The Detroit Lions continue to grapple with injury woes as they prepare for the 2025 NFL season. Key defensive players Alim McNeil and Malcolm Rodriguez are already ruled out for the start of the season, and now Levi Onwuzurike has been placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, sidelining him for the first four games. This comes on the heels of a challenging 2024 season marked by similar injuries, which saw the Lions digging deep into their roster by playoff time.

While this situation is certainly troubling, the Lions' management has taken steps to mitigate the impact of these injuries by strengthening their defensive tackle depth during the offseason. With McNeil's absence anticipated, the team will likely look to other players on the roster to step up and fill the void left by Onwuzurike as they navigate the early part of the season.