Lions place DE Payton Turner on IR, ending his first season in Detroit
Detroit defensive end Payton Turner, the former first-round pick of the Saints who signed with the Lions this offseason, was placed on injured reserve, ending his 2026 campaign.
The Detroit Lions' bet on a former first-round talent is over before it really began. Defensive end Payton Turner, the ex-New Orleans first-round pick who signed with Detroit this offseason, has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team.
Turner arrived in Detroit looking for a fresh start after a injury-marred run with the Saints that never matched his draft pedigree, and the Lions were counting on his upside along the defensive front.
Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate): #Lions DE Payton Turner, the former 1st-round pick of the #Saints who signed this offseason, was placed on IR, ending his season in Detroit.
Losing Turner thins a Lions edge group that was already managing depth. For a player taken in the first round by New Orleans in 2021, the IR designation is another frustrating chapter in a career that has yet to deliver on its draft-day promise.