The 2025 NFL regular season is almost here now that the Detroit Lions are finished with the preseason. Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline will give fans clarity about how head coach Dan Campbell's squad will look this fall, and it is also the last important date before the Lions open the campaign on the road against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1.
The Lions' preseason was a mixture of positive and negative performances, with some players impressing Campbell & Co. while others struggled to look like NFL players. One standout performer didn't waste any time winning over the Motor City despite only arriving in town a few short months ago.
UDFA Lions Rookie WR Jackson Meeks Is a Smashing Success in Detroit
The Lions added a handful of talented rookies through the 2025 NFL draft; however, they also signed a few undrafted studs when the even concluded. Former Syracuse wide receiver Jackson Meeks was one of those players, having signed with Detroit in early May following a 2024 campaign that saw him amass 78 catches for 1,021 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games with the Orange.
Cracking a 53-man roster isn't easy for a rookie, let alone an undrafted one, but Meeks has proven to be an exception to the rule. The Phenix City, AL native has shown great chemistry with the Lions' quarterback room throughout the preseason, and his stellar play has made him a legitimate candidate to be added to QB Jared Goff's arsenal.
Meeks finishes the Lions' preseason slate as the team's leader in receptions (11), receiving yards (176), and yards after catch (63) in four contests. His two touchdown grabs only trail that of fellow rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa (3), while his 14 targets were tied with Dominic Lovett for the lead in Detroit. Meeks' 68-yard TD against the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 8 further showed what he's capable of on an NFL field.
JACKSON MEEKS FOR 68#DETvsATL | 📺 Lions TV Network pic.twitter.com/HOUol2Y0HW
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 9, 2025
On top of that, Meeks recorded Pro Football Focus grades of 82.0 and 85.8 for receiving and offense, respectively.
It's going to be interesting to see if the UDFA rookie's preseason performance was good enough to earn him a 53-man roster spot. TeSlaa, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, and Kalif Raymond are all ahead of him on the depth chart.
That means the Lions are likely weighing whether they should give the WR6 job to Lovett or Meeks, who outperformed the former across the board in August. Considering how teams will likely line up quickly to sign the ex-Orange playmaker should he be cut on Tuesday, that's a risk Detroit might not want to take — especially if his exhibition success can translate into regular-season results.
After performing as one of the NFL's best wideouts this month, one thing is clear: Meeks deserves to be on the Lions' roster this season.