Tag: Isaac Ukwu

Josh Paschal’s illness put the Lions in a pass rushing bind vs Titans

Starting DE Josh Paschal’s illness put the Lions in a pass rushing bind vs Titans, but head coach Dan Campbell has a plan

Just when it seemed like some much-needed stability and good fortune was coming to the Detroit Lions defensive line, more adversity struck. Starting DE Josh Paschal, who bagged the first of Detroit’s four sacks of Sam Darnold in Week 7, is suffering from an illness that has kept him out of practice all week.

Based on Dan Campbell’s press conference before Friday’s session, don’t expect Paschal to suit up for Sunday’s visit from the Tennessee Titans.

“Paschal’s dealing with something right now.,” Campbell said. “He’ll be OK long term, but he’s got a little bit of something. So, I don’t see him practicing today.”

Paschal jumped into a starting role only after Marcus Davenport and then Aidan Hutchinson went down with serious injuries in wins over Seattle (Week 4) and Dallas (Week 6). Playing as the “next man up”, Paschal represented a real dropoff in pressure creation and attacking versatility from the Week 1 starters.

The new next man up is freshly acquired Isaiah Thomas. The Lions signed him to the active roster last week after losing Hutchinson to a broken leg. Thomas had been on the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad after failing to make the Cleveland Browns following the preseason.

“Yes, we will use Isaiah. He’s done enough during the week to want to get him out there and get him some reps. He’s in a good place and we’re excited to see him play.”

The Lions won’t rely just on Thomas, however. Campbell cited pretty much every defensive lineman on the roster, including practice squad member Al-Quadin Muhammad, as guys who will have to pick up the slack for the wounded pass rush.

“Yeah, that’s why those three guys have to step up between Isaiah (Thomas) and Muhammad and (James) Houston. They have to help, they have to help and that’s where it goes but as always, we spread the load across that D-line with Levi (Onwuzurike) and (Alim McNeill) Mac and (DJ) Reader and (Mekhi) Wingo and (Pat) O’Connor, so we have plenty in there and they pick up the slack.”

If you’re looking for an omission there, it would be Isaac Ukwu. The undrafted rookie started the last two games in Davenport’s spot as a practice squad elevation. Despite showing some vitality late in the win over Dallas, Ukwu struggled against Minnesota’s strong offensive line.

Lions snap count notes vs. Vikings: How Detroit replaced Aidan Hutchinson in Week 7

Lions snap count notes vs. Vikings: How Detroit replaced Aidan Hutchinson in Week 7

Week 7 marked the first time the Detroit Lions were forced to play without Aidan Hutchinson. Knowing Hutchinson’s league-leading pass-rush production cannot possibly be replaced by one player, the Lions attacked the Minnesota Vikings with a barrage of options at EDGE.

Josh Paschal and Isaac Uwku earned the starting roles, as the Lions continue to adapt to also not having starter Marcus Davenport. Paschal, who bagged the first of Detroit’s four sacks of Vikings QB Sam Darnold, played the most with 52 of 60 snaps. Ukwu, elevated from the practice squad for the second straight week, was next at 34, followed by Levi Onwuzurike at 26, freshly signed Pat O’Connor with 12, rookie Mekhi Wingo 11 and James Houston on the field for 9 reps.

The defense featured five iron men, Lions who played all 60 defensive reps:

S Kerby Joseph
S Brian Branch
CB Carlton Davis
CB Terrion Arnold
LB Alex Anzalone

Paschal might’ve attained that too, if not for having to exit twice for attention from trainers.

Detroit’s defense also opted for more 3-LB looks than normal. Third LB Malcolm Rodriguez played over half the game, getting 32 reps. Jack Campbell played 47 and Trevor Nowaske, the new SAM, repping 14 snaps. Jalen Reeves-Maybin also played 10, and that doesn’t count the (abysmal) fake punt in the first quarter.

Other notes

The starting offensive line, including fill-in RG Kayode Awosika, all played all 57 snaps. Detroit did not use an extra lineman at any point in this game.

The RB snap splits: Jahmyr Gibbs 33, David Montgomery 22, Craig Reynolds 2.

Rookies Ennis Rakestraw (CB) and Sione Vaki (RB) only appeared on special teams.

