By Sunday 
When the Detroit Lions picked up Roy Lopez this offseason, it wasn’t exactly front-page news—but it was a move that seemed smart, calculated, and filled with upside. Lopez brought experience, grit, and a workmanlike mentality to a defensive line looking to patch some holes and boost depth after a rough end to last season.
Now? That once-promising depth move is looking more like a longshot story.
Signed With Purpose… Just Not the Kind Fans Expected
The 27-year-old defensive tackle wasn’t just joining Detroit to chase a Super Bowl—though that would’ve been a nice perk. Lopez openly admitted he had plans to transition into coaching, and saw Dan Campbell as an ideal mentor to learn from. Still, he had hopes of earning meaningful snaps on a surging team with questions at interior D-line.
And for a brief moment, that seemed realistic. With Alim McNeill recovering from an ACL tear, DJ Reader not exactly lighting the world on fire in his Detroit debut, and Levi Onwuzurike hitting free agency, there was a sliver of opportunity.
But that sliver has since shrunk. Fast.
Draft Picks, Re-signings, and the Return of the Healthy
The Lions wasted no time doubling down on the trenches in the draft, scooping up Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams, a young, high-motor DT with starter potential. Even with a minor hamstring issue sidelining him at OTAs, Williams is expected to be good to go come training camp.
Then came the return of Levi Onwuzurike, who re-upped with Detroit, bringing back a familiar face who knows the system and coaching staff. And suddenly, the depth Lopez was signed to bolster… wasn’t quite so shallow anymore.
Add in McNeill’s rehab trending positively, and Lopez now finds himself fighting for a job rather than rotating into the mix.
Camp or Bust
Unless something dramatic happens—like a setback with McNeill or Williams—Lopez is now banking on camp magic to earn a spot. It’s not impossible. We’ve seen players go from roster fringe to opening-day starter before. But as it stands, the buzz out of Allen Park is more focused on rookies rising and vets returning, not on under-the-radar signees making waves.
There’s still time. Football careers are built on grit and patience as much as talent. But for Roy Lopez in Detroit, the roar has quieted before it ever got a chance to echo.