The Detroit Lions will play the entirety of the 2025 season without defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike. Earlier in the week, the Lions placed Onwuzurike on the reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning he’d miss at least four games. However, coach Dan Campbell clarified on Sunday that the veteran will miss the entire year.
The “good” news is that Onwuzurike’s injury is not related to his chronic back issue that plagued his early career. According to Campbell, Onwuzurike underwent surgery for an ACL injury that was absolutely necessary.
It’s a major blow for the Lions’ defensive line, considering Onwuzurike was lined up to potentially start, given that Detroit will already be without Alim McNeill for a significant portion of the season after tearing his ACL in December. Detroit’s depth will be tested early in the season, with players like DJ Reader, Roy Lopez, Pat O’Connor, and, most notably, first-round pick Tyleik Williams.
Overall, Campbell said he still feels good about the defensive line room.
“The depth, feeling pretty good,” Campbell said. “There again, you don’t like to lose anybody. Certainly, losing Levi, that hurts, but it helps that we have Tyleik. So we’ve got a little bit of balancing here. And then we feel good about getting (Josh) Paschal back here at some point before the season. So, I think, all-in-all were pretty good. I like what we’ve got in that room.”
This offseason, the Lions signed Onwuzurike to a one-year, $4 million deal after the Lions’ defensive lineman had a strong contract year. He finished the season with 16 games played, 10 starts, 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble. But now, one has to wonder if Onwuzurike—given his injury-plagued career—has played his last snaps with Detroit.
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