The Detroit Lions got demolished by injuries last season. By the time the playoffs rolled around, seemingly every impact player was down for the count. It started with Marcus Davenport, then Derrick Barnes, then Aidan Hutchinson, Malcolm Rodriguez, Alim McNeill, then finally Carlton Davis III.
It was one of the craziest storylines in football—even crazier was the fact the team still went 15-2 in the regular season. Their playoff hopes were eventually crushed at the hands of the Washington Commanders. They just didn't have the bodies to keep up with the Jayden Daniels-led offensive onslaught.
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But with an offseason of rest and healing, the stars are coming back and gearing up for another championship run in 2025... at least most of them are. In a frustrating update on the injury front, the Lions have assigned defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike to the reserve/PUP (physically unable to perform) list. Just when fans thought they were over the injury-ridden 2024 season, the injury bug comes crawling out of the shadows, instantly putting a damper on the good vibes heading into the season.
The following players are declared physical unable to perform:
OT Taylor Decker, CB Khalil Dorsey, OG Miles Frazier, DL Alim McNeill, LB Malcolm Rodriguez, DL Mekhi Wingo
The following players are declared non-football injury:
DL Josh Paschal, CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
The… pic.twitter.com/6cMCdWaWv8
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) July 17, 2025
Lions already adding names to PUP list is worst case of deja vu for fans
Onwuzurike is now guaranteed to miss the first four weeks of the season, when Detroit takes on the Packers, Bears, Ravens, and Browns. The news is certainly not the best way to start the 2025 season for the Lions. But it is what it is. Things could be worse. Knocks on wood.
The injury hasn't been disclosed. However, he missed all of 2022 with a back injury, so this could be an unfortunate continuation.
It's really bad timing. The 27-year-old needed training camp reps to finally become who Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell were hoping he'd become when they drafted him 41st overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. So far, he's just as big of an unknown some four years later as he was back then.
They took the 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle out of Washington due to his physical traits and ability to play multiple positions along the front. He was a high-upside pick at the time, but in hindsight, it looks more like he's teetering into draft-bust territory.
Through three playing seasons, Onwuzurike has started 10 games, racking up 3.5 sacks. The 10 starts weren't necessarily due to his play—the ravaging of the Lions' defense last season practically made it impossible for him not to start.
Now, with Onwuzurike landing back on the shelf before camp even kicks off, the Lions are once again stuck dealing with a familiar headache before a single padded practice. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a frustrating start for a team still haunted by how last season ended.
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