Detroit Lions announce 2026 preseason opponents
· Yahoo Sports
In addition to its full 2026 NFL regular-season slate, the Detroit Lions also announced their three preseason foes on Thursday.
Visit grenadier.co.za for more information.
The Lions will travel to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the preseason, host the Washington Commanders in the next week and then head to the Indianapolis Colts for the final week of the preseason.
Our preseason opponents are set! pic.twitter.com/467U7hvmn0
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) May 14, 2026
Detroit Lions' 2026 preseason
- Week 1 (preseason): at Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 2 (preseason): vs. Washington Commanders
- Week 3 (preseason): at Indianapolis Colts
With the Lions having nixed joint practices heading into the 2026 season, the door is open for Detroit starters to play more in the 2026 preseason.
"I felt like we got two really good years of it. Like, man, we're really getting something out of this. Then, as it kind of went on, we got into that third year, whatever it was, '24, I don't know, it just felt counterproductive. It didn't feel like we were getting what I thought we would get out of it," Campbell said of eliminating joint practices in 2026.
While Campbell didn't fully commit to the idea of playing starters more in the preseason, he indicated in March that it could be a possibility.
"Maybe we play some of these guys more than we have," Campbell said.
Here's a look at the Lions' full 2026 NFL regular-season schedule:
Detroit Lions' 2026 regular-season schedule
- Week 1: Lions vs. Saints; Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX
- Week 2: Lions at Bills; Thursday, Sept. 17 at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video
- Week 3: Lions vs. Jets; Sunday, Sept. 27 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX
- Week 4: Lions at Panthers; Sunday, Oct. 4 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
- Week 5: Lions at Cardinals; Sunday, Oct. 11 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
- Week 6: BYE WEEK
- Week 7: Lions vs. Packers; Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
- Week 8: Lions vs. Vikings; Sunday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX
- Week 9: Lions at Dolphins; Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX
- Week 10: Lions vs. Patriots; Sunday, Nov. 15 at 9:30 a.m. ET on FOX**
- Week 11: Lions vs. Bucs; Sunday Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS
- Week 12: Lions vs. Bears; Thursday, Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS***
- Week 13: Lions at Falcons; Sunday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS
- Week 14: Lions vs. Titans; Sunday, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. ET on FOX
- Week 15: Lions at Vikings; Sunday, Dec. 20 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC
- Week 16: Lions vs. Giants; Monday, Dec. 28 at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Week 17: Lions at Bears; Sunday, Jan. 3 at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
- Week 18: Lions at Packers; TBD
- **Munich Game from Allianz Arena in Germany
- ***Thanksgiving Day game
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions announce 2026 preseason opponents