Tag: Levi Onwuzurike

Lions Levi Onwuzurike and Julian Okwara miss practice again, should be ready for Week 1

Lions DT Levi Onwuzurike and Julian Okwara continue to miss practice with injuries but should be ready for Week 1

The Detroit Lions will kick off their preseason slate this Friday against the Atlanta Falcons. Unfortunately, they will do so without some key defensive members, Levi Onwuzurike and Julian Okwara, as they continue to miss practice.

Onwuzurike has not practiced for nearly two weeks after getting caught in a pile-up that looks to have aggravated the back/hip. The same problem area he dealt with during training camp kept him out for a significant amount of time and continued to linger throughout last season.

“We just got to get it calmed down,” Campbell said. “The kid’s in a good place, and he’s getting back from it; he’s put in a lot of good work and so get him calmed down and get him right, get him realigned, and I think he’ll be fine.”

After being drafted in the second round of the 2021 draft, Onwuzurike has been looked at as a key player for a defensive line that saw major upgrades this season after the drafting of Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal. Unfortunately, with the injury setting him back again, he continues to miss out on valuable reps to get him fully ready for the upcoming season. Still, the coaches believe he is progressing despite not being on the field.

“Certainly, all the reps he can get is good for him,” Campbell said. “He needs ‘em. He needs all of them, just like all these young players do. But at the same token, he’s doing all he can do, and we’re doing all we can do to help him get back out there. He’s getting better every day, he’s progressing. We’ll just take it as it comes.”

With Onwuzurike dealing with the injury, players who might’ve been considered to be on the bubble have taken advantage of the extra reps they might not have gotten and are making some roster noise in the process, in particular, Demetrius Taylor. He continues to impress the coaches, and it will be interesting to see how he progresses throughout training camp and preseason.

As for Julian Okwara, he has missed his fourth straight practice with an undisclosed injury, and with his injury history, it is something not to overlook. However, while Okwara is hampering, a player that is looking quite impressive on the field is Austin Bryant, who has vastly improved and looks to cement his roster spot.

Even though each player has had their share of injury problems, Coach Campbell put minds at ease downgrading the severity of the injuries as the players should be ready for Week 1.

“Both of them have, I would say it’s not serious but yet it’s enough to where I can’t tell you, is it going to be a week? Two weeks?” Campbell said. “But it’s not a serious long-term issue, either one of those guys.”

Lions training camp participation report: C.J. Moore back, Quintez Cephus still out

A few players got rest days, while C.J. Moore was activated from the NFI list

After over a week of training camp in Allen Park, the Detroit Lions have had a few players suffer some minor dings. Friday’s practice session saw the Lions scale back the intensity after a very physical Thursday, and several players took the day off to tend to the accumulating aches and pains.

Among those taking the day off for rest purposes:

  • LT Taylor Decker
  • RB D’Andre Swift
  • EDGE Julian Okwara
  • DT Levi Onwuzurike
  • OL Ryan McCollum

Cornerback Jeff Okudah was spied doing positional drill work but sat out full team activities.

Wide receiver Quintez Cephus remains idle since suffering a knee injury earlier in the week. Coach Dan Campbell indicated it was not a serious injury, but the third-year wideout has not been back on the field.

Safety C.J. Moore passed his physical on Thursday, and the Lions activated No. 38 off the non-football injury list (NFI) prior to Friday’s practice. Moore is competing for a bigger role on the defense and remains one of the team’s staples on special teams units.

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Dan Campbell: ‘We’ve got to have’ big jumps in play from 2nd-year players

The 2021 rookies played well but Lions head coach Dan Campbell wants even more out of them in 2022

The Detroit Lions had a pretty solid showing from the 2021 rookie class. The group played more snaps than rookies on any other team and had several players who quickly proved to be pretty strong NFL talents. But the Lions need even more from those players as they enter their second NFL training camp.

Head coach Dan Campbell made that abundantly clear in his media session prior to Wednesday’s first practice at team headquarters in Allen Park. When asked if he was excited to see the second-year jump from a lot of players, Campbell turned the answer into a demand from the 2021 rookies.

“We’re counting on it, we’ve got to have it,” Campbell stated. “I mean, if they don’t make a jump, we’re in trouble.”

Campbell continued,

“That’s the bottom line because those guys are kind of our core and our foundation. I mean (WR Amon-Ra) St. Brown’s got to be better, (RT Penei) Sewell’s got to be better, (DL) Levi (Onwuzurike)’s got to be better, (DL Alim McNeill) Mac’s got to be better, (LB Derrick) Barnes’s got to be better because if they’re not, we’re not going to go anywhere. So, we’re looking forward to it and we’re going to push them to be there and get there.”

