One of the biggest injury losses the Detroit Lions suffered during the 2024 season was when defensive tackle Alim McNeill suffered a torn ACL in Detroit’s Week 15 game against the Buffalo Bills. Not only did that injury immediately hurt an already-depleated defense, but because it happened in mid-December, it was clear this long-term injury could impact his 2025 season.
On Tuesday, Campbell provided an update on McNeill’s status, and more or less confirmed that McNeill’s 2025 season will be impacted by the injury.
When asked when he expects McNeill to return, Campbell said, “Obviously, it’s not going to be training camp or probably even the early part of the season, but we will get him back.”
That’s a tough blow for the player Detroit handed a four-year extension to back in October. However, Campbell believes the moves they made this offseason at defensive line are enough to weather that early storm in the season. Detroit was able to re-sign Levi Onwuzurike, Pat O’Connor, Marcus Davenport, and Al-Quadin Muhammad, while adding defensive tackle Roy Lopez in free agency.
“To get Davenport back; certainly, Hutch is coming back off of injury; what we did with Mac, early in the fall; we added Lopez to (DJ) Reader, until we get those guys back; (Mekhi) Wingo is on injury, but we feel good about where we’re at,” Campbell said.
With McNeill, the Lions are going to be careful when returning him to the field. It’s not just about throwing him out there when his leg is healed, they want to do right by the player and make sure he’s at his best.
“The big thing here is get him back healthy where he feels good, he can move, obviously protect himself, but still be productive,” Campbell said. “And I think more than anything, you want him getting back to where he felt like he was before the injury. That’s important, at least for this year because that will be plenty.”
Last year, McNeill was playing like one of the best defensive tackles in football. In 14 games played, he tallied 25 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Among all defensive tackles, he finished t-15th in pressures (45 per PFF) and 11th in overall PFF grade (79.6.).
All of that said, Campbell did say that the team would continue to look at adding to the defensive line before the start of the season.
“We’re not done, either. That’s the point: We’re not done,” Campbell said. “We don’t know when. Maybe it will be the draft. We’re looking at everything. It could be after the draft. It could be any time. But, at this point with where we’re at, we do, we like where we’re at.”