Detroit Lions running back and returner Jacob Saylors suffered an apparent injury after a run against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter of their first NFL preseason game at Paycor Stadium.
Saylors limped off after a 27-yard run. He was tackled by the Bengals’ Ceyair Wright.
“Looks like a lower leg (injury),” TV play-by-play announcer Mike Watts said during the broadcast. “Struggling to put weight on it after that 27-yard pickup.”
Saylors led the Lions and ranked ninth in the NFL with 897 kickoff return yards in 2025.
Earlier in the game, Lions defensive back Ennis Rakestraw Jr. suffered an apparent arm injury and left the game.
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Optimistic Bengals fans are ready to start another season that will hopefully take the team to the Super Bowl. The season started Aug. 13, 2026 with a preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Fans showed their support for the team with great tailgating parties in the lots around Paycor Stadium. Jenna Patton, Allya Wakefield, Ron and Holly Parron, and Mark and Diana Mills.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Optimistic Bengals fans are ready to start another season that will hopefully take the team to the Super Bowl. The season started Aug. 13, 2026 with a preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Fans showed their support for the team with great tailgating parties in the lots around Paycor Stadium. Jenna Patton, Allya Wakefield, Ron and Holly Parron, and Mark and Diana Mills.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Big John poses with the newest member of the Bengal Bomb Squad, Ryder the Pit Bull.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
The perfect burger, grilled up by Stuart Burton.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Tayla Flowers, Madison V., Pati Velen, Melony Rickey, Tina and Mike Ramey.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Tery Wallace, Amy Miles, Marc and Joni Roden, Mike Bacon, Little Mike Roden and Rick Beare.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Steve Nagel, Jack Burnside and Jeff Nagel in Lot E.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Bengals season ticket holders move across Lot E and head to the next tailgating party.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Jasimine and Olivia Griffin in Lot E. Olivia is 3-years-old and attending her first Bengal game.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Sandi Thomas and Tricia Foster In Lot E.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
The Natale-Stewart Family from Toronto, Canada: Tara, Bella and David.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Bengal Jim, preparing for another great year of “Before The Roar Tailgating Experience” in Lot E.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Marquis Fuchs, Samuel Burkhart and Calvin Hall III.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Ryan Hampton, Denise Hampton and The Kilt Guy
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
The Kilt Guy shows off how he decorated his beard.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Maxwell Maislin, Blake ‘444’ Maislin Tom Dall and Brad Braun in Lot B.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
The Clark Group in Lot B.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Ready for another epic year of tailgating in Hilltop Lot, The Bengal Bomb Squad.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Diane Baer, Denise Zumvorde, Aileen Wright, Barb Menke, Karyn Roll and Valerie Carr.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Judy Mitchell, Casey Schneider, Kelly Patrick and Christy Boehm Franz.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
The Sacks & Snacks Group in Lot A.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
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Bengals fans came out for preseason opener | Check out the tailgate
Optimistic Bengals fans are ready to start another season that will hopefully take the team to the Super Bowl. The season started Aug. 13, 2026 with a preseason game against the Detroit Lions. Fans showed their support for the team with great tailgating parties in the lots around Paycor Stadium.
(Joe Simon for The Enquirer)
Earlier in the week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said center Cade Mays suffered a wrist injury that would sideline him for a significant amount of time.
Campbell also said backup running back Isiah Pacheco is dealing with an MCL sprain, but is expected back for Week 1 of the regular season.
Safety Kerby Joseph (knee) and cornerback Brian Branch (achilles) are on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but are expected back for Week 1.
Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors (25) practices during mini camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jacob Saylors, Lions RB, injured in preseason game vs Bengals
