Tag: Levi Onwuzurike

Lions snap count notes: Dan Campbell rode his starters heavily vs. Texans

Lions snap count notes: Dan Campbell rode his starters heavily in the Week 10 win over the Houston Texans

Injuries across the Detroit Lions roster forced head coach Dan Campbell to ask a lot of his healthy regular starters, and also more than expected from several reserves. It wasn’t always pretty of confidence-inducing, but the Lions delivered in a thrilling 26-23 comeback win.

The snap counts from Detroit’s Week 10 trip to Houston reveal just how strapped for healthy bodies the Lions were in a few spots. It starts on the defense.

Nine defensive starters played at least 58 of the 68 snaps in the game. That includes five iron men:

Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch
Linebackers Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell
Cornerback Terrion Arnold

Cornerback Carlton Davis missed three plays after leaving briefly with a minor injury.

Linemen Josh Paschal, Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike all played an absurd amount of snaps for big men thanks to the myriad injuries around them. Paschal was on the field for 61 snaps, with McNeill at 59 and Onwuzurike at 58. That’s over 85 percent for each.

In the third LB vs. third CB snap rate–the Lions almost always have one or the other, but not both, on the field–SAM Trevor Nowaske played more than nickel/slot Amik Robertson, 33 to 29.

The Lions only used No. 4 CB Kindle Vildor on three plays–the ones Davis sat out. No other corners played beyond special teams. Joseph and Branch were the only safeties who played. Reserve Brandon Joseph only played on special teams, while rookie Loren Strickland was inactive in Week 10.

On offense, the starting line and QB Jared Goff all played all 65 snaps. Veteran Dan Skipper got the nod at left tackle with Taylor Decker inactive due to a shoulder injury.

Jamarco Jones made his Lions debut with one official snap as an extra tackle (Skipper’s normal role), though he had two other plays that were negated due to penalties. No other linemen played outside of special teams.

The ever-popular running back splits saw Jahmyr Gibbs getting 60 percent of the workload to David Montgomery’s 40 percent. The Lions had one or the other in on every snap, but never played more than one. Gibbs and Montgomery were the only RBs who played on offense, with Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki very busy on special teams.

Jameson Williams returned from his two-game suspension and quickly resumed his WR2 role. He played 48 of the 65 offensive snaps, followed by Tim Patrick (32), Kalif Raymond (16) and Allen Robinson (4). Third TE Shane Zylstra got 19 snaps, behind Sam LaPorta (39) and Brock Wright (37), showing the Lions’ need for auxiliary blocking with Decker sidelined.

Options for the Lions to replace injured EDGE Marcus Davenport

Exploring the different options the Detroit Lions have to replace injured EDGE Marcus Davenport

The Detroit Lions are once again in scramble mode to find a reliable starter at the EDGE position opposite Aidan Hutchinson. The solution for the first three games, veteran Marcus Davenport, suffered what is reported to be a potential season-ending elbow injury in the Lions Week 3 win over the Arizona Cardinals. At minimum, it appears Davenport will miss at least a few games.

Davenport played effectively when he was on the field, but his lengthy injury history was always a factor. The one-time Saints first-rounder had already missed Detroit’s Week 2 loss to the Buccaneers, and his proven frailty unfortunately reared its head in just his second week of action for the Lions.

Replacement options

The Lions already have some reinforcements on the roster. None offer the high-end pass rush skills Davenport brought, but the coaching staff already has familiarity with how to use each.

Levi Onwuzurike

Onwuzurike has already seen quite a bit of time as the “heavy” end. Well over half (74 of 125 per PFF) of his 2024 reps have come aligned as an end, meaning heads-up with the tackle or outside that set. Onwuzurike picked up a half-sack in both Week 1 and Week 2, and he is the most capable internal option to keep up the “crush the can” style Davenport brought that head coach Dan Campbell wants.

At over 290 pounds, Onwuzurike sets a powerful edge against the run on his way to the quarterback, though he doesn’t have much speed. No. 91 is also a key member of the internal DL rotation and has proven more adept at creating pressures from that inside alignment. He’s an incredible injury success story, fighting back from a likely career-ending back fusion surgery and working his way into the rotation.

Josh Paschal

Paschal is another heavier/power style of edge, though he hasn’t had the NFL success of Davenport or even Onwuzurike to this point. The 2022 second-round pick is adapting to a more power-oriented approach, something the Lions encouraged for the 280-ish-pounder after he struggled to find an identity in his first two years.

