Twentyman: Five Detroit Lions Standouts Through First Five Games
The Detroit Lions will head into their Week 6 bye with a 3-2 record. Senior writer Tim Twentyman examined Detroit’s first five games and identified five players who have impressed in the early portion of the 2026 season. The list highlights quarterback Jared Goff, interior lineman Alim McNeill, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, edge rusher DJ Wonnum and tight end Sam LaPorta.
Quarterback Jared Goff has produced one of the strongest starts of his career and ranks among the league leaders in key passing categories. Twentyman noted that Goff and Russell Wilson (2019) are the only players in NFL history to start a season with at least 12 touchdown passes and no interceptions through the first five games. Goff threw three touchdown passes and ran for another in Detroit’s 45-21 Week 5 win over Arizona, extended his streak to 28 consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass and leads the NFL in passing yards with 1,485 while ranking second in touchdown passes (12) and third in passer rating (111.3).
Alim McNeill has returned from the ACL injury he sustained late in the 2024 season and said he feels explosive again, Twentyman wrote. Pro Football Focus grades McNeill among the top 10 defensive linemen, and he leads all interior defenders with 23 total pressures through the first five games. He has added 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits and four tackles for loss, providing a disruptive presence in the middle of Detroit’s defensive front.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been a versatile offensive weapon, combining rushing and receiving production at a historic rate through five games. He has 504 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns while also adding 243 receiving yards and two receiving scores, giving him at least 740 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns through five games. Twentyman noted that Gibbs joins an exclusive list of players with that pace to start a season and that Gibbs recently passed Barry Sanders for the most career touchdowns by a player before turning 25 with 58, making him an early favorite for Offensive Player of the Year.
Edge rusher DJ Wonnum has provided consistent pressure opposite Aidan Hutchinson and has recorded a sack in three straight games. He produced two sacks in Week 5 at Arizona and leads the Lions with 5.0 sacks on the season, including two multi-sack performances. Wonnum also has seven quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, a pass defended and a fumble recovery, establishing himself as a reliable playmaker on the edge.
Tight end Sam LaPorta continues to grow into a primary receiving option for Goff and is on pace to surpass his rookie numbers. LaPorta’s 27 receptions and 316 receiving yards are the most by a Lions tight end through the first five games of any season, and his three touchdowns are tied for the most. Twentyman highlighted several critical catches LaPorta made in the Week 5 victory in Arizona, and Goff called him the catalyst who changed the landscape of that game with key conversions and a touchdown.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Detroit’s early-season momentum rests on a combination of elite quarterback play, a versatile running game and an increasingly productive pass rush. Jared Goff’s turnover-free start and top-tier passing numbers have provided a foundation, while Jahmyr Gibbs’ dual-threat production has created consistent scoring opportunities. On defense, McNeill’s interior pressure and Wonnum’s emergence on the edge have given the Lions better pass-rush balance, and LaPorta’s reliability as a chain-mover and red-zone target has strengthened the offense in critical moments. If those trends continue after the bye, Detroit will be well positioned to make a sustained push into the second half of the season.