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Detroit Lions add new RB, waive WR Lawrence Keys
The Detroit Lions have added running back Raheem Blackshear after Sione Vaki’s recent injury
Lawrence Keys
WR · FA · 26 yrs · exp 2 · Tulane
Status
- Game status
- Inactive
- Injury
- Questionable
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Stories linked to this player — newest first.
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Lions sign RB Raheem Blackshear
The Lions added a running back to the roster while they wait for Jahmyr Gibbs to get on the practice field. The NFL’s daily transaction report shows that they signed Raheem Blackshear after a tryout. Wide receiver Lawrence Keys was waived with an injury designation. Blackshear played 41 games for the Panthers from 2022-2024, but did not see any regular season action last year. He ran 52 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns and saw time as a returner during his years in Carolina. The Lions also worked out running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Hassan Haskins, and Kylin James on Tuesday
injury
Lawrence Keys — Questionable
sleeper-statusPlayer profile →
Sleeper status change for Lawrence Keys (12001). Before: status=Active, injury_status=—. After: status=Active, injury_status=Questionable
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2026 Detroit Lions 53-man roster prediction: Erik’s pre-training camp edition
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been rolling out my annual Detroit Lions training camp preview articles, highlighting the camp battles and questions surrounding each position group. With the series coming to its conclusion, and training camp just days away from starting, now is the ideal time for me to share my perspective on the team’s 90-man roster. While there is still a ton to be settled with this roster over the next month, this 53-man roster projection is how I believe the Lions would enter the regular season if it started tomorrow. As training camp and the preseason progress, I’ll be updating my projection as the Lions get closer to NFL cutdowns on August 30. But for now, here’s how I see the roster ahead of training camp. QB Jared Goff QB Teddy Bridgewater QB Luke Altmyer Training camp preview: Can Luke Altmyer force a QB3 role? Altmyer has a steep hill to climb in order to crack the 53-man roster; he’ll either need to jump Bridgewater on the depth chart or convince coaches to keep a QB3 on a loaded roster where spots are at a premium. For now, I’m staying chalk and sticking with the two expected quarterbacks. RB Jahmyr Gibbs RB Isiah Pacheco RB Sione Vaki RB Jacob Saylors RB Kye Robichaux RB Jabari Small Training camp preview: How RB roles could shift in 2026 Gibbs is expected to expand his RB1 role this season, which opens the door for Pacheco to take on some special teams duties and could result in fewer running backs needed. However, running backs fit a unique role that special teams coordinator Dave Fipp prefers; therefore, I am expecting the Lions to stick with four backs. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown WR Jameson Williams WR Isaac TeSlaa WR Greg Dortch WR Dominic Lovett WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. WR Jackson Meeks WR Tom Kennedy WR Tay Martin WR Lawrence Keys WR Lucky Jackson WR Tarik Black WR Malik Cunningham IR (season-ending): Kendrick Law Training camp preview: WR depth roles up for grabs On the surface, sticking with only five receivers goes a bit against the norm, but when you explore their usage—especially on game days—it lines up more than you might think. After the first four in this section, I have a lot of questions, but I’m not sure the Lions are ready to give up on Lovett just yet, so I went with him as WR5. Can Wilson, Meeks , or Kennedy convince me to keep a sixth? I’m open to the possibility. TE Sam LaPorta TE Brock Wright TE Tyler Conklin TE Miles Kitselman TE Zach Horton TE Thomas Gordon Training camp preview: How many TEs will make the roster? Despite Conklin starting training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list , I am still expecting him to slide into the Lions’ TE3 role. His absence will open the door for Kitselman, and the more time Conklin is out, the more time the rookie has to impress. These circumstances could result in a switch at TE3 or maybe even the Lions considering keeping a TE4. For now, I’m sticking with the most common expectations. OT Blake Miller OT Penei Sewell OT Larry Borom OT Giovanni Manu OT Devin Cochran Training camp preview: Can Blake Miller win the starting RT job? During coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes’ time in Detroit, the Lions have started the season with only three offensive tackles on their roster, except for 2024, when Manu was a rookie whom they were developing. Now entering year three, Manu’s development is at a crossroads: prove you can earn a spot as a reliable offensive lineman, or we’ll take the risk you pass through waivers and will place you on the practice squad. RG Tate Ratledge LG Christian Mahogany C Cade Mays G Ben Bartch G/T Miles Frazier C/G Juice Scruggs C Seth McLaughlin G/T Colby Sorsdal C/G Michael Niese G Melvin Priestly G/T Mason Miller Training camp preview: How quickly will Cade Mays adapt to scheme? The Lions spent the offseason prioritizing upgrading and deepening the interior offensive line. They’ve developed their youth, spent money at center, traded for depth, and sought out a veteran for competi [... truncated ...]
