The Detroit Lions defense had a stellar week at training camp, following the preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Two players, defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike and linebacker Eric O'Neill have the potential this week to move up the depth chart.
Last season, the former second-round pick was forced to sit out after undergoing surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Now fully recovered, the 28-year-old has been a disruptive force. Head coach Dan Campbell indicated the former Washington Huskies defensive lineman has the potential to wreak havok on opposing offensive linemen.
"We have ramped him up. He's been on a ramp up plan and we felt like we started to hit some pretty good numbers. And then he had a little setback, but I anticipate him being out there today. And you start talking about really, I guess two years ago, he's a strong physical man," said Campbell. "I mean, when he does it right and he plays low and he feels good, I mean, he can wreak havoc in there. So, he's doing a good job in there. He's mixing it up and it's just about trying to keep his body on the up and up right now."
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This training camp, Onwuzurike has showcased improved football intelligence and effectiveness rushing the passer and defending against the run.
"He looks great. I would say when you are coming off that injury, your ability to train now, being healthy basically, right? So, now you're kind of out of that rehab mode and now you're into truly strength, conditioning, training, power, explosion, all of it. So, he's just continued that route. And every year he becomes smarter, more crafty. He learns the game," said Campbell. "He's elevating his FBI and just his skillset. The guy works his skillset every day, man. Every year he comes up with a little something new. He knows how to play the chess game, really in the run game, but the pass game you see it.
"He'll set something up for a while and then he'll counter you at some point. He's a headsy player, man. He knows what he's doing," Campbell commented further. "And then he's got a motor. I mean, my gosh, when you have all those and then you got the motor he does, he's a massive problem for an offense."
Similar to Aidan Hutchinson last year, the coaching staff will allow plays to continue, even if Onwuzurike is disruptive and winning against his teammates.
"Sometimes it's, most of them, what I do is if I don't blow them, it's obvious and I'll just tell him, 'Hey, that's a good job or that's a sack.' But, sometimes I don't just for the sake of the drill," said Campbell. "You kind of have to do that a little bit, otherwise you won't get a lot done. But yeah, he's a pain, man. He's definitely a pain, but I'm glad he's our pain."
Undrafted after playing collegiately at James Madison and Rutgers, O'Neill has been steadily improving in his first NFL training camp.
This week, O'Neill stood out at practice, recording a pick-six in a scrimmage Monday evening and recorded a sack at the Lions next practice.
"He's a guy that makes plays every day. He is, he's pretty sneaky. He's crafty. A little bit of him is what is he? And we're still trying to answer that a little bit, man. Where does he really fit? What really suits him? It's not stackbacker, but yet can it be on the line, kind of an OLB or is it D-end, like a rush D-end? I know this, he's smart. He plays hard. He's pretty crafty. He's got some tools in his toolbox," said Campbell. "He's a rusher, and he just kind of makes plays every day.
"He's another guy, it's hard to ignore him. And I don't want to say quiet. I think I've mentioned him before. I mean, you saw the interception the other day in that night practice we had, and he had a good rush. He had some good plays in the Cincinnati game," Campbell continued. "So, he's intriguing and some of it is really fit, man. And special teams, by the way. He makes plays in special teams every day. So yes, we like him."
This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/lions/onsi as 2 Lions Players Who Can Move Up Depth Chart After Commanders Game .
