By Blessing 
As the Detroit Lions gear up for training camp, much of their core roster from last season remains intact. Still, competition is heating up at certain spots, and not everyone is guaranteed a seat when the music stops.
One of the more telling roster battles is brewing along the interior defensive line. While DJ Reader is locked in as the starting nose tackle, it’s not his presence that’s putting veteran Pat O’Connor’s spot in jeopardy—it’s the wave of fresh talent Detroit has brought in.
O’Connor, who was originally drafted by the Lions in 2017, returned to the team last season and spent some time on the practice squad. In March, the Lions re-signed him—seemingly a sign of confidence. But shortly after, Detroit made a couple of moves that may have signaled a change in direction.
First came the signing of Roy Lopez, a former Arizona Cardinal, adding another big body to the middle of the defense. But the bigger shift came during the draft when the Lions selected Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State. With both Lopez and Williams now in the mix, Detroit suddenly has three capable options at nose tackle.
That puts O’Connor in a tough spot. Unless the Lions choose to carry four players at that position, he could end up the odd man out.
There’s a slim chance he could contribute elsewhere on the line—perhaps at defensive end or a different tackle spot—but at around 300 pounds, he may be a bit large to flex out wide. He’d be battling for snaps behind Alim McNeill and Levi Onwuzurike in that scenario, which is no small task.
It’s a tough break for O’Connor, especially considering he saw the most action of his career just last season. In 2024, he played on 31% of Detroit’s defensive snaps and was on the field for nearly half of the team’s special teams plays. Of course, that opportunity largely came because of injuries across the board.
Now, the odds are much steeper. With a healthier and more crowded defensive line, O’Connor faces an uphill battle. He’s fighting not just for playing time, but potentially for his place on the roster altogether.