One of the reasons the Lions brought Davenport in was Paschal’s own lengthy injury history. He’s also been ineffective when he’s played in 2024; No. 93 has generated one QB pressure in 35 pass-rush snaps in three games, the same number of penalties he’s committed. Paschal was one of the Lions’ lowest-graded players in both Week 1 and Week 3 by PFF, and those grades pass the eye test.

James Houston

Houston brings a very different style element to playing EDGE. He’s a speed rusher, one who found tremendous success at the end of his rookie campaign in 2022.

Despite the prolific outburst, Houston has barely played since. He lost his role in 2023 before suffering a serious ankle injury. It was dicey that Houston would make the Lions roster in 2024 after he struggled in camp. He’s been a healthy scratch in two of the first three weeks and only saw action on three snaps when Davenport was out for Week 2.

Houston’s lack of size really stands out on the Lions roster. At just 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, he’s at least three inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than the other options currently on the 53-man roster (including Davenport). He’s more of a fit to potentially step into Derrick Barnes’ role at SAM should Barnes be sidelined with his injury suffered in Arizona, except the team already pulled the plug on trying to get Houston in that more LB-oriented role.

Mekhi Wingo

Wingo hasn’t played a lot yet as a sixth-round rookie. The 6-foot-1, 290-pounder from LSU is a positional tweener at his size. Detroit has used him on the edge in preseason and also in the first three weeks, and his increased role in Arizona suggests he might be poised for a bigger shot here.

He’s a crafty fighter, but Wingo’s lack of length and also quickness beyond his first step appear to be limiting factors. Having said that, the rookie has been more effective at rushing the passer than Paschal already. If he can hold up against the run and not lose containment on his rushes, Wingo could very well take over a much meatier role. That’s a lot to ask of a sixth-round rookie, however.

Practice squad

The Lions have two practice squad players who saw a lot of action over the summer at EDGE. Mitchell Agude and Isaac Ukwu both challenged to make the roster over Houston with their ability to impact and disrupt off the edge.

Agude is the more likely call-up — especially if Barnes is out — as he is cross-trained at SAM. He’s slightly undersized (6-3/252) for what the Lions want at EDGE but plays with stoutness as a primarily power-to-speed style of pass rusher.

Ukwu, an undrafted rookie from Ole Miss, is more like Houston stylistically. He’s the only other real speed-rush option, and he’s got bend and juice around the outside. Ukwu was very hit-and-miss in camp and preseason, but his “hit” is certainly intriguing.

Detroit also has Chris Smith on the practice squad. Smith is an interior-only defender, but bringing him back up to the active roster would facilitate the Lions playing Onwuzurike more exclusively outside.

Yet the most likely option from the practice squad should be veteran Pat O’Connor. The 30-year-old has years of experience with the Buccaneers in a reserve role, and he brings almost exactly the same size and length as Davenport (6-4/272). O’Connor knows how to play the run, and he showed this summer he could crush the can when aligned wide.

External options

The free agent pool at EDGE is pretty shallow. There are some faded vets with better name recognition than 2024 ability, guys like Yannick Ngakoue and Shaq Lawson.

As for trades…

It can’t be ruled out, but it seems extremely unlikely Lions GM Brad Holmes would make a move of any significance here. Unless it makes sense financially and within the culture of the Lions, it’s just not a viable path. Read as: the Lions aren’t going to pay for a disgruntled player like Haason Reddick of the Jets. He’s the only noteworthy player that is potentially available via trade right now, and speculating about others (Maxx Crosby comes to mind) is irresponsible clickbait. Now if the Raiders make any indication that Crosby might be available — and they have not done that — then the Lions should at least call.

Lions vs Cardinals postgame medical report

Lions vs Cardinals postgame medical report and prognosis on Brian Branch, Alim McNeill and more who were hurt during Detroit’s win

I was fortunate enough to see this victory in person along with thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of boisterous Lions fans who deserve a game ball for another impressive road showing. With the temperatures outside nearing 100 degrees, the excellent Cardinals stadium air conditioning deserves my other game ball.

With a good view of the Lions sideline, here are my observations from that vantage point. I haven’t had a chance to watch the game tape, so video review will come later in the week.

Sam LaPorta

The injury video looked like a right low ankle sprain caused by an inversion mechanism. He was carted to the locker room which was concerning but returned after halftime.

On the sideline, he looked springy and quick while doing movement drills. The ankle did not appear to be much of a concern as the training staff didn’t spend much time with him. His ankle was not taped on the outside of the shoe but could have had a light tape job under his sock.

LaPorta was able to return to the game throughout the 2nd half. While he will be sore and likely need extra rest this week, I don’t expect anything long-term.

Terrion Arnold

Arnold had dislocated his left index finger last week so it was nice to see there was no heavy splint on his fingers. He was catching passes well during warmups so I’m anticipating he should be able to intercept the ball without too much difficulty going forward.