TE Shane Zylstra, elevated from the practice squad in favor of healthy scratch Parker Hesse, played three offensive snaps and 21 of a possible 31 special teams reps.

 

Lions sign veteran DE and elevate two from practice squad for Week 7

Lions sign veteran DE Pat O’Connor and elevate two from practice squad for Week 7

The Detroit Lions made some roster enhancements ahead of Sunday’s Week 7 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.

Most notably, the Lions signed veteran defensive end Pat O’Connor from the team’s practice squad to the active 53-man roster. O’Connor will make his Detroit debut seven years after being a seventh-round pick by the Lions in the 2017 NFL Draft.

The Eastern Michigan product didn’t make the Lions team that year, but worked his way into a lengthy stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Detroit brought him back over the summer and he’s been on the Lions practice squad all season. At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, O’Connor fits the size desired by the Lions on the edge to help replace injured Marcus Davenport and Aidan Hutchinson.

The Lions also promoted two practice squad players for the game. Tight end Shane Zylstra and EDGE Isaac Ukwu were both elevated. It’s the second week in a row Ukwu, an undrafted rookie from Ole Miss, has been elevated. Zylstra has not played in a game since 2022 after suffering a serious injury in 2023 training camp.

The Lions already have three active TEs on the roster, so Zylstra’s elevation is something of a surprise. With DT Kyle Peko lost for the season, there was some expectation the Lions would elevate DT Chris Smith for this game against the Vikings.

James Houston must seize his ‘great opportunity’ with all the Lions’ injuries

James Houston must seize his ‘great opportunity’ against the Vikings with all the Lions’ injuries. If not now, when?

The Detroit Lions have lost a starting pass rusher to major injury in each of their last three games. In Week 3, EDGE Marcus Davenport was lost for the season, followed by SAM Derrick Barnes in Week 4. After the bye week, Detroit lost NFL Defensive Player of the Year front-runner Aidan Hutchinson.

That creates an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Lions in addressing the pass rush. Yet there’s one Lions pass rusher with a supernova of production from his rookie season who is seemingly at the bottom of the deck.

James Houston.

Despite his eight sacks in six games at the end of the 2022 season, Houston has been a healthy scratch most of the season–including Week 6 in Dallas, when the Lions played without Davenport and Barnes. Undrafted rookie and practice squad call-up Isaac Ukwu got the nod instead of Houston and showed some (largely unrefined) ability in the blowout win over Dallas.

From rookie star to healthy scratch on a team desperate for the one thing he does well, it seems like Houston has one last shot to salvage any career with the Lions. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell very much sounded that way when asked about Houston and the opportunity in front of him in the Week 7 showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.

Here’s Campbell’s full answer,

“Yeah, I think there’s a chance that he goes to the game here and there may be a place for him. He’s been practicing this week and it’s kind of like – so, yeah, there could be a place here, but it’s like everything else, it’s about the reps in practice, what they look like, and then even when you get in the game, what do those look like?

And if they’re good and there’s production and discipline, then keep putting him in, and if it’s not, put somebody else in. But yeah, this is a great opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for him.”

If Campbell’s words seem familiar, they should. Houston was poised with a golden opportunity to fill Marcus Davenport’s shoes in Week 2 against Tampa Bay. In Detroit’s only loss in 2024, Houston played just three snaps.

Another opportunity came in the Lions’ Week 4 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Alas, Houston was completely nullified; in 13 pass rush snaps, he recorded one generously credited pressure by PFF and ended (by my film review) nine plays on the ground. Week 4 was Detroit’s first game without Davenport permanently, and also when SAM backer Derrick Barnes went down with a bad injury.

With Campbell effectively declaring newcomer Isaiah Thomas not ready to play yet in Minnesota, this is indeed a great opportunity for Houston to prove he still belongs. It’s also probably the last one Houston will get if he doesn’t impress Campbell and the coaches.

It seemed telling earlier in the week when Campbell rattled off the names of four practice squad players (Ukwu, Mitchell Agude, Muhammad Al-Quadin, Cam Gill) before briefly mentioning Houston’s name as potential solutions for replacing Hutchinson’s production. Be it a lack of desired size, an inability to play the run, or the physically diminished ability from a serious ankle injury suffered at the beginning of 2023, it feels like this is Houston’s last chance to make a mark.

If not now, when?

