NFL Draft 2026: Medical Report - Jimmy Rolder LB, Skyler Thomas S, Jadon Canady CB
Analyzing defensive players who the Lions have met with
I’m trying to hit as many of the Lions Top-30 prospects as I can on NFL Draft week. The Lions have been very secretive about these visits so there are only a few known. Here are two defensive prospects who are suspected to have had Top-30’s, and one prospect who met with the Lions at the combine.
Quick summary of medical concern levels
Jimmy Rolder, LB (22): Many minor injuries over multiple seasons - 3/10
Skyler Thomas, S (22): ACL 2023 - 2/10
Jadon Canady, CB (23): ACL & meniscus tear 2022 - 5/10
For more player analyses, read my complete NFL 2026 Draft Prospect Medical Reports.
Medical concern level ranges from 0 (no concern) to 5 (might be worth the risk if the reward is high) to 10 (take him off your board, Brad).
(Ages in parentheses are at start of 2026 season and are factored into the concern level. Injury info and ages based on available public information and are unverified - subject to update. Games played data courtesy of sports-reference.com.)
Jimmy Rolder, LB (22) - Michigan
Projected round 3-4. Matt Miller’s #100 overall player. Suspected Top-30 visit with Lions.
Concern level 3/10
2025: 12/13 games. Unspecified injury, missed 1 game.
2024: 12/13 games. Multiple minor injuries for “little stuff”
2023: 6/15 games. Unspecified injuries.
2022: 13/14 games.
Rolder showed nice flashes of playmaking ability at Michigan in his final season. However, last year he missed time due to an unspecified injury which has been a recurrent theme for him in college. All these injuries will need to be clarified and evaluated by medical which may have been the main reason for his Lions’ visit.
His age is good, so if these vague injuries are minor and healable, then he’s a fairly low-risk prospect.
Skyler Thomas, S (22) - Oregon State
Projected round 7. Matt Miller’s #270 overall player. Suspected Top-30 visit with Lions.
Concern level 2/10
2025: 12/12 games
2024: 12/12 games
2023: ACL tear prior to season.
2022: 13/13 games
2021: 12/13 games
Aside from the ACL, Thomas has been very reliable in college. An isolated ACL has minimal concerns long term, and Thomas has two years of proven recovery afterwards. The main thing to check for is if there was associated cartilage damage at the time of the ACL.
Thomas finished with 3 INT and 14 PBU in college.
Jadon Canady, CB (23) - Oregon
Projected round 3-5. Matt Miller’s #142 overall player. Formal combine meeting with Lions.
Concern level 5/10
2025: 15/15 games
2024: 12/13 games. Bowl opt-out due to transfer.
2023: 2/13 games. Still recovering from knee injury.
2022: 8/14 games. Right knee ACL and meniscus tear.
2021: 12/12 games
One of the big concerns with an ACL tear is if there is associated cartilage damage. This was indeed the case with Canady who had a meniscus cartilage tear. The ACL doesn’t present long-term concerns, but the meniscus tear could, depending on severity. Loss of meniscus cartilage can increase the chances of articular cartilage damage and arthritic pains.
Medical will attempt to estimate career longevity based on the cartilage damage, but there is a lot of unpredictability. It’s reassuring that Canady showed two full seasons of proof of recovery. His age is a bit older than ideal, but isn’t too advanced.
He finished with 4 INT and 23 PBU in college.
For the latest update on Jermod McCoy who had cartilage damage along with his ACL tear…