During the game, he may have injured his right knee. On the sidelines, he was hobbling and grimacing while gingerly doing drills. The training staff spent a lot of time with him testing out his movement ability. His right knee was wrapped temporarily.

With how much discomfort he was displaying, I wasn’t expecting a return, but return he did and played pretty well too. Hopefully, this means the injury is something benign like a simple knee contusion.

Brian Branch

A big helmet-to-helmet hit obviously concussed both players. The injured Cardinal stumbled off while Branch was still down on the ground. It wasn’t clear if he had loss of consciousness. I didn’t observe any fencing which is good. He walked slowly to the locker room without any assistance.

Dan Skipper

Skipper got hurt early in the game. On the sideline, he was showing discomfort to his right back and side. He kept pointing to that area and doing torso side-stretches and rotations to test it out.

He was able to return to play but every time he was on the sideline, a wrap, presumably with heat, was placed to keep it loose. Laboring quite a bit on the sidelines, he was clearly doing his best to tough it out. I’m suspecting a muscle or rib strain of his right side which will be sore, but I don’t expect it to be long-term.

Penei Sewell

Players are often battling through injuries that don’t show up on the injury report. Sewell had injured his ankle two weeks ago but was unlisted this past week.

On the sideline, he occasionally had a wrap on his right ankle which I’m suspecting is for that injury from two weeks ago. This is something to keep in mind in case he occasionally has plays that don’t reflect his 1st-team All-Pro standard.

Derrick Barnes

On limited video, there was a possible right knee hyperextension. Recall last year in the conference championship game, he also had a right knee hyperextension.

A hyperextension can cause a bone bruise as well as knee ligament damage. We will see what the MRI results show. I don’t have any observations on the sideline and he did not return to the game.

Alim McNeill

McNeill left the game permanently with a shoulder injury. The only thing I saw was him walking very slowly as the last guy to the locker room at halftime.

Levi Onwuzurike

On the field, medical was evaluating his right knee. He was able to return for the rest of the game and seemed to be fine.

Alex Anzalone

Sitting this game out with a concussion, he was still totally mentally engaged on the sideline helping out with defensive calls and pumping up the fans. All good signs that he will be ready to go for next Monday night.

Lions snap count notes: Big rep debuts for Tim Patrick and DJ Reader

Lions snap count notes vs. Buccaneers in Week 2: Big rep debuts for Tim Patrick and DJ Reader

The day after a game is always a good time to check back in on who played and for how long for the Detroit Lions. Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers snap counts are now out.

Before even getting to the player participation, the stark discrepancy in the number of offensive snaps jumps off the sheet. Detroit ran 85 offensive plays, while Tampa Bay ran just 48. The Lions ran 37 more plays than the Bucs.

That crazy split puts a cap on some of the Detroit defensive participation; there just weren’t nearly as many opportunities as in a normal game. Three players, all in the secondary, played every defensive snap:

Kerby Joseph
Brian Branch
Carlton Davis

Slot CB Amk Robertson played 18 snaps, including four filling in for starting outside CB Terrion Arnold when Arnold dealt with a finger injury.

Linebacker Alex Anzalone played all 40 available snaps before departing with a concussion. That left Derrick Barnes playing the most reps at LB, with 45. Jack Campbell played 35, followed by Malcolm Rodriguez with 19. Jalen Reeves-Maybin did sneak onto the field for two.

James Houston played three snaps in his return to the lineup at EDGE. With Marcus Davenport out, Levi Onwuzurike took over most of his snaps. Onwuzurike was on the field for 36 of the 48 snaps. Aidan Hutchinson played his customary 90 percent of snaps, playing 43. DJ Reader saw action on 25 in his Lions debut.

On offense, the entire starting offensive line and QB Jared Goff were iron men and never left the field.

At RB, Jahmyr Gibbs out-repped David Montgomery 53 to 30. Sione Vaki played four reps, while Craig Reynolds played three out of 85 snaps.

Tim Patrick wound up getting more snaps at wide receiver than Kalif Raymond. Patrick, called up from the practice squad, played 33 to Raymond’s 31. Tom Kennedy played five, though Kennedy was Detroit’s primary kick returner in this game.

The Lions had three reserve offensive linemen who played one snap apiece: Dan Skipper, Kayode Awosika and Michael Niese. Those came on the fake punt attempt, which counts as an offensive rep.

Levi Onwuzurike was among best pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in Week 1, per PFF

Levi Onwuzurike was among best pass-rushing interior defensive linemen in Week 1, per PFF

The Lions knocked off the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in Week 1 and part of that was due to their pass rush. Detroit pressured Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford 14 times, per NFL Next Gen Stats and sacked him twice. A key part of that pass rush? Interior defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike.

