Lions get chilling warning ahead of 2026 season

The Detroit Lions have a lot to be excited about this season, and it hasn't even started yet. They just locked in Jahmyr Gibbs with a contract extension that had to be made. That's reason to celebrate. They also have a lot of their stars from last season returning, such as quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

That's all roses. It's a good sign of things to come. But one NFL analyst isn't quite having it.

As the new season approaches, head coach Dan Campbell and the Lions need to get serious about their opportunity. This franchise has never been to the big game. If that's going to change, this is the year to do it.

Dan Campbell and Detroit Lions get warned

Nate Davis of USA Today released his NFL power rankings going into the new season. He actually has the Lions in a good spot on this list. But it's what he says about the team that is a huge red flag and warning.

"The quarterback is healthy. He has an elite suite of weapons at his disposal," Davis noted. "But that defense is just a mess of injuries and turnover at the moment, though Jared Goff and Co. should keep this team in the running − and probably to a better degree than the '25 Bengals or Cowboys."

So, as is often the case with the Lions, the offense is looking solid, but there are questions on defense. Still, Hutchinson had a strong 2025 NFL season, and he should help this defense a lot. He appeared in 17 games and had 36 combined tackles, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one glorious interception, according to NFL research.