All of those players Campbell listed, with the possible exception of Barnes, are projected starters for the Lions and figure prominently in the plans, both short-term and over the long haul. What they did as rookies might have been impressive, but the organization expects and demands even more. Good on Campbell for not allowing complacency from a team that won just three games in 2021.

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Lions free agents and veterans receive their jersey numbers

The new players got their numbers and quite a few returning Lions changed their jersey numbers as well

It appears that the newest members of the Detroit Lions have received their jersey numbers. The rookie class got their numbers, and now the veteran free agents signed this offseason have their new jerseys as well.

Wide receiver DJ Chark will wear the number 4 for Detroit after wearing 17 the past few seasons in Jacksonville.

Safety DeShon Elliott initially wanted the number 7, which is retired by the Lions. He opted to stick to the single-digits and will wear number 5.

Cornerback Mike Hughes will wear number 23, which was previously held by Jeff Okudah.

Safety JuJu Hughes, who wore 46 and 23 for the Rams, will now wear 33 in Detroit.

Linebacker Jarrad Davis was able to receive the number 40, which he wore during his first stint in Detroit as well as throughout his collegiate career.

Linebacker Chris Board will don the number 49, which he held during his time with the Baltimore Ravens.

After wearing 46 – a much less-popular number for tight ends – while in New Orleans, Garrett Griffin will wear 86 with the Lions.

Several returning members of the Lions have changed their jersey numbers as well.

Former first-round pick Jeff Okudah will have his third jersey number in as many years as he swaps out his 23 for number 1, which he wore at Ohio State.

With Elliott taking 5, kicker Aldrick Rosas will now don number 13. Fellow kicker Austin Seibert gave up number 4 and will now sport 19. Mark Gilbert gave up his number 40 to Davis and will now wear 29.

On the defensive line, Michael Brockers switched to number 90, which he wore during his time with the Rams. Second-year player Levi Onwuzurike will change from 75 to 91, a much more apt number for a starting defensive tackle. Bruce Hector also changed out of his number in the 70’s and will now wear 92.

The full list of new numbers and changes are as followed:

Jeff Okudah – 1 (previously 23)

DJ Chark – 4

DeShon Elliott – 5

Aldrick Rosas – 13 (previously 5)

Austin Seibert – 19 (previously 4)

Mike Hughes – 23

Mark Gilbert – 29 (previously 40)

JuJu Hughes – 33

Jarrad Davis – 40

Chris Board – 49

Garrett Griffin – 86

Michael Brockers – 90 (previously 91)

Levi Onwuzurike – 91 (previously 75)

Bruce Hector – 92 (previously 76)

 

 

Dan Campbell optimistic Lions DT Levi Onwuzurike will make ‘leap forward’ in 2nd season

Onwuzurike is coming off an underwhelming rookie season

The Detroit Lions are switching to a base 4-man defensive front from last year’s 3-man look. Earlier this offseason, head coach Dan Campbell explained that the switch was being made in part to fit the personnel on hand better. One of those players it should suit better is second-year defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike.

Currently projected to split a tackle role with veteran Michael Brockers, Onwuzurike is moving more inside and adapting to a role that’s similar to the way he played in college at Washington. The hope is it will jumpstart Onwuzurike’s development after an underwhelming rookie season. That’s certainly the hope for Campbell.

“You don’t make any greater jumps than you do from (year) one to two,” Campbell told reporters on Thursday. “That is the greatest jump that most guys make. It doesn’t mean you don’t continue to grow. So we’re expecting him to take a leap forward, you know?”

Campbell is pleased with what he’s seen from Onwuzurike in the offseason.

“I know he’s of the right mindset. Even just talking to him when he left. First of all, he wasn’t going to leave. He was going to stick around here for a while, which he did. He’s been working. Went back home for a little bit and he’s come back up. He’s put his money where his mouth is. I know that from a training standpoint. He’s got enough pride and he knows what he needs to do. Everybody learns at a different rate in this league, man. It takes a while. Some guys get it right now and some guys it just, to go and develop and figure things out a little bit. So I expect him to have a better year”.

It would be a huge boon for the Detroit defense if Onwuzurike developed quickly into a pass-rushing threat from the 3-technique. He showed little ability to penetrate from a primary 5-technique alignment in 2021, registering just one sack and two TFLs in 16 games. His 6-foot-3, 295-pound frame fits better playing more inside, at least in theory. That’s especially true if Onwuzurike is fully healed from a hip ailment that has bothered him since his Washington days and limited his athleticism as a rookie.

