Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Out for season with torn ACL
Rotowire
Onwuzurike will miss the 2025 NFL campaign after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
This is a tough blow for Onwuzurike and the Lions, who were decimated by injuries on defense last year. Onwuzurike was a key part of Detroit's defensive line during the 2024 campaign, playing in 16 regular-season games and recording 16 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble while logging over 60 percent of the team's defensive snaps 11 times. Presumed starter at defensive tackle Alim McNeill is recovering from a torn ACL himself, and it's unclear if he'll be ready for Week 1 of the upcoming campaign.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Placed on reserve/PUP list
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Onwuzurike (undisclosed) was placed on the reserve/PUP list by the Lions on Thursday.
The designation means that the defensive tackle will miss the first four regular-season games, assuming he's still on the reserve/PUP list after cut-down day on Aug. 26. Onwuzurike earned a rotation spot last season, playing a career-high 594 defensive snaps and making 28 tackles (16 solo). The 2021 second-round pick signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract to remain with the Lions in March, and he should be in line to play a role again if he's able to return by Week 5.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Re-signs with Detroit
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Onwuzurike is re-signing the Lions on Wednesday via a one-year, $5.5 million contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Onwuzurike impressed in 2024, with 28 tackles (16 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble across 16 regular-season appearances. Reuniting with the team on a one-year deal now primes Onwuzurike for another chance to prove his ability to thrive as part of an interior defensive lineman rotation, before he hits free agency again in 2026.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Strong interior presence for Lions
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Onwuzurike finished the 2024 regular season with 28 tackles (16 solo), including 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble across 16 games.
Onwuzurike didn't have eye-popping numbers in 2024, but the fourth-year player out of Washington gave opposing offensive lines plenty of trouble with his relentless pass rush. His fifth-year option was declined by Detroit, which means he enters the 2025 offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Onwuzurike should garner plenty of interest from teams looking to solidify the interior of its defensive line such as the Patriots, who hired former Lions' defensive line coach Terrell Williams on Jan. 22 to serve as New England's defensive coordinator under head coach Mike Vrabel.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Past hamstring issue
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Onwuzurike (hamstring) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bills.
Onwuzurike didn't play in the Lions' Week 14 win over the Packers after sustaining a hamstring injury the week prior. However, he upgraded from limited work Wednesday and Thursday to a full practice session Friday, indicating that he's now recovered from the issue. Expect Onwuzurike to play as one of the Lions' top rotational interior defensive linemen in Week 15.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Returns to practice in limited fashion
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Onwuzurike (hamstring) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
This is a step in the right direction for Onwuzurike, who didn't practice at all last week and didn't play against Green Bay on Thursday due to a hamstring issue. His participation level in practice the rest of this week should help clarify whether he'll be able to return to the field Sunday versus Buffalo. Myles Adams logged 40 percent of Detroit's defensive snaps in his first game with the team last week since both Onwuzurike and DJ Reader (shoulder) were unable to play.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Ruled out for Week 14
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Onwuzurike (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Thursday night's matchup against the Packers, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
The 26-year-old sustained a hamstring injury in the Lions' Thanksgiving Day win over the Bears and was unable to practice throughout the week. With both Onwuzurike and DJ Reader (shoulder) ruled out for Thursday night's divisional matchup, Myles Adams and Brodric Martin will likely see increased snaps with Detroit's first-team defense.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Gets in full practice Thursday
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Onwuzurike (hip) was a full participant at practice Thursday.
Onwuzurike has sat out the Lions' last three games, but he's on track to play in Week 11 after practicing in full Thursday. Come Sunday versus the Bears, he will probably fill a depth role on the interior of Detroit's defensive line.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: On track for key role in 2022
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Onwuzurike is expected to play a key role within Detroit's defense in 2022, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The 2021 second-round pick had a disappointing rookie season after missing time in training camp with a back injury. However, head coach Dan Campbell said Onwuzurike has undergone a "body transformation" since then while spending part of his offseason working out in Detroit before team workouts even started. If Romeo Okwara (Achilles) is slow to bounce back from his injury this fall, Onwuzurike should have plenty of pass-rushing opportunities early on in 2022.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Questionable after limited practice
Rotowire
Onwuzurike (hip) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against San Francisco.
Onwuzurike was a limited participant in all three of Detroit's practices this week. The rookie second-round pick dealt with a back injury during camp, but this hip issue appears to be unrelated. He's expected to begin his career in a rotational role at defensive end.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Back in action
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Onwuzurike (back) participated in team drills during Tuesday's practice, and he should make his preseason debut Saturday against the Steelers, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
Head coach Dan Campbell said Onwuzurike recently saw a couple of specialists after the rookie was limited by a back injury in practice. However, Campbell expressed optimism about the evaluations, and Onwuzurike subsequently saw his most extensive workload during training camp Tuesday. While it's not necessarily guaranteed that he suits up during this weekend's preseason game, Onwuzurike seems well on track to be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 12 against San Francisco.
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Lions' Levi Onwuzurike: Misses practice Monday
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Onwuzurike didn't practice Monday for an unspecified reason, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
Onwuzurike has a chance to see increased reps in practice after Nick Williams (undisclosed) was placed on the reserve/COVID list Monday, but the rookie didn't take the field Monday. It's not yet clear when the 23-year-old could return.
