Former Alabama receiver will miss rookie NFL season after knee injury

The Detroit Lions received disappointing news on Thursday as head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that rookie wide receiver Kendrick Law will miss the entirety of the 2026 NFL season due to a significant knee injury.

A Tough Break for the Rookie

According to Campbell, Law sustained a torn ACL during a non-contact drill in Tuesday's practice. While the injury is a harsh setback for the first-year player, the Lions coach expressed optimism for Law's long-term future, noting that the young receiver had been performing well prior to the incident.

Path to the NFL

Detroit selected Law in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 168th overall pick on April 25. He signed a four-year contract valued at $4.83 million, which includes a guaranteed $450,136 signing bonus.

Law made his jump to the pros following a 2025 campaign at Kentucky, where he tallied 53 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns. Prior to his time in Lexington, he spent three seasons playing for Alabama, recording 33 catches for 343 yards and a score.

Moving Forward

The Lions are currently wrapping up their second week of OTAs. While these Phase 3 organized team activities allow for 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills, they are strictly non-contact. The team has two weeks of scheduled work left before entering the summer break ahead of training camp.

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