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2026 Detroit Lions 53-man roster prediction: Pre-training camp
We’re just over a week away from the Detroit Lions opening training camp for the 2026 season. With that in mind, I figured now was a good time to give my own perspective on the team’s 90-man roster and what it may look like after the dust of camp and the preseason has settled. Obviously, the outlook of this projection will change over the next month as the players jockey for spots. But here’s how I believe the roster stands before the players take the field. QB Jared Goff QB Teddy Bridgewater QB Luke Altmyer I am not counting out rookie UDFA Luke Altmyer winning a roster spot by the end of training camp, but the much more likely scenario is that he sticks around on the practice squad to continue his development. But if he balls out in the preseason, it could produce an interesting conversation. RB Jahmyr Gibbs RB Isiah Pacheco RB Sione Vaki RB Jacob Saylors RB Kye Robichaux RB Jabari Small Gibbs through Vaki are essentially locks to me. The question is whether Detroit should carry a fourth running back. Generally, they do , and when the Lions chose Saylors over Craig Reynolds last season, I think it was a revelation of how much they value his special teams. TE Sam LaPorta TE Brock Wright TE Tyler Conklin TE Zach Horton TE Thomas Gordon TE Miles Kitselman The Lions have recently only kept three tight ends on their roster, but I do wonder if last year’s depleted depth will make them reconsider in 2026. It’s hard for me to pick between Horton, Gordon, and Kitselman with little observations on each. If Drew Petzing plans on running more 13 personnel in Detroit, the Lions would almost certainly keep a fourth. However, they also invested highly in their wide receiver group, so I’m not convinced 13 personnel is coming to Detroit. Therefore, I’m keeping three tight ends for now. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown WR Jameson Williams WR Isaac TeSlaa WR Greg Dortch WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. WR Dominic Lovett WR Jackson Meeks WR Tom Kennedy WR Tay Martin WR Lawrence Keys WR Lucky Jackson WR Tarik Black WR Malik Cunningham When I made my initial picks for the 53-man roster, I was only at 52 players with Dominic Lovett out. He’s thus far underwhelmed as both a receiver (too many drops) and special teams (just 50 snaps his rookie season). However, Detroit invested in him, and he could see a Year 2 jump. I very much considered Jackson Meeks here, especially considering I went light at tight end, but I still think he is a work in progress at both WR and TE. OT Blake Miller OT Penei Sewell OT Larry Borom OT Giovanni Manu OT Devin Cochran Giovanni Manu was also one of my last players in. Admittedly, he may spend most weeks as an inactive in this role, but I do think Detroit would be willing to give him one more year to develop. After all, Larry Borom is only on a one-year deal. I’m still giving Manu a shot to become the OT3 of the future, even if if the door to a starting offensive tackle job is closed for him. iOL Christian Mahogany iOL Cade Mays iOL Tate Ratledge iOL Ben Bartch iOL Miles Frazier iOL Juice Scruggs i OL Seth McLaughlin iOL Melvin Priestly iOL Michael Niese iOL Mason Miller OL Colby Sorsdal I do like the depth here, and I think the Lions would be wise to keep as many of these players as they can. Barch and Scruggs are two experienced players who provide solide depth. Frazier will not only compete for the starting left guard spot, but he brings tackle versatility and has plenty of potential entering his first training camp (after missing all of last year’s practices). I’m not sure anyone else on the depth chart can realistically challenge for a starting position, but I am admittedly intrigued by Seth McLaughlin . It’s just hard to see him winning the backup center job after Detroit traded for Scruggs. EDGE Aidan Hutchinson EDGE DJ Wonnum EDGE Derrick Moore EDGE Ahmed Hassanein EDGE Payton Turner EDGE Anthony Lucas EDGE Eric O’Neill Three edge defenders sounds like a small amount, and I would have loved to find a place for Ahmed Has [... truncated ...]
