It’s been a long offseason — longer than usual for the Detroit Lions after watching the playoffs from home — but training camp is just one week away.Soon, rookies will report, veterans will return and we’ll get an early look at what Dan Campbell’s Lions have cooking for the 2026 season. Jobs will be won and lost over the next six weeks, as the Lions attempt to right the wrongs that led to a NFC North fourth-place finish in 2025. Campbell expects this to be the most competitive training camp the Lions have had in his six years as head coach. He thinks it’s necessary to get this team where it needs to be.So then, which players have the most to lose and gain as the Lions re-emphasize competition?Should Detroit Lions be considered favorites to win NFC North?Robert Mays and Derrik KlassenLose: S Kerby JosephAdmittedly, this one is less about competition and more about availability. The 2025 season was a devastating one for Joseph. He missed extended time in training camp with a knee injury, left several games early in the season, was rested for weeks and suffered several setbacks when attempting to return to action. In total, Joseph missed 11 games last year, and we still don’t have a firm answer on the status of his knee injury.“I honestly do not know,” Campbell said. “I know this, we’ve done everything we can do and he’s done everything he can do to this point. And we are trying to be as smart as we can and not push this until we absolutely have to because once we’ve done that, then we’ll know one way or another and it’s not worth it right now. We’re just slowly building, continuing the strength in there. He’s getting treatment. He’s done some of these different things at different places to try to help. So, I feel good about that. I feel good about that we’ve done everything we can. … I mean honestly, we probably won’t know until we get into the thick of training camp.”Training camp is almost here, and it’s obvious that Joseph is the No. 1 player to watch when things kick off next week. What will his workload look like? Will he be limited? Will he be full-go or will the Lions ease him into things? Will they change their minds and delay his return until closer to the season? How will he look running and cutting? If Joseph looks like himself, the Lions will be getting back a difference-maker, which should alleviate some concerns about the secondary. He’s an All-Pro talent at his best, after all. But if the setbacks persist, it could create an uncomfortable conversation about his future in Detroit.Gain: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.When the Lions released Terrion Arnold, Rakestraw immediately moved up the depth chart and finds himself with a real shot at playing time, in ways he didn’t previously. Rakestraw is just two years removed from a stellar training camp as a rookie playing nickel. He was sticky in coverage, made plays on the ball and his physicality was on full display. Those were the traits that made him a second-round pick in 2024, one round after Arnold was selected. Rakestraw told reporters at the end of the season that the coaching staff was ready to start him in Week 2 vs. the Bucs, but he suffered an injury in pregame warm-ups. It’s been the story of his career since.Rakestraw missed the entire 2025 season after he underwent shoulder surgery. He’s back in action now, a bit bulkier than we last saw him, and earned some reps with the first-team defense during minicamp. Right now, Rock Ya-Sin feels like the next man up to replace Arnold, but Rakestraw will have every opportunity to earn the trust of the staff if he can manage to stay healthy. Emphasis on “if.”Lose: LG Christian MahoganyThere was plenty of optimism about Mahogany entering the starting lineup around this time last year. He filled in admirably in a couple spot-starts as a rookie, while missing his first NFL training camp with mononucleosis. The Lions needed to save money, and having a sixth-round guard with upside on a rookie contract made all the sense in the world. But last year, Mahogany looked like just that — a sixth-round guard with upside. He struggled in pass protection, spent time on injured reserve and probably wants nothing more than to put last season behind. However, unlike last season, the Lions now have competition at the position. The Lions signed veteran Ben Bartch, a player with 24 career starts. They have 2025 fifth-round pick Miles Frazier entering his second season. And while Juice Scruggs is better at center, he has guard experience. Given how much Campbell has preached competition, you have to think Mahogany won’t be handed the job.That said, Mahogany should benefit from Drew Petzing’s system and playing next to players like Cade Mays and Penei Sewell this year vs. Graham Glasgow and an injured Taylor Decker last year. This is his job to lose.The Lions selected Derrick Moore with the 44th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. How quickly will he find his way into the lineup? (Junfu Han / Imagn Images)Gain: Edge Derrick Moore and LB Jimmy RolderWe’ll group the Michigan rookies together for this one. Neither had to travel far to get to Detroit, and they might not have to wait long to see the field, either.Let’s start with Moore. The Lions surprised some folks around the league when they selected Moore over players like Zion Young, Gabe Jacas and other edge rushers after trading up in the second round, but those who know this organization saw the fit. Moore was a captain at Michigan, won a national title, recorded 10 sacks and a pass-rush win rate of 20.5 percent — top 10 in the country — and can set an edge in the run game. The Lions signed D.J. Wonnum and believe he can benefit from playing opposite of an edge like Aidan Hutchinson, but Moore is the long-term play. When the pads go on, we’ll see how ready he is for the league.Then there’s Rolder. The Lions let Alex Anzalone walk in free agency and re-signed Malcolm Rodriguez, who has the inside track at the position right now. But defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and LBs coach Shaun Dion Hamilton aren’t afraid to play rookies. Rolder only has 11 career starts under his belt and he’s a bit slow to process in coverage, which might impact his playing time early. That said, Rolder displayed natural instincts and is a good athlete for his size. He impressed in OTAs and minicamp and seems to be a quick study. If he can pick up where he left off, he could make this a battle to watch.Lose: RB Isiah PachecoWhen the Lions traded David Montgomery and signed Pacheco, most assumed the Lions had their 1-2 punch. Pacheco, when healthy, can do much of the dirty work for this offense as a physical runner and short-yardage option who can be a plus in pass pro. That said, he’ll need to prove his best days aren’t already behind him.Per Warren Sharp, among RBs with at least 100 rush attempts last season, Pacheco ranked 46th in explosive run rate (3.4 percent), 47th in longest rush (16 yds on 118 attempts), 47th in success rate (29.7 percent) and 38th in YPC (3.9) despite facing the NFL’s highest rate of light boxes and lowest rate of seven- and eight-plus box defenders. It’s fair to wonder if Pacheco is still the same player he once was — even if the Lions don’t necessarily need him to be.Now, Pacheco likely won’t have to lose sleep in training camp. There’s a role for him in this offense. But Sione Vaki was quietly putting together an excellent training camp last year when healthy. By all accounts, the hamstring isn’t an issue. He was available for OTAs and minicamp and should be next week as well. He’s a natural pass catcher, but if Vaki continues to develop, the opportunity is there for him to cut into Pacheco’s touches.