NFC North Rival Makes a Move for Former Vikings Linebacker

Over the past several seasons, there hasn’t been an NFC North team that’s been better than the Detroit Lions. Does Dan Campbell’s team get any better after a recent move?

Per EnterSports Management, the Detroit Lions have brought linebacker Troy Reeder to town. The veteran is quite unlikely to work his way into a starting job. Rather, Reeder could snag a spot on the final roster as a depth option who has been around the league and who can help on specials.

NFC North Rival Steals Ex-Vikings LB Out of FA

Leading the charge at linebacker for the Detroit Lions is Jack Campbell, who is a beast. Campbell, quite possibly, is the gold standard for off-ball ‘backer play in the NFL of 2026. The LB1 job is therefore secure in Motown.

What’s less certain is who will chase down runners beside Mr. Campbell.

Gone is Alex Anzalone, who has been a very good player for a very long time. Since 2021, Anzalone was offering his play for the Lions, making life difficult for everybody else in the NFC North as a result. Other options to run alongside Campbell are Joe Bachie, Derrick Barnes, Damone Clark, Erick Hunter, Trevor Nowaske, Malcolm Rodriguez, and Jimmy Rolder. That’s a full house.

And, of course, Troy Reeder.

At 31, Reeder is getting closer to the end of his career than the beginning. He began with the Rams. He overlapped with Kevin O’Connell in LA, winning a Super Bowl together in 2021. That success arrived after Reeder became a Ram with an undrafted contract from 2019.

By no means a small part of the equation, Reeder was mostly a starter in that Super Bowl season. He played in all seventeen games, starting ten. The stats show 91 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, 2 interceptions, and 6 passes defended.

Putting in work with the Rams then led to becoming a Charger. Playing for the other LA team then resulted in a brief stay with the Vikings as he competed for a spot in the 2023 offseason. Failing to stick around as a Viking — that was the dawn of the Brian Flores era — meant going back to play with the Rams, where he has remained since 2023.

Reeder’s career has involved 2,109 snaps on defense and 1,750 snaps on special teams. Most recently, Reeder had 81 snaps on defense and 328 snaps on special teams, offering that workload for the 2025 Rams. Look for a similar arrangement wherever he ends up in 2026.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are sorting through their own transitional phase at linebacker.

LB1 Blake Cashman remains but with questions about how much longer he’ll be employed in Minnesota. Next up are LB2 Eric Wilson and LB3 Jake Golday. The veteran and rookie appear ready to soak up large workloads in the upcoming season. Ivan Pace Jr. would appear to be the LB4, but his job will be challenged by the other depth options (Brevan Bane of PurplePTSD seems to like Keli Lawson).

The Vikings and Lions appear to be at opposite ends of the NFC North. Forced to guess, though, I’d contend that these two teams are the most promising rolling into 2026. Detroit, in particular, appears very likely to bounce back in the upcoming year.

The NFC North teams play each other a pair of times, as per NFL tradition. The first battle will take place in Detroit during Week 8 on November 1st. There will then be the Week 15 game that takes place on December 20th.

Quite possibly, Troy Reeder will see a Lion on his helmet as he tries to make life difficult for his former employer.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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