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Notable number changes, weight gains listed on Tennessee’s updated roster
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
Tennessee has released its updated 2026 roster, featuring several notable number changes and weight gains for key players. Running back Justin Baker and defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam will both wear No. 2, while wide receiver Radarious Jackson and cornerback Tre Poteat will wear No. 3. Quarterback George MacIntyre gained 15 pounds, and edge rusher Christian Gass added nearly 30 pounds. Tight end DaShaan Brame and running back DeSean Bishop also added significant weight, with Bishop set for a massive role
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Lions sign WR Lawrence Keys
Pro Football TalkSource ↗
The Lions have signed another wide receiver out of the UFL. They announced the addition of Lawrence Keys to their group of wideouts. Wide receiver Kyre Duplessis was waived in a corresponding move. Keys played for the Houston Gamblers during the 2026 UFL season. He was second in the league in all-purpose yards after posting 349 receiving yards, 518 kickoff return yards and 134 punt return yards. Keys spent time with the Bills after going undrafted in 2024. The Lions also signed wideouts Lucky Jackson, Tarik Black and Tay Martin this week, so they’ll have four former UFLers vying for roster spots at training camp this summer
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Lions sign WR Lawrence Keys
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
The Lions have signed another wide receiver out of the UFL. They announced the addition of Lawrence Keys to their group of wideouts. Wide receiver Kyre Duplessis was waived in a corresponding move. Keys played for the Houston Gamblers during the 2026 UFL season. He was second in the league in all-purpose yards after posting 349 receiving yards, 518 kickoff return yards and 134 punt return yards. Keys spent time with the Bills after going undrafted in 2024. The Lions also signed wideouts Lucky Jackson , Tarik Black and Tay Martin this week, so they'll have four former UFLers vying for roster spots at training camp this summer
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Report: Detroit Lions signing 4th UFL receiver in a week
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
The Detroit Lions are adding another wide receiver from the UFL, their fourth signing of this week. According to UFL insider James Larsen, the Lions are adding Lawrence Keys III, former Houston Gambler, to their roster. He fills the roster spot vacant by Detroit’s waiving of receiver Kyre Duplessis on Wednesday night. Keys has been with the Gamblers for the last two seasons, and he broke out in 2026. He finished second in the UFL in all-purpose yards, thanks to his success as a kick and punt returner. He finished the seasons with 518 kick return yards (27.3 average), 134 punt return yards (12.2 average), and 349 receiving yards. Prior to his time in the UFL, Keys had a brief opportunity with the Buffalo Bills after going undrafted out of Tulane in 2024. But after suffering a leg injury in training camp, he was cut. That stint included one preseason appearance where he logged 15 snaps and caught a single pass for 13 yards. In college, Keys originally committed to Notre Dame and spent three years there and received his degree with the Fighting Irish. But after catching just 18 passes in three seasons, he transferred to Tulane. In two seasons there, he managed a total of 59 catches for 858 yards and nine touchdowns. Most recently listed at 5-foot-9, 175 pounds , Keys is certainly of the slot receiver profile that brings some explosiveness in the return game. He reportedly ran a 4.54 at his pro day, but that doesn’t accurately describe his burst on the field. Keys joins the following other UFL signings the Lions made this week: Former Columbu Aviators WR Tay Martin Former Louisville Kings WR Tarik Black Former Louisville Kings WR Lucky Jackson Like the previous three, Keys will have a tough time climbing the depth chart in a competitive wide receiver room. But with the Lions’ returner spots still very much open after losing Kalif Raymond this offseason, Keys may have a leg up, especially since he’s well-versed in the new kickoff style that was established in the UFL several years ago
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UFL 2026 tracker: Which players are coming to the NFL?
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
As the UFL season concludes, several players are transitioning to the NFL. The Green Bay Packers have a history of signing UFL talent, with punter Daniel Whelan and kicker Lukas Havrisik being notable examples. Several other players have received tryouts or contracts with NFL teams, including WR Hakeem Butler (Denver Broncos), LB Tony Fields II (Chicago Bears), CB Sean Fresch Jr. (Denver Broncos), S Major Burns (Miami Dolphins), QB Hunter Dekkers (New Orleans Saints), RB Marcus Yarns (Denver Broncos), RB Kavon Latulas (Denver Broncos), RB Dae Dae Hunter (Denver Broncos), WR Denzel Mims (Dallas Cowboys), WR Tay Martin (Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints), WR Antwane Wells (Atlanta Falcons), WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper (New Orleans Saints), WR Lawrence Keys (Denver Broncos), WR Cam Camper (Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, New York Jets), WR Elijah Cooks (Chicago Bears), and OL Chris Glasier (Dallas Cowboys)
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