Lions elevate rookie pass rusher from the practice squad vs. Cowboys

Lions elevate rookie pass rusher Isaac Ukwu from the practice squad vs. Cowboys

Coming out of the bye week, the Detroit Lions are in relatively strong health as a team. However, they still need some reinforcements for the Week 6 matchup in Dallas against the Cowboys.

To that end, the Lions elevated EDGE Isaac Ukwu from the practice squad to the active roster for the Cowboys game. Ukwu is an undrafted rookie from Ole Miss who made a strong push to make the Lions’ 53-man roster over the summer.

Ukwu’s elevation comes a day after Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked up the rookie’s potential to make an impact. Ukwu could see his first regular-season action in the pass rush rotation with Josh Paschal, James Houston and Trevor Nowaske as the Lions look to find replacement contributions for injured Derrick Barnes and Marcus Davenport.

Dan Campbell talks up the progress of the practice squad pass rushers

Dan Campbell talks up the progress of the practice squad pass rushers Mitchell Agude and Isaac Ukwu

Throughout training camp and preseason, two Detroit Lions defenders in particular stood out as potential pass rushers who could make the 53-man roster. Mitchell Agude and Isaac Ukwu each impressed enough to merit serious consideration to make the team.

Ultimately, neither Agude nor Ukwu landed on the active roster. Both have spent the season thus far on Detroit’s practice squad. Based on how head coach Dan Campbell talked them up in a press conference, it sure sounds like Agude and Ukwu are still competing hard to get playing time.

“Yeah, I think both of them very nicely,” Campbell said on Friday. “I think both of those guys because they’ve been here the longest. Talk about these D-ends, edge guys, and both of those guys have done a really good job for us and honestly, I would have no problem playing either one of those guys if we need them.”

Agude is now in his second season in Detroit. He’s played both EDGE and also some SAM backer, and the latter role has a need for depth with the loss of starter Derrick Barnes. Ukwu, an undrafted rookie from Ole Miss, offers speed and bend on the edge–something the team lacks opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

We might not see them in Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys, but it’s good to hear Campbell remains high on both Agude and Ukwu.

Isaac Ukwu injured after chop block, able to walk off field on his own

Isaac Ukwu injured after chop block, able to walk off field on his own

Lions rookie defensive end Isaac Ukwu was momentarily down on the field with an apparent knee injury after taking what appeared to be a chop block from Chiefs’ offensive tackle Kingsley Suamatia.

Ukwu was able to walk off the field under his own power. Ukwu is fighting for a roster spot. He had two tackles and a sack in the preseason opener against the Giants as he looks to crack the rotation on the edge.

Early signs seem to indicate the injury may not be serious but we won’t know for sure until at least after the game. The team is not required to provide injury updates during preseason games.

Post-edit: Ukwu was able to return to the game later in the first quarter.

Two Lions rookie UDFAs were selected in the UFL draft

The UFL held its draft on Wednesday and two Lions rookie UDFAs, Isaiah Williams and Isaac Ukwu, were selected by teams in the spring league

One of the most prominent undrafted rookies heading to Detroit Lions training camp this weekend now has another option. Isaiah Williams was one of two current Lions players selected in the UFL draft on Wednesday.

Only players not selected in April’s NFL Draft in Detroit were eligible for the UFL draft. There were 80 players taken in the 10-round draft among the eight UFL teams.

Williams, a wide receiver and return man from Illinois, was selected by the Birmingham Stallions in the fourth round. The Stallions are the first-ever UFL champs after winning the league’s title game in June. The UFL comes from the merger of the USFL and XFL and plays in the spring.

Joining Williams in the UFL draft is Isaac Ukwu, an undrafted rookie pass rusher from Ole Miss. The Michigan Panthers drafted Ukwu in the third round. He’s a longshot to make the Lions roster as an undrafted rookie, but Williams could challenge to make the final 53-man roster as a reserve slot receiver and return specialist.

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Being selected in the UFL draft doesn’t do anything in terms of NFL opportunities for Williams or Ukwu. They are still Detroit Lions. However, if they don’t make it in the NFL, the UFL teams that drafted them control their rights in that league.

The Lions recently added Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates after the UFL season concluded. Should Williams or Ukwu play in the UFL next spring, they would be eligible to return to the NFL once the second season of the upstart league is over, but as NFL free agents.

