Last week, the Detroit Lions released center Seth McLaughlin and running back Jabari Small to open up two spots on their 53-man roster. What they were going to do with these spots was unclear, as head coach Dan Campbell said yesterday that they had a plan, but he wasn't going to share it with anyone. This certainly raised some eyebrows in Detroit.
It didn't take the Lions very long to fill one of these spots after Campbell's remarks. The team officially announced Week 1 roster moves, which included signing veteran linebacker Joe Bachie to the active roster.
Lions announce roster moves:
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 7, 2026
Placed OG Mason Miller on Practice Squad: Injured
Signed LB Joe Bachie to the Active Roster
Signed C Seth McLaughlin and RB Jabari Small to the Practice Squad pic.twitter.com/2rbPLub5fV
Lions sign LB Joe Bachie to the active roster before the season opener
Bachie was considered to be one of the toughest cuts after an impressive training camp. Campbell had spent all summer praising Bachie, which many read as him trending towards making the 53-man roster. Instead, he was signed to the practice squad.
His practice squad stint lasted only a week. The Lions also placed offensive lineman Mason Miller on the practice squad injured reserve list. With the two new spots on the practice squad, Detroit brought back McLaughlin and Small.
The Lions now have a very capable, deep, and experienced linebacker rotation. Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes, and Devin White will be the starters. Malcolm Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske, and Jimmy Rolder will be the backups. Now, Bachie joins that group. With Rolder likely to miss time early in the season as he is recovering from a hamstring injury, Bachie could get some chances.
More importantly, Bachie will be a key special teams contributor. Throughout his six-year career with Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Tennessee, Bachie has been an impactful special teamer. He has played 1,127 special teams snaps over his career and has consistently received above-average grades on Pro Football Focus. Knowing how much Campbell and the Lions value players who can be special teams contributors, Bachie will have a chance to impress.
The Lions now have one more roster spot to fill. They obviously don't have to sign anyone to that spot. In fact, they can just keep it open to cycle through players depending on the team's needs. If they are going to sign anyone, however, they would almost certainly sign someone who is currently on their practice squad.
As much as Lions fans would love to see a splashy free agent signing, that doesn't seem like something Brad Holmes or Dan Campbell are very interested in at this point in the year.
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