Per PFF, Onwuzurike was tied with six other players for second among interior defensive linemen with two quarterback pressures. The only player that had more in Week 1 was Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams with five.

In addition, Onwuzurike was tied for fourth (with Washington’s Daron Payne) at the position with five total quarterback pressured generated. Three players tied for the lead with six — Williams, the Giants’ Dexter Lawrence and the Chiefs’ Chris Jones.

https://twitter.com/LionsPR/status/1833489964337713322

Between Onwuzurike, Aidan Hutchinson Alim McNeill and and even potentially Marcus Davenport, the Lions are building a strong force up front to get after opposing quarterbacks. The Rams’ offensive line is a good unit, so that makes this performance even more impressive for Onwuzurike. Next week, it’s another playoff rematch against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their improved offensive line as they look to cool down the hot start for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Lions losing John Cominsky is more impactful than people think

The Lions losing DL John Cominsky to injury is more impactful than people think, and Russell Brown explains why

During the Tuesday morning practice this week, the Detroit Lions had multiple players suffer injuries. Rookie CB Ennis Rakestraw suffered an apparent foot injury, and offensive guard Netane Muti went down with a left shoulder injury. Lastly, they lost defensive end John Cominsky for the season due to a torn MCL.

There’s some hope that Cominsky could return in 5 or 6 months. If all goes right this season, the Lions could be in a playoff push so the return of Cominsky could be very beneficial for this Lions defense. However, losing him for the season is going to be more impactful than people think.

Last year during the off-season, the Lions were faced with a decision of keeping Cominsky or letting him walk. During that time, I went over the pros and cons of bringing him back to Detroit. In that article, I mentioned Cominsky as being a “glue guy” for the team. Specifically for the defense.

The Lions have a young defensive front with Alim McNeill, Aidan Hutchinson, Levi Onwuzurike and others. With that, they needed a veteran to lead them and turn to when the going got tough and that player was Cominsky. In 2022, he played in 14 games and started 8 of those games. He had 44 total pressures and over 550 defensive snaps played that season.

Cominsky may not light up the stat sheet, but his versatility will be missed. He can play anywhere along the defensive line. For the most part, he looks best suited to play as a 4i-technique for Detroit, but he can bump into the inside shoulder of a guard when needed.

Move onto last season and it was still a strong showing for Cominsky. He was in the top 10 for defensive snaps with 569 snaps played. Replacing the way he plays on those snaps will be tough to do for the Lions defense.

https://x.com/RussNFLDraft/status/1725313226429084043

His play style fits the identity of the Dan Campbell led Lions. He’s got that tough mentality and is just a grinder in the trenches. His ability to take on blocks and fight pressure with pressure is very beneficial to how the Lions linebackers can play freely. It leaves those backers clean as they scrape over the top or attack downhill to stop the run.

Last season, Cominsky played in 16 games and he started 11 of those games. He finished the season with 36 tackles, 16 QB pressures and two sacks (per PlayerProfiler). We’ll see how the Lions replace Cominsky but I’d have to guess this opens the door players such as Mathieu Betts, Kyle Peko, Mekhi Wingo and Brodric Martin. Hopefully, the Lions depth on the defensive line can help fill the void.

Video: Previewing the Lions defensive tackle position ahead of training camp

Video: Previewing the Lions defensive tackle position ahead of training camp via the Detroit Lions Podcast

One of the most revamped positions on the entire Detroit Lons roster is at defensive tackle. A unit that was solid against the run but offered little pass rush other than Alim McNeill in 2023 (or 2022, or 2021 for that matter) has some fresh faces and veteran reinforcements as the Lions head to training camp.

The latest video from the Detroit Lions Podcast breaks down the starting situation, the depth, newcomers, which player is on the spot and more.

Consider this a more extrapolated companion piece to the recent written breakdown and preview here.

An audio-only version of the episode is also available from your favorite podcast provider.

Lions defensive line depth could be the strength of the defense

Lions defensive line depth could be the strength of the defense, notes Lions Wire’s Russell Brown

As we all await for the Detroit Lions season to get started, it’s fun to look at their schedule, depth chart and speculate the potential of the season. When looking at the Lions defense, it’s hard to look past their defensive line. The depth from this unit runs deep and the 53-man roster could easily see 10-to-12 players from the defensive line on it.

