It’s been a long road in the NFL for Levi Onwuzurike.
After leaving Washington as a key part of the Huskies’ defensive lines that also featured current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vita Vea and Greg Gaines, Onwuzurike was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft, recording modest stats as a rookie. He then missed all of 2022 with a back injury that required spinal fusion surgery, returning in a limited capacity last season in ten games.
Coming into 2024, the Lions were expecting Onwuzurike to take a step forward.
What better time than on Monday Night Football?
Onwuzurike had three tackles on Monday against the Seattle Seahawks, including half a sack he split with fellow defensive tackle Alim McNeill with 5:23 remaining in the game. The former Husky star had a second sack with 1:11 remaining, but it was wiped out by a roughing the passer penalty on Onwuzurike for landing with his bodyweight on Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
Smith threw an interception on the next play, sealing a 42-29 Lions win in primetime. Onwuzurike’s effort helped Detroit to a 3-1 record in a game in which quarterback Jared Goff completed all 18 of his passes. The game included a stretch of five consecutive touchdowns to open the second half, making Onwuzurike’s fourth quarter emergence all the more important.
Detroit will play the Dallas Cowboys in Week Six after their bye.