By Moses Joshua 
Injury Depletes Detroit’s Defensive Front as Training Camp Begins
The Detroit Lions opened training camp with a tough blow to their defensive line. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Sunday that defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike will miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Campbell: “It needed to be done”
Speaking to reporters on Day 1 of camp, Campbell didn’t mince words about the severity of the injury.
“Levi’s surgery was — it was significant,” he said. “But it needed to be done. Out of his control, and it needed to be done.”
The 26-year-old lineman had recently been placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, and there was initial hope he might recover quickly. Instead, he now joins a growing list of sidelined contributors on Detroit’s defensive front.
Onwuzurike was expected to play a bigger role this season, particularly with fellow tackle Alim McNeill still recovering from his own ACL tear suffered last December. McNeill is projected to miss the early part of the season, further thinning Detroit’s depth in the trenches.
A Promising Comeback Halted
The timing of Onwuzurike’s injury is especially painful given his recent progress. After a lingering back injury forced him to miss the entire 2022 season and limited him to 10 games in 2023, he bounced back last year to play in all 16 regular-season games.
In 2024, he recorded 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks, while his 47 pressures—including the playoffs—led all Lions defenders. His pass-rush win rate of 11.9% placed him in the top third of defenders with 100 or more pass-rush opportunities.
For a team that relies on versatility and interior disruption, Onwuzurike had emerged as a vital piece. His absence leaves a notable void in both production and leadership along the defensive line.
Next Man Up: Opportunity for Tyleik Williams
With Onwuzurike out, the Lions will turn to their top draft pick for help. First-round selection Tyleik Williams, a standout defensive tackle from Ohio State, now finds himself in line for an expanded role earlier than expected.
“Certainly, losing Levi, that hurts,” Campbell acknowledged. “But it helps that we’ve got Tyleik. … I like what we’ve got in that room. We’ve got an opportunity there for a lot of guys.”
The Lions are also holding out hope for McNeill’s eventual return, which Campbell called “reinforcements” later in the year. Until then, Detroit’s young defensive interior will be tested.
Bottom Line: Onwuzurike’s injury is a major setback for a defense with championship ambitions, but it also opens the door for Detroit’s next wave of talent. If Williams and the rest of the line can rise to the occasion, the Lions may still weather the storm—and be even stronger when reinforcements arrive.