The projected starters are currently:

  • Aidan Hutchinson
  • D.J. Reader
  • Alim McNeill
  • Marcus Davenport

But as we’ve seen under Aaron Glenn’s defense, the Lions use players up front on a situational basis. The key depth players could be the following:

  • John Cominsky
  • Josh Paschal
  • Levi Onwuzurike

It’s expected that a player such as Brodric Martin could really take a big step forward this season. He appears to be in much better football shape than he was a season ago and if Reader or McNeill struggle with any type of injury, he could be the next man up.

Adding to that, the Lions added Mekhi Wingo from LSU in the 2024 NFL Draft. Recently, I discussed him as a potential underrated player to the Lions defense so we’ll need to see what he does in a situational role for the team.

That alone gives the Lions nine defensive lineman that should see the field on a consistent basis. The wildcards of the group are James Houston, Kyle Peko and Mathieu Betts.

Starting with Betts, he’s coming off an 18-sack season in the CFL and not only did it earn him a contract with the Lions but it also helped him win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award. While he is 29-years old, I’d have to think he should find a spot on the roster but nothing is guaranteed. He was brought onto the roster to compete and my guess is that he’s here to compete with James Houston.

Things are interesting with Houston. He broke his ankle in week 2 last season and was placed on injured reserve. Despite being activated off the IR in January of 2024, the Lions never played him. Houston did have 8 sacks as a rookie and he does provide plenty of juice off the edge. However, comments from Dan Campbell last season makes me wonder if he’s a player on the bubble this summer.

Lastly, the expectations shouldn’t be overly high for Kyle Peko. He’s got familiarity with Lions defensive line coach Terrell Williams but he’s primarily been a rotational player in his career. With the Lions already having depth on the interior, he could be the odd man out this summer.

Regardless, the Lions have a deep roster of defensive lineman. With any down and distance, we could see any combination on the field. Those combinations should play to the strengths of the defense and it could be the difference maker to help this unit stay more consistent for the 2024 season.

Dan Campbell: Lions DL Levi Onwuzurike ‘having a really good spring’

Dan Campbell: Lions DL Levi Onwuzurike ‘having a really good spring’ after bulking up to 300 pounds

It’s easy to notice Levi Onwuzurike in Detroit Lions practices. No. 91 on the defensive line is a large man who carries himself with a very upright gait that makes him appear much taller than most of his linemates. He’s also worked hard to get a rocked-up, muscular physique.

It’s also been easy to notice how well Onwuzurike is playing this spring. Now more than two years removed from spinal fusion surgery that many expected would end his young NFL career, the 2021 second-round pick is finally healthy. Lions head coach Dan Campbell has taken notice of Onwuzurike’s play.

After carefully curbing his own enthusiasm with the caveat that none of the action is in pads yet, Campbell couldn’t help himself getting excited about Onwuzurike.

“Levi is having a really good spring,” Campbell stated. “(Josh) Paschal is too but Levi – because where he’s come from and all he’s had to deal with, I mean, this guy just has continued to rehab, he’s continued to train his body and work, he’s put on weight because his back can handle it now, we got him through last year to where he’s able to bank some reps and he’s having a really good spring.”

No. 91 backed up his coach with a good performance in Wednesday’s minicamp session. He earned credit in my practice notebook,

Onwuzurike destroyed a Hooker bootleg to the right, which would have resulted in a huge loss (John Cominsky also wasn’t fooled and was right there too). Onwuzurike had pass rush wins aligned at RDE and LDT–though remember, it’s not padded practice yet.

One big reason for the successful spring is being more comfortable in his own body. Being healthy and capable of training has given him confidence. As Onwuzurike said after practice,

“The best way I can explain it is everything is moving together as one. Speed to power, my whole body feels like one, all together.”

He added that he’s playing at 300 pounds now, up from about 280 to start last year. The added muscle is noticeable even on a guy who always looked powerfully fit. Despite the added bulk, he’s also playing more DE in camp after playing almost exclusively inside most of his Lions career.

Lions inactives for Week 17: Cam Sutton is active

Lions inactives for Week 17: Cam Sutton is active with his toe injury vs. the Cowboys

The Detroit Lions entered the Week 17 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys with only one player questionable due to injury. Cornerback Cam Sutton was questionable with a toe injury, and he will play.

Sutton is not one of the inactive players for the Lions in Dallas. In fact, the Lions have just one player out due to injuries: TE Brock Wright. All the other inactives are healthy scratches:

  • WR Antoine Green
  • DT Brodric Martin
  • CB Steven Gilmore
  • EDGE Julian Okwara
  • DL Levi Onwuzurike

Third QB Hendon Hooker is also inactive. Practice squad elevations Bruce Irvin and Tyson Alualu are playing over Okwara, Martin and Onwuzurike.