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4 hours ago
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Last season, injuries derailed a season with Super Bowl expectations for the Detroit Lions. This season is already off to a troubling start for the Lions' defense.
Defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike will miss the 2025-26 season with a torn ACL, head coach Dan Campbell announced on Sunday. It was a "significant" injury, in Campbell's words, and Onwuzurike has already undergone surgery to repair the tear.
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The Lions were already missing defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who tore his ACL in Week 15's loss to the Buffalo Bills last season. He'll begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list and could return toward the end of the year.
Onwuzurike has struggled with injuries ever since Detroit made him their second-round draft pick in 2021 out of Washington. He missed the entire 2022 campaign with a back injury that required spinal fusion surgery.
However, he finally broke through with a solid 2024-25 season, playing 16 games and starting 10. He notched 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits and a tackle for loss.
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Campbell says he's still confident in the Lions' depth on the defensive line. The team drafted Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in the first round (No. 28 overall), who should start on the interior line alongside DJ Reader. Williams had 46 tackles and 2.5 sacks during his senior season with the Buckeyes.
"You don't like to lose anybody," Campbell said, via the Detroit Free Press. "Certainly, losing Levi, that hurts, but it helps that we've got Tyleik, so we've got a little bit of balance here."
"All in all, I think we’re pretty good," he added. "I like what we got in that room and really there again, man, we got an opportunity for a lot of guys."
Roy Lopez, Pat O'Connor and Chris Smith are expected to contribute at defensive tackle.
Meanwhile, the Lions are expected to get Aidan Hutchinson back on the edge, coming back from a broken leg. He should start at defensive end along with Marcus Davenport. The team is also looking at bringing back Za'Darius Smith, whom Detroit traded for last season but eventually cut. Detroit has also been in discussions with veteran edge rusher Matthew Judon, according to the Detroit Free Press.
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