By Blessing 
There was a quiet, meaningful moment after Friday’s practice when Detroit Lions defensive tackle Roy Lopez paused on his way to the locker room. As the field slowly cleared of coaches and players, he stood still, taking it all in — visibly moved by the experience of being part of something special.
Now entering his fifth NFL season, Lopez joined the Lions this offseason after spending the past two years with the Arizona Cardinals. For him, that brief moment wasn’t just about reflection. It was about deep appreciation — for being in an environment that’s fully committed to winning and doing things the right way.
“(Nobody’s) not beating around the bush,” Lopez said, describing his early impressions of Detroit. “Everybody knows the goal. Everybody’s got a vision, bro. Everybody’s got such a high standard, expectation for themselves first, the group, the team.”
He went on to say how grateful he feels to be surrounded by people with a shared drive. “It’s a blessing to be a part of,” he continued, “because it’s just being able to see that and then take it throughout my career going forward—and then, hopefully, to coach one day and take that going forward. Learning from the coaches here in this building, the players in this building, the routines and habits created. It’s awesome.”
Lopez, now 27, began his NFL journey with the Houston Texans, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Across five years in the league, he’s already experienced a lot — playing under various coaching styles and team cultures. His path has taken him through multiple levels: two high schools, two colleges (New Mexico State and Arizona), and now his third NFL team.
Despite all those stops, Lopez feels there’s something truly different about Detroit. He’s savoring the energy in the building and the connection among the players.
“It’s fun to be in this building and just see guys like (Aidan) Hutchinson, (Jared) Goff, and Jahmyr (Gibbs),” Lopez said. “This roster’s insane. But it’s so cool to see their different personalities, habits, and the culture they’ve created among each other. How much time they spend together—laughing, joking—but also, on the grass, it’s so competitive. It’s awesome.”
Recently, Lopez has missed a few practices. According to head coach Dan Campbell, he was stepped on during a session, and the cleat twisted on top of his foot. While no specific return date has been announced, Lopez shared with MLive that the injury isn’t serious and he’s doing fine.