Lions Defense Takes Hit as Onwuzurike Ruled Out for Year

The Detroit Lions’ defense took a major hit just as training camp got underway.

Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike will miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL. The announcement came as the team opened camp in Allen Park, with Onwuzurike already on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

“Levi’s surgery was significant,” Campbell said. “It was out of his control, but it needed to be done. Unfortunately, that means he’s out for the year.”

It’s a tough blow for Detroit. Onwuzurike, 27, had re-signed with the team on a one-year, $4 million deal following a productive 2024 campaign. In 16 games (10 starts), he racked up 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a career-high 13 quarterback hits—becoming a reliable force on the Lions’ defensive line.

This setback adds to an early wave of injury concerns for the Lions, who also placed several other key players on the PUP list to start camp, including Alim McNeill, Taylor Decker, Mekhi Wingo, and Malcolm Rodriguez.

As the team shifts into full camp mode, the pressure now falls on Detroit’s depth and front office to find answers fast—because losing a rising playmaker like Onwuzurike before preseason even begins is a punch no contender wants to take.

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