Rookie expectations: Detroit Lions rookies have one final game to prove they belong

Detroit Lions rookies have one final game to prove they belong

The rookies of the Detroit Lions have just one more game to prove that they can be building blocks of this team’s future.

While some of these first-year players have already carved out roles for themselves, others have an uphill battle ahead of them if they want to remain a Detroit Lion in 2022.

Here’s what to expect from this group against the Green Bay Packers:

Running back Jermar Jefferson

Jefferson was inactive for the last two games due to the ascension of practice squad hero Craig Reynolds. Even when fourth-string running back Godwin Igwebuike was struggling, Jefferson couldn’t seem to find a way to get in on offense.

If the rookie is inactive again, it may spell the end of his career with the Detroit Lions as it seems more and more clear that they don’t know how to fit him into their future plans.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown

After yet another stellar performance last weekend, St. Brown should be able to finish this season as the clear number-one receiver for Detroit.

His versatility has been on full display over the past few weeks as he has been used as both an outside and slot receiver while also taking handoffs in the backfield.

It should be no surprise that St. Brown will get the start against Green Bay. Starting quarterback Jared Goff is expected to return, which bodes well for the rookie receiver.

Tight end Brock Wright

Wright is questionable to play as he has been dealing with a groin injury. The undrafted rookie has had a rough few weeks, being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list for a while and sitting out due to injury upon his reactivation.

If he is able to play, he’s the starting tight end. Wright is a capable blocker and becomes a decent receiving option when Goff is at the helm.

Offensive linemen Penei Sewell, Tommy Kraemer, and Ryan McCollum

Penei Sewell was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list this past Monday but was luckily reactivated on Saturday afternoon.

Heading into the game, Sewell is listed as questionable due to both illness and injury but should be expected to play. He has performed at a high level all season and is without a doubt a starting lineman again next year.

Sewell hasn’t allowed a sack since before the bye week, but penalties have been a struggle for him. He has committed 11 penalties this season, which is tied for most in the NFL.

Kraemer and McCollum have both had to start at some point this season, but shouldn’t be taking the field on offense in this game. Expect these two undrafted rookies to be big bodies on the line for field goals and extra points.

Defensive linemen Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill

With a very up-and-down season for both players, McNeill and Onwuzurike need to step up in a big way against Green Bay.

Onwuzurike, a second-round pick out of Washington, has yet to crack the starting lineup and is instead the backup for veterans Michael Brockers and Nick Williams. Brockers is questionable for this game, so there’s a chance the rookie can see some increased playing time. On just over a third of defensive snaps this season, Onwuzurike has recorded 34 tackles and a sack from the defensive end position.

McNeill should start at nose tackle. He’s coming off one of his best games of the season and will now face one of the league’s top offensive lines. Like his fellow rookie Onwuzurike, McNeill has had his fair share of struggles and has been inconsistent in both playing time and production.

Linebackers Derrick Barnes and Tavante Beckett

There’s an open starting role at inside linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Derrick Barnes has had many opportunities to earn it. Unfortunately, his play has just not been at that level and he lost out to Anthony Pittman last weekend against Seattle.

After taking some harsh criticism from his head coach, the rookie’s final performance of the season will be crucial to his career as a Detroit Lion.

Barnes should be the starter alongside Jalen Reeves-Maybin for this matchup, but the label won’t mean much as he will split his snaps with Pittman. As a run defender and pass-rusher, Barnes has shown plenty of promise. His struggles come when dropping into coverage, where he’s allowed 13 receptions for 153 yards and missed five tackles.

Tavante Beckett was called up from the practice squad once again, but will only see the field as a special teamer, if at all.

Defensive backs Ifeatu Melifonwu, AJ Parker, Mark Gilbert, and Brady Breeze

Melifonwu had a tough assignment last weekend and struggled to cover the Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf. The rookie cornerback easily allowed two touchdowns against him in the blowout loss. Now he’s up against the dynamic duo of Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. Melifonwu will start, but there isn’t much optimism about his ability to succeed in this situation.

Parker will be Detroit’s starting nickel corner as he has been for most of the season. Parker has shown flashes of potential, but at the end of the day is an undrafted rookie with a lot of room to grow.

Both Gilbert and Breeze have been better than expected while playing in limited roles on defense this season. The two will be core special teamers and provide meaningful depth should any more members of the3 secondary get hurt.

Kicker Riley Patterson

Patterson missed the first kick of his career last weekend but that shouldn’t discourage anyone. The rookie has been almost perfect in every aspect and has already proven to be reliable when his leg is needed. This game will be his final audition for the starting role for next season, so he will need to ensure he keeps up that same level of play.

