Wednesday marks the start of OTAs for the Detroit Lions — a nine-practice period for Dan Campbell and company to assess what they have entering an important 2026 season.If their schedule release was any indication, it’ll be all business for the Lions this year. Don’t expect much Super Bowl talk or a team riding the high of its past success. This team is better off putting its head down and going to work. If that’s the vibe we sense as OTAs unfold, it could go a long way toward setting the tone for a bounce-back season.Until then, let’s take a look at key storylines to watch.Taking attendanceOTAs aren’t mandatory, so you’ll always see some absences — especially from veterans. Sometimes, we learn about offseason surgeries or injuries that weren’t previously reported. Sometimes, vets simply don’t show up until minicamp. It’s not the end of the world, but for this Lions team entering 2026, you’d hope at least that key offensive players will be involved.The Lions have a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing, and while they’re expected to keep the core elements that have made this a revered unit intact, Petzing will undoubtedly have his own terminology and concepts to install. They have a defense that could be undergoing changes, Campbell implied at the owners meetings. And considering the sour taste left after last season, seeing as many vets as possible in attendance could be an indicator of this group’s mentality in 2026. The more the merrier.Petzing in actionSpeaking of Petzing, this will be our first look at Campbell’s new coaching staff in action.Everything you hear about Petzing is that he’s a smart, detail-oriented coach and an excellent teacher. That’s what OTAs are all about — teaching. It should be a look at Petzing in his element, as the Lions look to bounce back from a 9-8 season that saw their offense’s efficiency regress. As OTAs unfold, we’ll hear from plenty of players and will be able to assess their early thoughts on Petzing. And while you don’t expect anyone to come out and say they dislike the guy, some of the words used to describe him will be telling. John Morton was described a year ago as an experienced grinder — glowing words on the surface — but that only got this offense so far. When asked about Petzing throughout the offseason, Campbell kept pointing to his attention to detail and ability to teach, and how that was important for this hire. We’ll see if players agree with those sentiments.In addition to Petzing, the Lions added Mike Kafka from the New York Giants and promoted Steve Oliver from assistant offensive line coach to tight ends coach. Between the three new offensive coaches, the Lions hope they have the right mix of new ideas and fresh blood.First look at the rookiesThe Lions are the only team in the NFL to skip rookie minicamp this year. It was the product of an internal review and how the organization could make better use of its offseason time. It was a bit of a surprising decision, and it’ll be interesting to hear from Campbell about how the Lions spent the time instead.As for the rookie class, this will be our first chance to see them in a practice-like setting. We can at least get an idea of what we’re working with, even though players won’t be in full pads. Will Blake Miller be an immediate starter at right tackle, or check in with the second-team offense with Larry Borom starting? The expectation is that D.J. Wonnum will work with the first-team defense, but how much run will Derrick Moore get? How quickly might Jimmy Rolder work himself into the rotation? With the nickel position wide open, will Keith Abney II be able to showcase his skills and impress the coaching staff?First impressions go a long way.Status of injured playersYou can’t talk about the Lions without talking about injuries. Yet again, they have a few notable ones.Safety Kerby Joseph: Eventually, we’ll need an update on him. The Lions have been mum about a knee injury that forced him to miss 11 games last season. How is he progressing? Is he able to practice in ways he wasn’t last year, after suffering several setbacks along the way before the Lions shut him down? If he does practice, will he look like himself? The Lions say Joseph is in good spirits, and considering the season is still months away, it could be better to ease Joseph back into action rather than letting him test out the knee in May. They’re going to need a healthy Joseph in 2026.After two very productive seasons to begin his NFL career, totaling 17 TD receptions, Sam LaPorta was limited to just nine games last season after injuring his back. (Lon Horwedel / Imagn Images)Tight end Sam LaPorta: LaPorta suffered a herniated disk last year that required surgery and ended his season in Week 10. It was unfortunate timing. The offense never looked the same without LaPorta, shifting to a heavier usage of 11 personnel in his absence. LaPorta is one of the most important offensive players on this team. When he was on the field last year, Jared Goff led the league in EPA per dropback. LaPorta is a quarterback’s dream, offering a reliable target over the middle of the field who was among the league leaders in YAC among tight ends before his injury. The Lions have hinted at taking things slow with LaPorta, so we might not see him, but we’ll be able to ask Campbell how he’s doing and where he’s at in his recovery.Safety Brian Branch: Branch certainly won’t be available for OTAs, but since Campbell hasn’t spoken to local media since late March, this will be a good time for an update. How is he progressing from a torn Achilles suffered in Week 14 last season? Is there a ballpark timeline on his return?Extension talksJack Campbell, perhaps to the surprise of some, was the first of Detroit’s stellar 2023 NFL Draft class to earn a contract extension. A Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro, Campbell is coming off the best season of his career — cementing his status as one of the league’s best linebackers after the Lions selected him 18th in 2023. After three seasons of steady improvement, the Lions rewarded one of their own, making Campbell the second-highest-paid off-ball linebacker. His new deal will run through the 2030 season, keeping Campbell in Detroit for the next five years. Hats off to the Lions and Campbell for getting this one done and avoiding a Tyler Linderbaum-like situation.Who’s next?The Lions have three other extension-eligible candidates from the 2023 draft: Jahmyr Gibbs, LaPorta and Branch. Of those, you’d have to think Gibbs is next. The Lions have made it clear that Gibbs is here to stay. They already picked up his fifth-year option and they’ll have no problem making him one of the league’s highest-paid running backs, viewing him as more of an offensive weapon. At this point, a Gibbs extension feels like it could get done sooner rather than later, as the Lions are likely monitoring Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta Falcons. Robinson, selected four spots above Gibbs in the draft, is also extension-eligible and could reset the RB market. Given how the Lions have operated in the past with extensions, you have to think they’ll look to secure a deal with Gibbs before the Falcons and Robinson.After that, though, things aren’t as cut and dry. LaPorta has the look of a franchise pillar, but he’s coming off back surgery. It’s possible the two sides just wait for now, and maybe aim for a midseason extension. The Lions did this with Alim McNeill in 2024. Maybe the Lions can work out a deal that benefits both parties and protects the team from some of the uncertainties that can come with back injuries. I tend to think the Lions and LaPorta will get something done before the start of the season.As for Branch, out of these four, he seems like the least likely to be extended this summer — but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. The Lions love Branch, but the timing of his Achilles injury complicates extension talks. We might not see him until October or later, so it makes sense for the team to let things play out.Regardless, we’ll hear from at least Gibbs and Campbell as OTAs unfold.