When is the best time for the Detroit Lions’ bye week?

Detroit Lions fans tailgate outside of the Ford Field in downtown Detroit, Sunday, October 8, 2017. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The 2026 NFL schedule release is less than a week away. On Thursday, May 14, the NFL will release the 17-game schedule for all teams, which is really the final offseason event before the countdown to training camp begins (aside from OTAs and minicamp).

For the Detroit Lions, one of the more fascinating parts of the schedule release is identifying where their bye week. For a team that has had as many injuries as they’ve suffered over the past few seasons, the timing of the bye week could be crucial for Detroit to get to full health at the most important times. Additionally, the bye week placement can be helpful for resetting expectations or for spending some extra time fixing a clear problem.

So today’s Question of the Day is: When is the perfect time for the bye week? My answer: Well, my personal preference would be for the Lions to get a bye week right after their game in Germany. With the game expected to be in November based on historical trends, getting that extra rest in before their shortened Thanksgiving game seems like an optimal use of the bye week.

That’s especially true because it’s right around the middle of the season—an ideal placement to ensure it isn’t too early or too late in the season. Unfortunately, the Lions didn’t put in a request for a post-Germany bye, and they aren’t expecting to get one . So what is ideal then?