Dan Campbell on rookie LB Derrick Barnes: ‘He’s got to play better’

Dan Campbell talked about the struggles of rookie LB Derrick Barnes and DE Levi Onwuzurike in a radio spot

Lions rookie head coach Dan Campbell continues to solidify his reputation for speaking the truth. In a weekly radio appearance on 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit, Campbell stated some hard truths about a couple of his defensive rookies, LB Derrick Barnes and DE Levi Onwuzurike.

The blunt assessment of Barnes is something most Lions fans can agree with in the wake of a rough outing against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle scored on nine straight possessions and Barnes was one of the chief culprits in the Lions’ inability to stop the opposing offense.

“He’s got to play better,” Campbell said of the fourth-round linebacker. “He’s got to play better, and I thought he took a step back. We need more from our stack-backers. You asked me and I would say, yeah, he’s improving. He’s learning, he’s growing, and not that he’s not (growing his game), but after last week, he took a step back.”

Coach Campbell went into further detail on where Barnes can improve.

“I think with Derrick, there’s things that he learns from that he doesn’t have to make a mistake to learn from,” Campbell said. “But then there’s enough of these where, honestly, he’s got to stick his hand in the fire before he realizes that it is hot. You can’t just tell him. He’s got to figure it out himself.”

Campbell also expressed some frustration with second-round DE Levi Onwuzurike. He had a particularly poor game in run defense in Seattle, a recurring theme for Onwuzurike in his rookie campaign.

“Levi is kinda what he’s been,” Campbell said. “He’s been up and down. He flashed. Man, he shows out, and the next play, it’s a learning experience. Next play, he shows out. Next play, it’s a learning experience. So there’s just some inexperience there that he’s still having to get over bumps in the road — which he will.”

Onwuzurike has not recorded a single QB pressure in the last month, and his run defense and tackling have been disturbingly bad.

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Rookie report: Lions’ 2021 class flashes potential in loss to Falcons

Rookie report: Lions’ 2021 class flashes potential in the Week 16 loss to Falcons

While the Detroit Lions may have come away with another loss, there were many plays that should make people feel optimistic about the future of this team. The members of Detroit’s 2021 rookie class are slowly getting integrated into the team’s game plans and many of them had contributions in the 20-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Right tackle Penei Sewell once again put on a stellar performance. Backup quarterback Tim Boyle didn’t feel a lot of pressure throughout the game and finished the day without getting sacked. Sewell committed one false start penalty in the second quarter, but it didn’t have much of a negative impact on the drive.

On the defensive line, Levi Onwuzurike once again was underutilized, taking just 21 snaps on defense throughout the game. This far into the season, it’s puzzling as to why he’s not getting more reps over some veterans like Nick Williams and Michael Brockers, whose contracts expire after the season ends. The rookie finished the day with just two tackles.

Onwuzurike may have not had the best outing, but another rookie defensive lineman really showed up against Atlanta. Third-round pick Alim McNeill started the game strong at nose tackle and got his second career sack on the first drive of the game. But just like with Onwuzurike, McNeill did not get a fair share of reps despite his strong performance. The rookie took 19 snaps on defense and is credited with just one tackle and a sack.

At the inside linebacker position, the Lions were down Alex Anzalone and Josh Woods. While it was expected that rookie Derrick Barnes would get the most reps in that role, it was instead backup linebacker Anthony Pittman. Barnes opened the game with a sack on Matt Ryan but was taken off the field shortly after, being replaced by Pittman. He took a mere 14 snaps on defense but managed to make three tackles. He has showed a lot of potential, but it’s clear the coaching staff does not have confidence in him as a starter just yet.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown was the best player on offense for Detroit on Sunday. The versatile rookie took snaps as an outside receiver, a slot receiver, and even as a running back. St. Brown led the team in both receptions and yardage, with 91 yards on nine catches. He also took two carries for 19 yards. His biggest play of the game was a 20-yard touchdown reception where he gained yardage after the catch and muscled his way through several Atlanta defenders to get into the end zone.

Cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu had his first game since Week 2 and didn’t come off the field on defense. Melifonwu played every snap at outside cornerback and had five tackles on the day.

Nickel cornerback AJ Parker saw less action on defense than he’s had this season. He only played for about half of the game but had one highlight-reel play. On a third-and-long attempt by the Falcons, Parker was able to get in front of a pass from Matt Ryan and bat the ball down, forcing Atlanta to punt.

Tight end Brock Wright was on the field for the majority of Detroit’s offensive snaps, primarily as a blocker. While he wasn’t used much in the passing game, he had some huge contributions on many of the team’s big plays. Essentially serving as an extra lineman, Wright laid out some key blocks and helped the offense move the ball efficiently.

