Pressers and scrums: Onwuzurike hype grows and dialing back Betts after aggressive ramp up

Editor’s note (Note: I’m the editor): There won’t be camp observations today. The Lions ran a light practice, at a walkthrough pace, so I didn’t want to force something. We’ll be back with a fresh batch Thursday.

Allen Park — It was first reported Tuesday afternoon, but Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell confirmed the news that defensive lineman John Cominsky is going to be out for a while after suffering a right knee injury that requires surgery.

Cominsky, a breakout performer in 2022, re-signed with the Lions for two more years after that campaign. A season-ending injury would take him to the end of that contract, but the team isn’t ready to rule out a possible return late in the year.

The reason that’s even a possibility is because of a roster management rule change going into effect this offseason. The adjustment allows teams to place up to two players on injured reserve at final cuts without those players counting toward the final 53-man roster.

As for the replacement plan, the Lions are in good position to absorb the loss. The team’s depth up front, particularly options who can play both inside and outside, has been bolstered through the addition of Marcus Davenport and a reinvigorated Levi Onwuzurike, who has been one of the offseason’s best stories two years removed from career-threatening back surgery.

I’ve noted this elsewhere, but Onwuzurike is getting a ton of work this camp. He’s been repping with both the first- and second-team defensive units, lining up on the edge and as a 3-tech inside. I asked Campbell if Onwuzurike’s workload was, in a way, a stress test for what the fourth-year lineman’s body is capable of handling.

“He’s earned it,” Campbell said. “It’s clear that he’s one of the best. I mean, it’s just clear. And he plays with violence, he’s stout, he’s fundamentally better than he’s ever been, and he’s shown that he has some versatility. Between the big end in base and three-technique, he can play some big end in sub, in nickel, and he’s just earned it. And so, he continues to go, he feels good, and so he’s in a good place.”

It’s worth noting, Onwuzurike has declined all interview requests this camp. That’s not a complaint, because he’s always been both one of the most approachable and open players on the roster. At the moment, it’s clear he’s all about his business. When he’s ready to talk in the next couple weeks, we’ll be ready to listen.

● Cominsky wasn’t the only player who went down Tuesday. Guard Netane Muti also suffered an injury that will require surgery and put him on the shelf long-term.

It’s a shame for the talented interior lineman who has had durability issues going back to college. He was quietly off to a nice start to camp and could have legitimately pushed for a backup job if he was able to sustain that momentum.

● One of the things that makes Campbell great to cover is the honesty of his evaluations, while not being disrespectful to the player. This morning, he was asked how defensive lineman Mathieu Betts was handling the transition back to the NFL a year after winning the CFL’s most outstanding defender award.

The coach said they had been pushing Betts to play more Sam linebacker, and the surge of information had proven to be a little too much initially. It’s not an uncommon strategy for this coaching staff to push a player to their limit before re-calibrating. In recent years, the approach has netted positive results for both linebacker Derrick Barnes and defensive back Brian Branch.

That said, I found it interesting the Lions are trying to squeeze more out of Betts, just like they’re doing with James Houston. I asked Campbell about that balance of trying to expand a player’s skill set vs. leaning hard into one thing they do really well.

“I’m always looking out at the 46 (game day roster) and it’s like, all right, does he make the team? Great,” Campbell said. “Well, if he does make the team, is he ever going to the game?’ Because that has a little bit to do with it, as well. And so, man, the more you can do. If (Betts) can play the Sam linebacker, or certainly a backup linebacker, and he can rush as a defensive end, and he can play some special teams, well he’s a lock to go to game. There is no question. But if you’re a one-trick pony and you’re OK at that (trick), but you really can’t do this, and you’re not really playing special teams, then what do we do with him?”

Makes sense.

● The only player press conference today was Aidan Hutchinson. He was asked about Onwuzurike, the upgrades in the secondary and daily battles with Penei Sewell, but Hutchinson’s comments on position coach Terrell Williams were the most interesting thing from the Q&A.

"If I'm being honest, I think a lot of it (early-camp disruption up front) is the new coach we got,” Hutchinson said. “T (Williams) has been one of those guys, he just, everything we do, we just pull the trigger. All we're really focused on is getting off the ball, striking blocks and the rest of it will take care of itself.

“I feel like that mindset is very liberating for a lot of d-lineman,” Hutchinson continued. “They're not focused on not being so — I don't know what the word is — not to be so strict about this block, that way, but if we're just going as hard as we can, we're going to create a lot of different pressure."