Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell revealed that one of the team's defensive starters probably won't be ready for the start of the 2025 season.
The Detroit Lions' defense was hit hard by injuries throughout the 2024 season.
Season-ending injuries piled up for the team's defensive starters all he way until the playoff matchup against the Commanders, where Amik Robertson broke his arm.
Now it seems that injury misfortune from the 2024 season could have a lingering effect on the 2025 season.
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
While speaking to the media at this year's owners meetings, Lions head coach Dan Campbell revealed (via Fox2 Detroit's Dan Miller) that defensive tackle Alim McNeill probably won't be ready for the start of next season.
McNeill potentially missing the start of the 2025 season isn't a huge surprise. He suffered the torn ACL that ended his 2024 season late in the year.
With the injury coming in Week 15, McNeill would be just under nine months removed from suffering the injury during the opening week of next season.
That injury brought an end to another strong season for McNeill.
Despite missing the Lions' last three games, McNeill finished 15th among defensive tackles with 45 total pressures and sixth at the position in hurries with 38 according to Pro Football Focus.
His pass rush efforts helped to make up for the absence of Aidan Hutchinson and he actually finished third on the team with 3.5 sacks.
He also contributed 17 stops in the run game.
This offseason, the Lions have ensured they will have some depth at the defensive tackle position by re-signing Levi Onwuzurike and adding Roy Lopez.
Those two along with D.J. Reader will need to step up until McNeill is ready to return.
Whenever that return comes, the Lions will be thrilled to have their $97 million defensive tackle giving opposing offenses trouble up the middle once again.