Undrafted rookie tight end Shane Zylstra had a heartbreaking day. Called up from the practice squad, he started to be integrated into the offense but went down with a knee injury in the third quarter. Zylstra was carted off the field while being comforted by his teammates.

Kicker Riley Patterson had yet another perfect day. The rookie made all three field goal attempts, with his longest going for 37 yards. His made his lone extra point attempt as well.

Rookie offensive linemen Ryan McCollum and Tommy Kraemer only saw the field for Patterson’s four kick attempts. Rookie defenders Mark Gilbert, Brady Breeze, and Tavante Beckett were minor contributors on special teams and Gilbert took just two snaps at cornerback.

Rookie report: Wrapping up Week 14 performances from the Lions rookies

The Lions played a lot of rookies in the Week 14 loss to the Broncos. Our Max Gerber breaks down how they fared in Denver.

With so many players sitting out due to injury and illness on Sunday’s game, the Detroit Lions had to rely on several members of their 2021 rookie class.

While some were already inked into their starting roles, others were put in situations where they hadn’t played before.

On the offensive line, first-round pick Penei Sewell once again put on an elite performance. The rookie allowed no sacks and didn’t commit a single penalty despite going up against the Broncos’ stout defensive line.

Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for undrafted rookie Ryan McCollum. McCollum was the only center remaining on the roster due to Frank Ragnow being on injured reserve and Evan Brown on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. McCollum allowed a sack on Jared Goff on the very first offensive drive for the Lions and committed a holding penalty later in the game. His snaps were never an issue, but his ability to keep the pocket clean needs a lot of work.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown came off a strong performance the week prior and managed to remain a sure-handed target for Goff against Denver. The rookie had eight receptions for 73 yards while aiding a very short-handed offense.

At tight end, the Lions had to rely on not one, but two, undrafted rookies. With T.J. Hockenson out, Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra took over duties at the tight end position. While both have been seen more as blocking options in the past, the two were utilized heavily in the passing game. Wright had three receptions for 20 yards. Zylstra was targeted six times but only came away with two catches. He had an unfortunate drop in the end zone at one point, but that error could be attributed more to a poor decision by Goff.

On the defensive line, third-round pick Alim McNeill came away with his first career sack and had arguably his best game as an interior pass-rusher. Levi Onwuzurike had a fairly quiet game despite being on the field for 40-percent of the defensive snaps. Both rookies came away with four tackles.

Derrick Barnes took 47 snaps on defense as an inside linebacker. The rookie struggled to defend the run and also had a rough outing in coverage, allowing a 32-yard reception at one point in the game. While he has all of the physical tools to play linebacker in the NFL, there’s still much to learn for the rookie.

In the secondary, starting cornerback Jerry Jacobs went down after five snaps after tearing his ACL due to some friendly fire by Will Harris.

Rookie running back Jermar Jefferson was active, but was kept on the bench most of the game. Head coach Dan Campbell attributed this to him missing a majority of practice due to injury and illness.

Offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer only took the field for the field goal and extra point attempt, which were both completed by fellow rookie Riley Patterson.

Lions team PFF grades vs. Broncos reflect terrible defensive outing

The Lions earned season-worst PFF grades in run defense and pass rush in the loss to Denver

The Denver Broncos ran almost at will against the Detroit Lions in Week 14. Denver rolled up 184 yards on the ground, averaging 4.7 yards per carry and picking up 14 first downs on the ground.

The injury-riddled Detroit defense just wasn’t up to the challenge of stopping Denver’s run offense. Melvin Gordon rambled for 111 yards, with Javonte Williams netting 73 more. The Pro Football Focus team grades from the game reflect just how poorly the dilapidated Detroit defense played — particularly the guys on the line.

Detroit scored its lowest game grades as a team in run defense at 33.3. And while the Broncos didn’t pass the ball for a lot of yards (174 net, 24 fewer than Jared Goff and the Lions), quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had little pressure when he dropped back. The Lions also notched their worst pass rush grade as a team (48.4) through the first 13 games.

Tackling (36.4) and overall defense (40.5) were also very close to the worst for the season, though the loss to Chicago in Week 4 represents the bottom in those two metrics.

Two rookies scored the lowest individual grades. Linebacker Derrick Barnes had a 25.7 overall score, while end Levi Onwuzurike managed a 29.9 grade. Safety Jalen Elliott contributed to the low tackling score, missing four tackles on his way to a 26.4 grade in tackling. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye, LB Charles Harris and DT Alim McNeill also notched tackling grades below 30.

Only one Lions defender, reserve safety C.J. Moore, topped 70 overall in PFF scores.