ALLEN PARK — Hours after Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding rookie EDGE rusher Ahmed Hassanein’s return this season, the former Boise State standout broke his silence.
Hassanein left Saturday’s 24-17 preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins with what Campbell revealed to be a pectoral injury. On Monday evening, Hassanein shared a selfie on Instagram accompanied by three Bible verses -- Jeremiah 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, and John 13:7 -- offering his update on the situation.
“God is good. I’m blessed,” Hassanein wrote. “I want to thank everybody that asked about me. I’m so grateful and blessed no surgery is needed, just time to heal.
“God is good all the time. I may not understand, but I truly trust the Lord’s timing and in everything. I will be back -- hungrier than I’ve ever been. All glory to Jesus in everything.”
Though still raw as a prospect, Hassanein flashed promise throughout training camp, showing the kind of explosiveness that suggested long-term potential as a pass rusher. His role this year remained uncertain, but his absence is nonetheless a hit to Detroit’s depth at EDGE.
“You hate it for those guys first because nobody feels worse than they do. He puts in the work; he wants it,” Campbell said. “It’s tough when it’s a young guy because you build so much of what you are, your foundation, over your first two years. The good news is he got about half of camp; the bad news is he’s going to miss the rest of that.
“You wish they could be there, I know he does too, but it is what it is. And the good news with that kid is he is a grinder. He’s going to do everything it takes to heal up, to rehab, to be back. He’s going to stay in it mentally, learn what he can, process what he can and that’s always going to give you a chance to be better when you come back.”
Beyond the field, teammates say Hassanein’s impact is felt in the locker room. Defensive lineman Roy Lopez described the rookie’s energy and spirit.
“He’s great. He’s the truth. There’s a reason why everybody loves him,” Lopez said. “Everybody that’s come across him-- there’s a reason why nobody has anything but good things to say about him. He’s a ball of energy. He’s a smile. He walks in -- I understand he’s battling, but he’s still going to be here, man.
“So we can count on him to bring life, bring smiles, and energy. He’s truly a man that loves every day, and there are so many guys that need to build on that. It’s fun to hear about his background, his story for sure. A blessing.”
For now, the Lions are holding off on placing Hassanein on injured reserve, as Campbell said general manager Brad Holmes continues to evaluate depth options at edge rusher.
“I know Brad’s looking at everything, but right now we’re just going to hang tight,” Campbell said.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.