​The Detroit Lions boast considerable star power on both sides of the ball. On offense, the club features quarterback Jared Goff, offensive tackle Penei Sewell, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and a talented receiving corps led by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, with tight end Sam LaPorta also playing a key role. On defense, Detroit can lean on one of the league’s premier edge rushers in Aidan Hutchinson and a rising linebacker in Jack Campbell. The Lions also deploy two capable safeties in Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph, though both are returning from injuries and Branch’s 2026 season start date remains uncertain.
All told, Detroit enjoys a strong base of star talent, which helped the Lions earn ESPN’s No. 6 overall roster ranking entering 2026. Yet to move from a solid roster to a true worst-to-first trajectory and rejoin the Super Bowl discussion, the Lions will need more than their well-known stars to contribute consistently. ESPN highlighted a nonstarter to watch in Detroit’s defensive backfield: Christian Izien. If Branch is healthy enough to play, he figures to spend a great deal of time in the slot, a role that could necessitate deploying a third safety on the field. Izien has NFL experience dating back to 2024 with Tampa Bay, where he started 10 games, tallied 75 combined tackles, and posted solid coverage metrics before surrendering his starting job to Tykee Smith last season. The question remains: can Izien carve out an important role for the Lions in 2026?
Branch and Joseph have both faced injury challenges, and with Terrion Arnold no longer on the roster, Detroit’s secondary stands as a major question mark heading into the season. The Lions’ pass defense finished 2025 ranked 20th, allowing an average of 217.4 passing yards per game. Like many newcomers to Detroit’s defensive backfield, Izien will have ample opportunity to become a difference-maker for the Lions in 2026. Throughout his NFL tenure, Izien has accumulated 165 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five passes defended, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions, underscoring his playmaking potential when given a chance to contribute.
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @TheLionsWire and like our Facebook page. You can also follow Josh on X at @JoshOnLions. This article originally appeared on Lions Wire in a piece examining ESPN’s take on Detroit’s nonstarters to know for the 2026 season, a context useful for readers seeking deeper SEO-friendly insights.