By Adeniyi Precious 
The Detroit Lions haven’t made many flashy moves this offseason, especially on defense, which has surprised some fans. Many thought they’d bring in a proven pass rusher, but instead, they decided to stick with someone they already had—Marcus Davenport.
After signing a one-year deal, Davenport has a lot to prove. His 2024 season was over almost as soon as it started, with injuries taking him out by Week 2. Now, he’s motivated to show that last season was just bad luck.
Davenport Feels the Pressure to Deliver
Sitting on the sidelines last year was frustrating for Davenport, not just because he was injured, but because he had to watch his teammates take on the workload he was supposed to handle.
“It was horrible,” Davenport admitted. “Another year of sitting out and watching my guys carry the load I was supposed to. After so many setbacks, I had to focus on myself. Now, I’m doing everything I can to be ready.”
His main goal? Consistency. He knows that the only way to feel fully prepared is to get plenty of reps, something he missed out on last year.
“The biggest thing I need is consistency in my work. Last year, they were giving me regular snaps, and I was building up to game speed. Now, I know the only thing that will help me feel better is more reps.”
With the Lions choosing to let some other edge rushers go and not bringing in many outside veterans, Davenport is under pressure to step up and be a major contributor this season.
Pairing Up with Aidan Hutchinson—If He Can Stay on the Field
Davenport will get the chance to team up with Aidan Hutchinson, which could be a big boost for Detroit’s pass rush. But he knows that before he can think about being part of that duo, he has to prove he can stay healthy.
“Every time I think about playing with Hutch, I kind of take a step back,” Davenport said. “I need to get on the field first. I have to prove I can stay healthy, and then everything else will fall into place.”
The Lions are counting on him in a big way this season. If he can stay on the field, he could finally be the reliable pass rusher the team needs alongside Hutchinson. Now, it’s all up to him to make it happen.