The Detroit Lions currently have nine former UFL players on their roster, including three who used to play for the Michigan Panthers.
If the Michigan Panthersend up leaving Detroit next season, they'll still likely have an imprint on the Detroit Lions.
When the Lions faced off against the Miami Dolphins in a preseason matchup on Saturday, Aug. 16, they featured nine players who have appeared in the United Football League in the past two seasons, by far the most of any other NFL team (the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets each finished second with six UFL players on their roster over the weekend).
Three of those players come from the hometown Panthers, and at least one of them should stick around for the long term.
Here's a quick peak at the Lions' UFL representation, and which former UFLers the Lions could lean on for the 2025 season:
K Jake Bates (Panthers, 2024)
By far the most secure former UFLer on the Lions is Jake Bates, who kicked so well for the Panthers in the summer of 2024 that the Lions gave him a shot immediately after the 2024 UFL season ended.
Bates then kicked so well for the Lions that Detroit signed him to a two-year deal and made him their starting kicker for the 2024 season. He made 26 of 29 field goals attempted last season, including 6 of 8 from 50+ yards, and led the league in extra-points made (64) for a record-setting 15-2 Lions squad.
Oh, he also set the Lions single-season points record.
Bates is so locked into his position that the Lions don't even roster another kicker at the moment. Which means that no matter what happens to the rest of the former UFLers on the roster, there will likely be at least one Michigan Panther continuing his career at Ford Field in 2025.
CB D.J. Miller Jr. (Panthers, 2025)
D.J. Miller Jr., who played his college career at Iowa State from 2019-21 and at Kent State from 2022-23, was a standout cornerback for the Panthers in 2025, intercepting two passes and breaking up nine more in 10 regular season games.
The Lions signed Miller on Aug. 4, and though he has an upward battle towards making the team, he still has his shot entering the Lions' final preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 23.
TE Gunnar Oakes (Panthers, 2024-25)
TOUCHDOWN Gunnar Oakes!! 🙌
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) April 26, 2025
📺: ESPN | @Verizonpic.twitter.com/K7UNi1kdkJ
The former Eastern Michigan tight end was named to the All-UFL team in 2025, his second season with the Panthers after Michigan selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 draft.
Like Miller, Oakes might have a difficult time making the roster. But with starting tight end Sam LaPorta missing time with an injury, the Lions could be looking for more depth at the position.
Other former UFL players on the Detroit Lions
The Lions feature six other former UFLers not affiliated with the Panthers:
- G Gunner Britton (DC Defenders).
- RB Deon Jackson (DC Defenders).
- RB Jacob Saylors (St. Louis Battlehawks).
- TE Steven Stilianos (San Antono Brahmas).
- G Keaton Sutherland (Birmingham Stallions).
- CB Nick Whiteside II (St. Louis Battlehawks).
Sutherland was recently placed on injured reserve after suffering an injury during a joint practice with the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Saylors was the leading rusher for the Lions against the Dolphins, picking up 39 yards on 13 carries, while Jackson picked up 20 yards on four carries. Whiteside also recorded four tackles against the Dolphins.
Other Michigan Panthers in the NFL
Those three aren't the only Panthers currently on NFL rosters.
The Cleveland Browns have wide receiver Kaden Davis and running back Toa Taua both on the roster, two of their six former UFLers. The New England Patriots have linebacker R.J. Moten on the roster, while the San Francisco 49ers feature wide receiver Malik Turner and the Los Angeles Chargers have offensive lineman Ryan Nelson.
Rockford, Michigan native and former Michigan State standout Kenny Willekes, who played for the Panthers from 2024-25, just signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And most notably, reigning UFL MVP Bryce Perkins, starting quarterback for the Panthers in 2025, signed an NFL contract on Sunday, Aug. 17 with — who else? — the Carolina Panthers.
You can reach Christian at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Here are the former Michigan Panthers trying to become Detroit Lions
Category: Football
