THE Detroit Lions’ defensive line has been dealt a blow with Star man Levi Onwuzurike ruled out for entire 2025 season after undergoing ACL surgery.
The procedure was done earlier this offseason but Sunday’s bombshell announcement confirmed the worst.
The club have confirmed star man Levi Onwuzurike had to undergo ACL surgery[/caption]
Detroit Lions defensive end Levi Onwuzurike won’t be seen again for the rest of the year[/caption]
Onwuzurike has already had surgery as he aims for a swift recovery[/caption]
The Lions have struggled defensively all season and this latest blow piles the misery[/caption]
Lions head coach Dan Campbell admitted, as quoted by ESPN: “Levi’s surgery was huge but it was necessary.
“It’s out of his control, but it had to happen and now we know he’s done for the season.”
It’s a major hit for a Lions team already struggling to patch up holes in its defensive line.
Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson is still recovering from a horrific fractured tibia and fibula, though he’s been cleared for football activities.
However, it doesn’t end there, defensive tackles Alim McNeill and Mekhi Wingo are also stuck on the active/PUP list, leaving the Lions scrambling for answers.
The leaves them with rookie first-round pick Tyleik Williams, Detroit’s new hope in the trenches.
At 6-foot-3, 334 pounds, Williams dominated at Ohio State, leading them to an NCAA title in 2024-25.
He racked up 46 tackles, including eight for a loss, in his final college season. Now, he might have to step up and start right away under newly promoted defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
But that’s not all, Detroit’s injury woes stretch beyond the defensive line.
Rodriguez and Dorsey added to pup list
Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is starting camp on the PUP list after tearing his ACL in 2024 and cornerback Khalil Dorsey has joined him, with an undisclosed injury.
And it doesn’t stop there for the Lions, the offense is also taking hits.
Star offensive guard Kevin Zeitler was scooped up by the Tennessee Titans in free agency and now left tackle Taylor Decker and guard Miles Frazier have both been placed on the PUP list.
The is some silver lining though as Campbell says Decker’s shoulder issue isn’t serious.
He assured fans: “He’s fine. He just had a little shoulder cleanup, and we’re working him back to full strength. He’ll be good to go soon.”
The Lions were riding high as Super Bowl contenders last year, but their dreams came crashing down when the Washington Commanders knocked them out in the NFC Divisional Round.
With the offense on fire, ranking No. 1 in scoring and No. 2 in yards, the defense let them down.
Despite holding opponents to fewer points than all but six NFL teams, they were ranked a disappointing 20th in yards allowed.
Detroit’s Achilles’ heel is the the pass defense. They were torched through the air, allowing more passing yards than all but two NFL teams, especially after Hutchinson went down.
To address the secondary, Detroit made a splash by signing former New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed. But will it be enough to salvage a defense that’s looking more and more week due to injury, only time will tell.
