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Detroit Lions DL still 'in flux'; Alim McNeill progressing in concussion protocol
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- Detroit Lions DL still 'in flux'; Alim McNeill progressing in concussion protocol
A long weekend off and 10 days between games should help the Detroit Lions ' injury-riddled defensive line, but head coach Dan Campbell said Monday it's not clear yet which pass rushers will be available for Sunday's showdown with the Buffalo Bills .
"The D-line is in flux," Campbell said Monday. "It's just going to take time to figure some of this out."
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The Lions have played most of the season without starting defensive ends Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport , and then were short three more defensive linemen — D.J. Reader, Levi Onwuzurike and Josh Paschal — for last week's win over the Green Bay Packers and lost a fourth ( Alim McNeill ) to a brain injury during the game.
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill (54) and defensive tackle DJ Reader (98) warm up before the game between Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024.
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Campbell said McNeill has not had any setbacks while in the NFL's concussion protocol, which would place him on track to return this week. The status of Onwuzurike, Paschal and Reader is less clear.
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Campbell said "there's a chance" Onwuzurike could return this week from the hamstring injury he suffered Thanksgiving against the Chicago Bears , and did not specifically address the injuries to Reader (shoulder) and Paschal (knee).
"I know this, every one of our guys, it's much more positive," Campbell said. "Everybody is healing up and so we're better than we were last week. I don't know yet how many we'll get back, and honestly, I may not know until Thursday of this week just exactly where we're at."
Left tackle Taylor Decker is trending towards returning after missing two games with a knee injury, but the Lions' biggest depth concerns are on the defensive line.
Along with Hutchinson and Davenport, Kyle Peko and John Cominsky are on injured reserve, and the Lions used newcomers Jonah Williams (25 snaps) and Myles Adams (19 snaps) heavily in their defensive line rotation last week, days after signing both off other teams' practice squads.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love throws a pass after being pressured by Detroit Lions defensive end Myles Adams (66) during the Thursday Night Football game at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
Adams had three tackles and one quarterback hit, while Williams was credited with one quarterback hit. Five of the seven Lions who started in the front seven against the Packers — Williams, Brodric Martin , Za'Darius Smith, Kwon Alexander and Jamal Adams — were not on the 53-man roster to start the season.
"Myles and Jonah, I thought both had winning performances (against the Packers)," Campbell said. "I thought for what we asked them to do, I thought they went in there and battled and did their job. It was good to see and it's exactly why Brad (Holmes) brought those guys in, because we felt like they fit what we're about and what we need and we just need guys that are lunch-pail guys, hard hat, come in a give us a good days work, do what we ask you to do and go all out doing it. And just battle, just strain. And I thought those guys did it."
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Campbell said last week the Lions adjusted their gameplan to account for the new faces and depth concerns they have on defense.
The Lions (12-1) attempted five fourth-down conversions to try and extend drives and dominated time of possession (by just over 12 minutes) by running 31 more offensive plays.
They might need to take a similar approach if they remain shorthanded this week against a Bills team that's 10-3, ranks second in the NFL in scoring behind the Lions and has leading MVP candidate Josh Allen at quarterback.
"Our defense will, depending on who we have here, we're going to be better than we were last week," Campbell said. "I believe that and whether we don't get anybody back or not, this will be another week in the system with (Jamal) Adams and Myles Adams and Jonah and Kwon, and so I know that they'll be better. But we'll do whatever we have to to win the game."
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Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Dearborn Public Library.
Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions DL still 'in flux' with injuries: 'Going to take time'
