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McNeill

This will be the first taste of action for McNeill this season. The fifth-year lineman is returning from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 15 of last season, but had his 21-day return window opened late last month. In 14 games for the Lions last season, McNeill totaled 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and seven TFLs while also forcing one fumble. He should be able to step in and immediately bolster a run defense that entered the week graded as the fourth-highest by PFF.

Barring a setback in the next few days, McNeill should be able to return to game against against Tampa, Campbell said Wednesday. McNeill, who missed two games with a knee injury, would be a welcome addition to a Detroit defense that has struggled of late. His return would be a slight downgrade for Rachaad White as the Bucs’ lead rusher.

It’ll be at least one more week for McNeill after he had his 21-day return window opened this week. Kerby Joseph got in a practice on Friday to get to the questionable line for the Lions defense, which seems to be in a prime spot this week despite cornerback depth concerns against Jake Browning’s Bengals.

McNeill’s Week 15 ACL tear is healing well and the Lions are reportedly targeting a Week 7 or Week 8 return for their star interior player. McNeill had 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons and carried PFF grades of 86.8 and 79.6. He’ll be a big help for Detroit when he comes off the PUP list.

McNeill’s Week 15 ACL tear from last season made this transaction a formality, as it was always expected. Lions head coach Dan Campbell previously said McNeill was expected to miss both training camp and the “early part of the season.”

The Week 15 ACL tear for McNeill will cut into his 2025 season as well, which isn’t surprising. McNeill is probably aiming for an October or November return at this point. The Lions will run out a trio of D.J. Reader, Levi Onwuzurike and Roy Lopez in the interior until McNeill is cleared to return.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report the season-ending injury. The news doesn’t come as much of a surprise after head coach Dan Campbell hinted around this in yesterday’s post-game presser, but the team confirmed the worst on Monday. It’s yet another brutal blow to a Lions defense that will add an eighth defensive lineman to their injured reserve list once they make things official with McNeill. McNeill signed a four-year, $97 million extension in October and ends his year with 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and a career-high seven TFLs.

The Lions currently have seven defensive linemen on injured reserve and McNeill will evidently be the eighth. The talented three-down player ranks second on the team in both NFL sacks (3.5) and quarterback pressures (44) and fourth in tackles for loss or no gain (four). This is a significant loss for the Super Bowl-hopeful Lions. The 24-year-old defensive lineman is under contract through 2028.

McNeil limped off the field in the 3rd quarter and was visibly in distress, slamming his helmet into the bench. He was later carted to the locker room and ruled out for the game. This Lions defensive line has already endured a few crucial injuries, and McNeil is another massive one to have to overcome. The 24-year-old had to leave Week 14 with a concussion but was able to make it back in time for this crucial matchup against the Bills.

Technically, the recently-extended McNeill is out with a “head” injury, but we aren’t sure what it could be other than a concussion. It’s a brutal blow for an already severely-undermanned defensive line. The only good news is that McNeill has 10 days to get cleared for Week 15 against the Bills.