McNeill (knee) is active for Monday's game against the Buccaneers.
McNeill has fully recovered from a torn ACL in his right knee that he sustained in December. He started in all 14 regular-season games he played in 2024 and figures to reprise that role in his return Monday, which will likely lead to a decrease in snaps at defensive tackle for Tyleik Williams, Roy Lopez and Patrick O'Connor.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Activated from IR
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The Lions activated McNeill (knee) from injured reserve ahead of Monday's game against the Buccaneers.
McNeil is still listed as questionable for Monday night's contest. His activation from IR indicates that the 2021 third-rounder is on track to play, but his official status won't likely be known until the Lions announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff. McNeil is in the final stage of his recovery from a torn ACL in his right knee that he sustained in December.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Gets questionable tag
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McNeill (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the Buccaneers, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official sitereports.
McNeill has been sidelined for the entire 2025 season as he recovers from a torn ACL. Coach Dan Campbell indicated that McNeill will be available for his season debut in Week 7, though his status won't become official until shortly before kickoff Monday night.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Won't return for Week 6
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McNeill (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
McNeill was a full participant in all three practices for the Lions' Week 6 prep, showing good progress in his recovery from a torn ACL in his right knee that he suffered in December. He hasn't been cleared to return quite yet, but the Lions are targeting Week 7 against the Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 20 as McNeill's 2025 debut, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Logs full practice Wednesday
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McNeill (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
McNeill had his 21-day window to be reinstated from the reserve/PUP list opened Oct. 1, but he was not cleared to play against the Bengals in Week 5. He's opened the week with a full practice, and if he can participate without restriction each of the next two days, he would put himself in a good position to make his 2025 debut against the Chiefs on Sunday. The 2021 third-rounder is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL in his right knee that he suffered in December.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Chance to play Week 5
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McNeill (knee) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
McNeill practiced in a limited capacity all week, and head coach Dan Campbell told reporters Friday that McNeill has a "50/50 chance" of playing Sunday, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. If McNeill isn't cleared to return from the reserve/PUP list Sunday, the fifth-year defensive tackle would still be in a good spot to make his 2025 regular-season debut in Week 6 against the Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 12. McNeill finished the 2024 regular season with 25 tackles (17 solo), including 3.5 sacks, one pass defense and one forced fumble across 14 games.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Officially limited Wednesday
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McNeill (knee) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.
The Lions officially opened McNeill's 21-day practice window Wednesday, and it's no surprise for him to be limited in his first on-field activity since suffering a right ACL tear Week 15 of the 2024 season. Once fully healthy, McNeill is expected to join DJ Reader as a starter along the interior of Detroit's offensive line. It's unclear whether he could have a chance to be activated to the 53-man roster in time to play Sunday versus Cincinnati.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Designated to return
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McNeill (knee) was designated to return from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
McNeill tore his ACL in Week 15 of last year and has missed the Lions' first four games this season. He now has 21 days to be added to Detroit's active roster before reverting to the reserve/PUP list. The NC State product is an integral part of the Lions' run defense, tallying 25 total tackles, including 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble over 14 regular-season games in 2024. Once healthy, he's expected to start alongside DJ Reader on Detroit's defensive line.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Begins year on PUP list
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McNeill (knee) was placed on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.
McNeill tore his ACL in Week 15 last season and is expected to be out at least the first two months of the season. His absence opens the door for rookie first-round pick Tyleik Williams to immediately start at defensive tackle next to DJ Reader, while Roy Lopez and Mekhi Wingo will also get extra tread. McNeill signed a four-year, $97 million contract in October of 2024, and he posted 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks through 14 games prior to his injury.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Likely to miss first few months
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McNeill (knee) is expected to miss the first few months of the regular season, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.
McNeill tore his ACL in December and was placed on the active/PUP list Thursday. With McNeill's absence expected to stretch well into the regular season and Levi Onwuzurike (knee) already ruled out for the entire 2025 campaign, the Lions will be shorthanded on the interior of the defensive line.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Added to active/PUP list
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McNeill (knee) was placed on the active/PUP list Thursday.