 

Three UDFA’s that could impress at Lions rookie minicamp

Three UDFA’s that could impress at Lions rookie minicamp, including an intriguing WR prospect

As teams across the NFL welcome their rookies to their rookie mini-camp, the Detroit Lions will be doing the same today. They will be getting their first look at the rookies they have on the roster. From the 6 players they drafted to 30 other players that signed as undrafted free agents (UDFA) or trying out for the team, the competition will be real.

That’s one thing we’ve learned from the Lions coaching staff over the years and is they want competition. That competition has opened doors of opportunities for veteran players such as Kalif Raymond, John Cominsky and others.

While I can’t wait to see how Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw play this summer, I’m really excited to see a couple of undrafted players compete. Let’s take a look at three UDFA’s that could impress over the next few days at Lions rookie mini-camp.

Illinois WR Isaiah Williams

Starting with a player that has a clear path to becoming a number 4 or number 5 receiver on the roster. Isaiah Williams from Illinois should get a chance to crack the 53-man roster.

He’s listed 5’10” and 186 pounds and is more of a gadget player than anything else. However, he posted 82 receptions in consecutive seasons at Illinois and is tough over the middle of the field.

While he doesn’t have blazing speed, he plays faster than he tested. Additionally, the usage and ability to move him around offensive formations could bode well for him with Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator. Even though it does sound like Brad Holmes is content with Antoine Green and Donovan Peoples-Jones, it wouldn’t be surprising if Williams forces the Lions to make some difficult decisions in August.

Ole Miss EDGE Isaac Ukwu

One thing we’ve learned with Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, they have a type for their defensive front. Ole Miss EDGE Isaac Ukwu certainly fits that type of player.

Listed at 6’3″ and 258 pounds, I’ve only watched one game of him up to this point. He’s not been overly impressive but there are certainly flashes. His ability to hit a ghost rush or dip his shoulder and turn the corner to pressure the quarterback is fun to watch.

Ukwu needs to get stronger against the run. Primarily with recognizing blocks faster and staying square to the opposition. That will all come with time but the chance to compete is important and Ukwu will get that chance. I could see a scenario where he finds himself in some type of rotation with Mathieu Betts, James Houston and Josh Paschal.

Florida IOL Kingsley Eguakan

Finding a backup center should be a goal for the Lions this summer. While it’s nice to rely on Graham Glasgow, it’s important to have multiple options on the interior part of your offensive line.

When looking at Kingsley Eguakan, he was a player that I watched a few weeks prior to the Senior Bowl and he impressed me enough that I thought he would be drafted. Unfortunately, he didn’t and he now finds himself in Detroit with a clear opportunity to earn the backup role at center.

Eguakan is 6’3″ and 307 pounds and he put up 26 reps on the bench press at the Scouting Combine. His frame appears to be somewhat maxed out but he’s a strong finisher in the run game. One of the biggest concerns with him was health as he battled through an ankle injury for most of last season. He’ll need to get stronger and he’ll have to improve his pad level. However, there’s much to be desired with his skill-set as a developmental prospect.

Transfer target Isaac Ukwu picks SEC rival over Auburn

Auburn was unable to land Ukwu and will now have to face him next season.

[autotag]Isaac Ukwu[/autotag] will play next season in the SEC but it will not be for the Auburn Tigers.

The transfer edge rusher announced his commitment to Ole Miss Friday night on YouTube. He chose the Rebels over Auburn, Kansas, Cal and others.

He entered the transfer portal back on April 25 and Auburn quickly made him a priority, they offered him just two hours after he entered the portal. Ukwu then visited Auburn on April 29.

The Tigers were recruiting him as a jack linebacker, a position they are returning zero players from last year’s roster.

They may have missed out on Ukwu but they have done a great job filling that hole with four addition this offseason. Auburn landed [autotag]Elijah McAlister[/autotag] (Vanderbilt) and [autotag]Jalen McLeod[/autotag] (App State) from the transfer portal to go with true freshmen [autotag]Keldric Faulk[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenton Williams[/autotag].

Even after McLeod committed to Auburn, the Tigers kept pursuing Ukwu and would have loved to add him. He made 83 tackles, 27.0 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery over the past two seasons.

The Tigers will get a chance to face Ukwu on Oct. 21 when he and Ole Miss come to Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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