is expected to be fierce.
All-Pro talent Campbell leads the Lions’ defense. DC Kelvin Sheppard has been blunt about his role for Detroit. “This is Jack Campbell’s defense, and everyone in that locker room knows it. Point blank period. It all goes through Jack.”
Last year with Campbell as the MIKE, the Lions led the NFL with the fewest missed tackles in the league with 133. The New England Patriots ranked second with 148. Having a premier talent like Campbell directing the defense is a tremendous advantage for every other player on the line.
Roster Battle: The Veteran Linebacker Competition
Linebacker Roster Battle, Trevor Nowaske
As the only other Detroit veteran on the roster, Nowaske could have the inside track. A Canton, MI native, he began his career as an undrafted free agent with Detroit in 2023. After spending his first year on the practice squad and recording a single assisted tackle, he got his first career start in 2024. Nowaske nabbed his first career interception against the Tennessee Titans, appearing in 14 games that season, recording 23 tackles (14 solo), 2.0 sacks, one pass defense, and an interception.
Last year, he appeared in 15 games, posting 22 tackles (nine solo), 1.0 sack, and a fumble recovery. With only two career starts, Nowaske faces stiff competition from free agent veterans Clark and Bachie, as well as rookies Rolder and Hunter. However, his familiarity with the Lions’ playbook and knowledge of the defense will undoubtedly give him an advantage.
Linebacker Roster Battle, Damone Clark
After being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2022, Clark spent four years with the team, posting 205 tackles (122 solo), four PBU’s, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery before being claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans in November of 2025. Clark has 26 career starts with a total of 55 games to his credit. Clark is a savvy veteran with a solid, consistent performance history. His NFL starting experience could give him an edge over Bachie in the veteran competition.
Linebacker Roster Battle, Joe Bachie
Bachie is a 7-year NFL veteran, having previously played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts. In 66 career games, he recorded 77 tackles (33 solo) and two PBUs. Bachie is a former Michigan State Spartan who recorded 285 tackles, 27.5 TFLs, 8.0 sacks, five interceptions, 11 passes broken up, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in the 40 games he played. Although he suffered a knee injury in his first season with the Bengals, he impressed the coaching staff enough to bring him back for two more seasons. Could Bachie’s NFL experience earn him a linebacker roster spot with the Lions?
Roster Battle: Two Talented Rookie Linebackers Provide Strong Competition
If Sheppard is looking for athleticism and impact playmakers, two young rookies could potentially become one of the biggest surprises in training camp.
Linebacker Roster Battle, Erich Hunter
Undrafted free agent Hunter is a graduate of Morgan State. The MEAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2025 started all 12 games and led the conference with 102 total tackles, including 53 solo stops. He also recorded 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, five quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles, and one interception. Hunter also returned a blocked kick 90 yards for a touchdown.
NFL Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein said of Hunter, “His athletic testing was outstanding, and he can compete for a role on special teams, but he’ll need to show he can handle backup linebacker duties to have a chance of sticking on a roster.”
Coming from a smaller HBCU program, Hunter is the unknown player in this linebacker battle. The talent and playmaking ability are there. However, as the underdog in the competition, can he make the necessary adjustments to earn a linebacker spot on the Lions’ roster?
Linebacker Roster Battle, Jimmy Rolder
Rolder, the Lions’ fourth-round 2026 draft pick, could be one of the leading competitors for a linebacker position. During OTAs, Rolder made some head-turning moves, including a pick-six off Teddy Bridgewater. A gifted athlete and Marist High School baseball star who played third base before switching to football, he became a four-star recruit. After receiving multiple football scholarship offers, Rolder committed to Michigan.
Speaking to the media during OTAs, Rolder credited his high school baseball experience with helping him develop his football prowess. “I definitely learned some skills from baseball, maybe like hand-eye coordination first off. I mean, in baseball, you need a lot of that to be successful,” said Rolder. “And you know, it teaches you a lot of mental skills, like a next pitch mentality at the plate, or when you make an error in the field, you gotta flush it and just move on to the next play. I really developed that mindset during football, and it really helped me going forward.”
As a Wolverine, he played on special teams and as a reserve linebacker, earning the Special Teams Freshman of the Year award. Named the starting linebacker in 2025, Rolder went on to have a breakout senior campaign. He led the Michigan defense with 73 tackles, seven TFLs, 2.0 sacks, three PBUs, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
At the 2026 NFL Combine, Rolder had a terrific outing. He placed 3rd in the 3-cone drill, 2nd in the shuttle run, while recording a 36″ broad jump and a 4.27 in the 40-yard dash. 247Sports ranked his performance in the 94.9th percentile.
Rolder’s impressive showing at the Combine earned him accolades from Zierlein. “Few linebackers in this draft finish tackles with the technique and consistency he displays. If you trust the tape and ignore his lack of experience, Rolder profiles as a future inside starting linebacker. “
Rolder has the University of Michigan program pedigree, an outstanding showing at the Combine, and the NFL Draft momentum in his favor. Can he translate those elements to a spot on the Lions roster?
Dan Campbell said he wants to see competition at training camp this season. He expects his players to fight for their place on the Lions roster. However, with these five talented players competing for the linebacker assignment, this is one Lions’ roster battle that’s far from over.
