By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions might be deep into training camp, but things are far from settled—especially in the trenches. While most eyes are on the flashier positions, the real action might be happening on the offensive line, where depth players are throwing haymakers to earn a roster spot.
And with a few key injuries popping up, those punches might be landing.
Injuries Open the Door for the Unexpected
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: injuries. Colby Sorsdal, who the team was counting on to take a big Year 2 leap, was sidelined Saturday. While it’s not clear how long he’ll be out, even missing a few days at this stage is enough to give someone else a shot to shine.
Enter guys like Germain Ifedi and Dan Skipper—veteran names Lions fans are familiar with. But don’t stop there. UDFA rookie Connor Galvin is showing signs of life, and if this continues, we might be talking about him differently in a few weeks.
The Center Situation: Quietly Pivotal
Here’s a name worth remembering: Michael Niese.
With backup center Ross Pierschbacher missing time, Niese has been getting more and more meaningful reps. He might not be on the 53-man radar just yet, but if he can hold his own over the next couple weeks, he could very well earn that swing interior lineman spot—especially given the Lions’ affinity for versatility.
The Bubble Watch Just Got Juicier
We’re getting into that time of year where “bubble watch” articles dominate your feed. And Detroit’s offensive line group has suddenly become one of the more competitive bubbles in camp.
Between Ifedi, Skipper, Galvin, and Niese—not to mention any surprise late-camp pickups—there’s going to be a ton of movement in the coming weeks. Don’t be surprised if this position group becomes one of the last to get settled before roster cuts.
Dan Campbell’s Kind of Fight
This is exactly the type of camp battle that Dan Campbell lives for. It’s gritty, under-the-radar, and full of guys who aren’t afraid to get after it. The “grit” word gets thrown around a lot in Detroit, but these battles—where someone fights for their football life in every rep—are where it really lives.
Keep an eye on the Lions’ offensive line group. It may not be the flashiest storyline at camp, but it just might be the most important one.