By Sunday 
Detroit’s training camp just started… and so did the injury watchlist.
Three days into the Detroit Lions’ 2025 training camp, the team already finds itself facing a familiar frustration — injuries. And this one stings a little more than usual, because it’s not just any player sitting out. It’s team captain and defensive heartbeat, Alex Anzalone, sidelined with a hamstring injury.
🚨 Not the Start Anyone Wanted
Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the news during Sunday’s press conference at the Meijer Performance Center, saying Anzalone is dealing with a hamstring issue and “doesn’t have a timetable for his return.” Yikes. While that’s coach-speak for “we don’t really know yet,” it’s definitely not what you want to hear just one padded practice in.
Anzalone didn’t show up for voluntary offseason workouts earlier this year, and fans had already picked up on his subtle contract frustration via social media. Combine that with his injury now, and it’s hard not to wonder if there’s a bit more going on here than just tight muscles.
🧠 Veteran Leader, But Still a Crucial Absence
Let’s be real: the Lions need Anzalone out there. The 30-year-old linebacker has been a team captain since 2021, playing 57 games in the Motor City while racking up 395 total tackles, 26 QB hits, and 6.5 sacks. He’s a field general, and losing his voice and presence — even temporarily — is a blow.
Sure, he’s a veteran. Sure, he “crushed” his conditioning test, according to Campbell. But missing time in camp means fewer reps, less leadership by example, and—most importantly—leaves an already shaky defense thinner than they’d like.
💰 Is the Contract Situation Looming?
Let’s not dance around it. Anzalone is on the final year of a three-year, $18 million deal, making a base salary of $6 million this season. Meanwhile, the top linebackers in the league are clearing over $11 million. From a dollars-and-sense perspective, you can see why Alex might be feeling some kind of way.
While Dan Campbell didn’t mention anything about the contract during the press conference, the timing and tone have fans raising eyebrows. Is this really just a hamstring flare-up—or is it also a negotiation tactic?
🏈 What’s Next?
The Lions still have time before the regular season kicks off, but hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky. Push too soon, and it can cost you twice the time. Campbell and his staff are smart to play it cautiously, but the clock is ticking. With only six weeks to opening kickoff, Detroit’s defense has little margin for error—or absences.
Anzalone’s injury is a red flag, not a red alert. Yet. But it’s the kind of situation that could shape how the defense gels (or doesn’t) over the coming weeks. And in a year where expectations are sky-high, even early dings start to feel like warning signs.