Lions News: Analyst says 18-game NFL season seems inevitable

One analyst maps out how the NFL could add an additional game to the regular season.

It may not be this year, it may not be next year, but some are saying an 18-game regular season is on the horizon.

Per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the increase wasn’t necessarily talked about during the NFL’s annual league meetings last week, but it didn’t really need to be.

“As one source pointed out in the lobby of the famed Breakers hotel in Palm Beach, the idea of an 18th game was treated like ‘a fait accompli’ even though it must be collectively bargained with the NFL Players Association,” he writes. “It seems so certain there’s almost no consternation among NFL team owners about even when it will take place, as several sources have believed it wouldn’t be instituted until the 2027 season at the earliest.”

Jones explains logistically, the easiest way to schedule an 18-game season would be to cancel one of the current three preseason games and start the regular season Labor Day weekend. He also suggests teams could get a second bye week and the Super Bowl could be aligned with Presidents Day weekend. Dates have been scheduled for the next two Super Bowls, but not Super Bowl LXII in 2028.

As mentioned, the NFLPA would have to agree to the expanded regular season, which has argued for shorter offseason programs for years.

“An entirely revamped offseason schedule is possible,” Jones writes. “Training camp could start earlier in July and include a longer ramp-up time. That would eat into the summer breaks for players’ families, which has had many question why players would want such a schedule.”

While an additional game per season may mean more profits for owners, one of the biggest arguments against it, of course, is player health and safety. Jones has many more thoughts on that subject along with several others involving an 18-game regular season, you can find the full article here.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• One of the newest Detroit Lions D.J. Reed is hosting his first football camp on May 3, details below.

• Jamo doing Jamo things and supporting other Detroit sports.

• “Overall, it’s always about best available player.” Detroitlions.com’s Tim Twentyman starting off the week a post-free agency mock.

• Who would’ve thought?

• “There would be a lot about Detroit that scares me, but it’s not the players.” The Athletic asked NFL execs for unfiltered thoughts on the biggest and most interesting moves NFC teams made.

• Fantastic piece from Bridge Detroit on Jill Costanza , the Lions director of sports science and assistant strength and conditioning coach.