Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Lions Unveil 2026 Preseason Schedule, Drop Joint Practices

5/19/2026

23 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Lions Release Schedule

The Detroit Lions released their 2026 preseason schedule, opening Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Lions will host the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on Aug. 22 at noon.
The Lions will play the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
Head coach Dan Campbell said the team will drop joint practices as counterproductive.
Campbell added veterans may see more preseason snaps, with a mandatory June minicamp before training camp.

Summary

Wood Secures Munich

Lions president Rod Wood secured a game at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Nov. 15, citing German marketing rights and Amon-Ra St. Brown’s heritage.
The Nov. 15 contest forces an 8.5-hour flight back to Detroit and a six-hour shift.
Detroit hosts Tampa Bay on Nov. 22 and Chicago on Nov. 26, playing three games in 12 days.
Wood obtained a 10-day post-Thanksgiving break and a Week 6 bye in October, but no bye after Munich.

Summary

Lions Favored

Vegas sportsbooks list the Lions as favorites in 14 of 17 games on the 2026 schedule and as heavy favorites against the Saints, Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins and Titans.
The Lions are underdogs in Week 2 at Buffalo, Week 12 Thanksgiving vs. the Bears, and Week 18 at Green Bay, with commentators noting they have not beaten Buffalo in twenty years, making Week 2 a hurdle.
Analysts cite the Week 10-12 stretch—Patriots, Buccaneers, Bears—as pivotal.

History

Historical Context

The NFL’s International Series, launched in 2007, moved beyond the UK when it held its first regular-season game in Germany on 13 November 2022 at Munich’s Allianz Arena, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Seattle Seahawks before 69,811 fans. A 2026 contest between the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots is also scheduled there, highlighting the league’s European expansion.

1 of 4

Lions Release Schedule

The Detroit Lions released their 2026 preseason schedule, opening Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Lions will host the Washington Commanders at Ford Field on Aug. 22 at noon.
The Lions will play the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
Head coach Dan Campbell said the team will drop joint practices as counterproductive.
Campbell added veterans may see more preseason snaps, with a mandatory June minicamp before training camp.

1 / 4