McNeill is eligible to return to practice at some point during training camp, though he's not ready to do so yet as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in December. He's the favorite to start at defensive tackle once healthy.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Injury believed to be serious
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Speaking after Sunday's loss to the Bills, coach Dan Campbell said he doesn't feel good about the chances of McNeill (knee) playing again this season, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
It's yet another potentially serious injury for the Detroit defense, as McNeill was injured in the third quarter Sunday and ruled out for the remainder of the game shortly after. Levi Onwuzurike is next up for snaps on the interior of the Lions' defensive line, a unit that has already lost seven players to injured reserve. Detroit's offense may have to turn things up a couple notches the rest of the way in order to make up for all of the injuries on the defensive side of the ball.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Clears protocol
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McNeill (concussion) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bills.
McNeill practiced in full all week after sustaining a concussion in the Lions' Week 14 win over the Packers, and his omission from Friday's injury report indicates he has cleared the NFL's five-step protocol. With McNeill and DJ Reader both at full health, they're expected to cause problems for the Bills' interior run game in Week 15.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Records full practice Wednesday
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McNeill (concussion) was a full practice participant Wednesday.
McNeill left last Thursday's win over the Packers early due to a concussion, but the extended time off between that game and the start of this week's practice schedule appears to have given him ample time to recover. Nonetheless, McNeill will need to clear the NFL's concussion protocol in order to suit up Sunday against the Bills.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Done for rest of Thursday night
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McNeill (head) has been ruled out for the rest of Thursday's contest versus the Packers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
McNeill returned to the game in the first half after suffering a head injury early in the contest, but he was ruled out following halftime. In his absence, Brodric Martin and Myles Adams will handle the majority of the work at defensive tackle.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Returns to TNF
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McNeill (head) returned to the field Thursday night versus the Packers, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
McNeill briefly exited the game in the first half to be evaluated for a concussion, ultimately returning to the field. With DJ Reader (shoulder) sidelined, McNeill will continue to operate as the top option on the interior defensive line against Green Bay.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Lands four-year extension
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The Lions signed McNeill to a four-year contract extension Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
A third-round pick by the Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft, McNeill was in the final year of his rookie deal but will now spend the foreseeable future in Detroit. McNeill has started 41 of the 52 games he's appeared in with the Lions, logging 120 tackles (54 solo), including 10.5 sacks, 24 QB hits and one forced fumble. Playing 63 percent of the defensive snaps through five games to open the 2024 season, McNeill has eight tackles (five solo), including 2.5 sacks, four QB hits and one pass deflection. With Aidan Hutchinson (leg, IR) done for the year, the Lions will need others, including McNeill, to step up in the pass-rushing department.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Two sacks in blowout victory
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McNeill recorded four total tackles (two solo), including 2.0 sacks, in Sunday's 47-9 win over the Cowboys.
McNeill got to Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott twice in Detroit's blowout victory, recording a sack in both the second quarter and fourth quarter. It was the second straight game in which the defensive lineman was able to get to the opposing quarterback. and he's now halfway to the career-high 5.0 sacks he set last season. Through five games in 2024, McNeill has now compiled eight total tackles (five solo), including 2.5 sacks, while also registering a pass defensed.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Day-to-day with shoulder issue
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McNeil is considered day-to-day after leaving Sunday's 20-13 win over the Cardinals with a shoulder injury, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
McNeil's practice participation throughout the week will provide a better indication of his possible availability for Week 4, when the Lions face the Seahawks on Monday. The defensive tackle has recorded two tackles through the Lions' first three games.
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Lions' Alim McNeill: Ruled out
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McNeill (shoulder) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
The starting defensive tackle did not record a stat before exiting. Kyle Peko, Levi Onwuzurike and Mekhi Wingo are Detroit's backup defensive tackles.
