The Tampa Bay Buccaneers just got some bad news — Alim McNeill is back.
After missing time recovering from injury, the Detroit Lions’ powerhouse defensive tackle is officially returning to action, and the timing couldn’t be better for Dan Campbell’s squad. McNeill’s return adds some serious muscle to the Lions’ defensive front just as they prepare for a primetime Monday Night showdown against the Bucs.
This is the same McNeill who eats double teams for breakfast and still finds ways to disrupt plays in the backfield. His ability to clog running lanes and collapse pockets makes life miserable for opposing quarterbacks — and that’s exactly what Tampa’s offensive line didn’t want to hear.
Head coach Dan Campbell didn’t hide his excitement. “He’s worked his tail off to get back,” Campbell said earlier this week. “We’re fired up to have him in the mix again.”
Detroit’s defense has already been holding its own, but adding McNeill back into the trenches gives the Lions the kind of dominance up front that can completely tilt a game. His presence not only frees up Aidan Hutchinson and the edge rushers, but it also gives the secondary more breathing room to make plays.
And with the Bucs still trying to find their offensive rhythm, this matchup suddenly feels a lot tougher. A rested, hungry McNeill is bad news for any quarterback brave enough to step into the pocket.
So yeah — if you’re Tampa Bay, you might want to circle No. 54 on that scouting report in red ink. Because come Monday night, Alim McNeill is back to cause chaos.
Monday Night Shockwave: Lions’ Defensive Beast Alim McNeill Cleared for Action
