Lions place several players on injured lists to open camp, including Decker and Onwuzurike
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions announced a flurry of injury-related transactions ahead of the start of training camp this weekend, including a pair of starters landing on physically unable to perform lists.
Offensive tackle Taylor Decker headlined a group of players who will open camp on the active/PUP list. That means Decker, whose injury is currently unknown, can return to practice as soon as he's medically cleared.
Others starting on the active/PUP list are defensive tackle Alim McNeill, cornerback Khalil Dorsey, defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo, rookie guard Miles Frazier and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez.
McNeill (ACL), Rodriguez (ACL), Dorsey (broken leg) and Wingo (meniscus) are each working their way back from season-ending surgeries in 2024. McNeill and Rodriguez’s recoveries are expected to carry well into the regular season.
Of greater concern than Decker's designation is defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike landing on the reserve version of the PUP list, which will sideline him through at least the first four games of the regular season.
Like Decker, Onwuzurike’s issue is unknown. Immediate concern would be a recurrence of a back injury that plagued him the first three seasons of his career and required fusion surgery in 2023 to correct.
That surgery was successful. Onzurike played in 16 games and logged 635 defensive snaps last season, racking up a career-best 45 quarterback pressures. He re-signed with the Lions as a free agent this offseason for one season.
Other injury news saw former second-round pick Josh Paschal and cornerback Stantley Thomas-Oliver land on the non-football injury lists. Like active/PUP, they can be activated at any time once they're cleared.
Additionally, rookie running back Anthony Tyus was released with a non-football injury. That, along with center Frank Ragnow being officially moved to the reserved/retired list earlier this week, will open a pair of roster spots to address any immediate depth concerns.
Clarity on all of Detroit’s injuries should be provided on Sunday, when coach Dan Campbell meets with the media ahead of the team’s first practice.
Another edge cashes in
Aidan Hutchinson's extension market continued to take shape Thursday afternoon when the Pittsburgh Steelers awarded seven-time Pro Bowl edge rusher T.J. Watt a record-breaking extension for a non-quarterback.
The three-year pact is reportedly worth $41 million, exceeding the $40 million average Myles Garrett received from the Browns earlier this offseason.
Watt and Garrett undoubtedly have accomplished more than Hutchinson has through his three seasons. Regardless, NFL contracts are intended to award future contributions more than past accomplishments. The Lions' defender is several years younger than Watt and Garrett and was outpacing both in sacks and quarterback pressures when he suffered a broken leg against Dallas in Week 6.
The Lions had hoped to get ahead of the market with Hutchinson this offseason, the way they did with offensive tackle Penei Sewell last year. Without a quick deal, the market has swelled, something GM Brad Homes noted the team anticipated during the league meetings in April.
The edge-rushing ceiling is poised to jump again with the Dallas Cowboys and star Micah Parsons also working toward an extension. It wouldn't be a surprise to see that eventual agreement exceeding the length and average value of Watt's contract.
Ratledge deal likely coming soon
Entering the week, only two of the league's 32 second-round picks were signed. The holdup was caused by both deals being fully guaranteed, which broke recent precedent.
On Wednesday, the Cowboys made it three signings, inking defensive tackle Alfred Collins. That opened the floodgates, with several deals being finalized on Thursday.
That should accelerate negotiations between the Lions and second-round pick Tate Ratledge, who remains unsigned as of Thursday afternoon.
Lions rookies reported to camp on Wednesday, and full-team practices are scheduled to start on Sunday. Ratledge, who is expected to be part of the starting lineup to open the season, would be unable to practice without a contract in place.
Hello, Tyleik Williams. Welcome to the starting lineup.
It's easy to get caught up in roster projections and worry about how a team will fit all its talented players, especially early in the season. However, injuries are an inevitable part of football. By the time final roster cuts are made, there's almost always plenty of room for good players who have stayed healthy. So, don't overthink the early-season depth charts – the landscape will likely change dramatically.