By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s defensive depth takes another hit as Josh Paschal’s return window closes
The Detroit Lions have absorbed another significant blow to their defensive front, and this one stings not because of what happened on the field — but because nothing happened at all. Promising young edge rusher Josh Paschal will miss the remainder of the 2025 season after Detroit ran out of time to activate him from the non-football injury (NFI) list, ending a months-long attempt to bring him back into the fold.
Paschal’s Return Window Expires Before Detroit Gives the Green Light
After three weeks of practice within his 21-day activation window, Paschal appeared to be trending toward a late-season return. But despite opening last week as a full participant, he was suddenly downgraded and missed the next walkthrough without explanation.
When asked Sunday why the team ultimately chose not to activate him, head coach Dan Campbell didn’t sugarcoat the reality.
“It just wasn’t enough time really to really be able to say that we knew he would be able to get through the year or that he was ready,” Campbell said. “Hate it for him, but it’s where it was at.”
The former second-round pick will now remain on the injury list and is ineligible to return in 2025, officially closing the door on a comeback that never fully materialized.
A Season Lost to a Lingering Recovery
Paschal’s recovery has been behind schedule since the offseason. He missed all of training camp with a back injury and was originally expected to return early in the regular season. But each update brought the same disappointing theme: he simply wasn’t progressing at the rate Detroit had hoped.
He finally returned to practice on November 5, but even weeks of limited work weren’t enough for Detroit’s staff to trust that he could handle game action — or stay healthy long enough to make his return meaningful.
Now, Paschal enters free agency coming off a lost season, having last played in the 2024 divisional round against Washington. His career numbers — five sacks in 36 games and 18 starts — paint the picture of a player who flashed potential but never fully broke through.
Lions’ Edge Rotation Moves On Without Him
Detroit’s pass-rush room is already in flux, making Paschal’s absence even more significant.
The good news:
Marcus Davenport returned to action last week, logging 24 snaps in his first appearance since Week 2. His comeback shifted the rotation, decreasing Al-Quadin Muhammad’s usage to 19 snaps and making Tyler Lacy a healthy scratch.
Still, Paschal’s inside-outside versatility would have offered Detroit a valuable tool — especially for a defense struggling to generate consistent pressure.
Instead, the Lions will close the season without him, relying on Davenport, Muhammad, Lacy, and rising star Aidan Hutchinson to carry the load as the playoff race tightens.
A Tough Ending — and an Uncertain Future
For Paschal, the timing couldn’t be worse. The Lions would have welcomed his disruptive ability, but the team simply couldn’t risk activating a player they didn’t believe was physically ready.
Now, Detroit moves forward without a defender once projected as a long-term piece, while Paschal heads into free agency with far more questions than answers.
Whether his future remains in Detroit — or anywhere else — may depend on proving he can finally get healthy and stay on the field.